General

Dream Merchant
http://www.dreammerchant.net/
Provides help on developing and profiting from your invention, networking and advertising opportunities plus an online magazine with lots of articles on the inventing process.

From Patent to Profit
http://www.frompatenttoprofit.com/
Articles and information on getting started, marketing, manufacturing, patenting, and licensing.

Invention and Design
http://www.iath.virginia.edu/~meg3c/id/id_home.html
Excellent educational site for the inventing and design process. Geared toward teachers and students but useful to anyone who wants to better understand the creative process of inventing.

Invention Connections
http://www.inventionconvention.com/ncio/
Lots of getting started information, protecting your inventions, document disclosure, an online magazine and a free Inventing 101 online course.

Invention Dimension
http://web.mit.edu/invent/
Site for inventors from MIT. Includes information on famous inventors, a Handbook for Independent Inventors plus links to other inventing sites.

Inventor Net
http://www.inventornet.com/
This site contains mainly news items and website links. You can also ask a question in the Ask the Experts section.

InventorEd, Inc.
http://www.rjriley.com/site-index/
This is a fabulous site for looking up invention scams and scammers. Also, site has lots of articles and links regarding all aspects of inventing and inventions.

Inventors @ about.com
http://inventors.miningco.com/cs/basicshowtoinvent/
A gateway to many invention sites, plus articles on inventors, the history of technology, and the patenting process.

Inventor’s Digest
http://www.inventorsdigest.com/
Site from the publishers of the magazine of the same name. Site has current news & events plus information for all inventive types, from the novice to the experienced inventor. Lots of how-to articles, success stories, inventor groups & more.

Inventors World Magazine
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~robodyne/inventors-world/
This site is from the United Kingdom and features articles from the magazine and links to other websites of interest.

Patent Café
http://www.patentcafe.com/
Great site. This website has an excellent page of links, along with basics of inventing and starting a business. Includes a directory of various professionals in the intellectual property area, forums to talk with other inventors, and the Patent Café magazine.

US Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov
One of the best sites on the internet for any type of small business information, including funding, government contracting, programs for women and minorities and general start up information.

United Inventors Association
http://www.uiausa.com/
Non-profit educational organization. This site includes first steps for the novice, the ability to ask specific questions of experts, news releases, books and more.

US Patent Trademark Office Independent Inventors Website
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/index.htm
The whole USPTO site is a great resource for the inventor but this link provides information specifically for the independent inventor. With answers to frequently asked questions, brochures and forms to download, and additional links. You may even be able to file your patent or trademark application online through the website.

World Intellectual Property Organization
http://www.wipo.org
Information & links to all types of international intellectual property laws, links to webpages from various countries, and international news stories.

Funding & Incubators

Business Incubators
http://www.capital-connection.com/incubators.html
Links to business incubators across the U.S., as well as, financing opportunities such as venture capital, angel investing, loans, and more.

Business Incubators & Enterprise Creation
http://www.enterweb.org/incubtor.htm
Links to incubators in different countries.

NASA Commercial Technology Network
http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov/index.html
Information on organizations and programs sponsored by NASA, including research and development and funding.

National Business Incubation Association
http://www.nbia.org
Directory of incubators, information on funding, tips, a calendar of business incubation-related events & bi-monthly newsletter.

National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants.htm
Contains information on grants and financial awards in the science areas, some a for innovations and inventions.

Office of Industrial Technologies/ Inventions and Innovation Program
http://www.oit.doe.gov/inventions/
Information on programs to help financially with research and development of new technologies dealing with energy or energy savings.

SBA Federal Grant Resources
http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html
Links to various government programs for funding.

SBA Technology SBIR/STTR
http://www.sba.gov/sbir/indexresources.html
Provides information and links to information about the SBIR/STTR programs, awards, and assistance to women and minorities

SBIR Gateway (Small Business Innovation Research)
http://www.zyn.com/sbir/
A federal government program designed to provide early-stage research and development funding to small technology companies. This site has everything you need to know about the program plus links to other websites.

Technology Transfer Information Center
http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/invent.htm
Provides links to State Technology Development Centers, Small Business Development Centers, and funding sources including venture capital and grants in the high tech area.

Business

Association of Small Business Development Centers(SBDCs)
http://www.humanspan.com/clients/templates/alpha/top.asp?pagenumber=244
Links to SBDCs in different states and to other government sites

Business Plan for Independent Inventors
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa091501a.htm
Step-by-step help for doing a business plan if your business involves an invention. Also has links to other intellectual property information.

Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC)
http://www.nttc.edu/default.asp
Website provides help and information in technology commercialization and economic development such as partnering opportunities, funding programs and educational events.

Small Business Technology Coalition
http://www.sbtc.org/
Contains news updates, a free email newsletter plus additional resources if you sign up as a member.

Scams & Invention Evaluation

Innovation Institute
http://www.innovation-institute.com/
Site deals with product analysis and invention evaluation.

National Inventor Fraud Center, Inc.
http://www.inventorfraud.com/
In addition to providing a list of invention scams, recent news, court actions and how to spot a scam there is also a lot of great information on inventing and patenting in general.

WISC Wisconsin Innovation Service Center
http://Academics.uww.edu/business/innovate/index.htm
Legitimate organization that does research (for a fee) on technical & market feasibility, patentability, competitive intelligence and more.

Legal

Findlaw: Intellectual Property
http://biz.findlaw.com/states_new.html
Excellent site for text of laws, legal codes and cases.

Intellectual Property Creators
http://www.ipcreators.org
This site focuses on news, patent legislation and enforcement. Also has some links to other websites of interest.

KuesterLaw
http://www.kuesterlaw.com/
Website includes information dealing with technology law, including intellectual property. Also has links to other sites.

Nolo Press
www.nolo.com
Website of the publisher of many excellent books on intellectual property. Definitions, articles, FAQs (frequently asked questions) and some forms.

Pierce Law’s Intellectual Property Mall
http://www.ipmall.fplc.edu/
Excellent site for legal aspects of intellectual property. Geared toward lawyers & law students, there is a wealth of information and links to more sources of information. Includes current news & court decisions

Links

About Inventors
http://inventors.about.com/mbody.htm
Hundreds of links and articles about inventing, inventors, and intellectual property.

Burdlaw.com Links for the Independent Inventor
http://members.tripod.com/burdicklawfirm/inventor.htm
Links to general intellectual property information plus attorneys, marketing, funding, prototypes, inventor groups and more.

Federal Technology Transfer Offices on the Internet
http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/guide.htm
Links to Technology Transfer offices in various U.S. government agencies.

Invention Resource Master List
http://sulcus.berkeley.edu/FLM/SH/MDL/Invention/Invention.Masterlist.html
Links to a large number of inventor websites on all aspects of the inventing and patenting process.

List of Patent Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs)
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/ptdl/ptdlib_1.html
Links to PTDLs across the United States and its territories. Often these sites themselves have information or links to information on intellectual property.

NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership
http://www.mep.nist.gov
A nationwide network of not-for-profit centers nationwide. The centers provide small manufacturers with technical and business assistance, such as product development, financial planning, marketing and more. Locate center near you, learn more about lean manufacturing and more.

Small Business Administration – Small Business Development Centers
http://www.sba.gov/hotlist/sbdc.html
Links to websites of SBDCs nationwide. Also links to the SBDC homepage on SBA website which has lots of great information

State Incubation Associations
http://www.nbia.org
Find a business incubator or just learn more about incubators and what they do.