Resources and Tools
Every workbook, every course, and every Indigenous business resource in the United States — in one place.
Find Resources in Your State → Download All WorkbooksYour Complete Roadmap
Six stages. Six workbooks. One complete journey from idea to legacy. Every stage page is linked below.
The Idea
Find your niche, define your why, and answer the three questions that tell you what you are building.
Go to Stage One →Validate
Test your idea with real people and get one real yes before you spend a dollar building anything.
Go to Stage Two →Build
Register your domain, build your website, develop your brand, and set up your digital channels.
Go to Stage Three →Launch
Go live, get found in search, send your first emails, and bring your first customers in.
Go to Stage Four →Grow
Deepen community relationships, leverage your story, access funding, and build collaborations.
Go to Stage Five →Scale
Build your team, expand your markets, mentor the next entrepreneur, and give back with intention.
Go to Stage Six →All Six Workbooks
Every workbook is free. Download the one for your current stage — or download all six.
Finding Your Role in the Indigenous Economy
Not sure which niche is right for you? This course walks you through the process before you build anything.
National Programs for Indigenous Entrepreneurs
These programs are available to every Indigenous entrepreneur in every state. Start here before looking for state-specific resources.
SBA Office of Native American Affairs
Free technical assistance in marketing, finance, and business development for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
sba.gov/naa →SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
A 9-year program giving Native-owned businesses access to government contracts, mentorship, and business development support.
sba.gov/8a →First Nations Development Institute
Grants from $10,000 to $40,000 for Native-led organizations. Over $110 million awarded since 1993 across 46 states.
firstnations.org →Sister Sky — Native Business Center
100% Native-owned. Free business workshops in-person, hybrid, and virtual. SBA partner with culturally appropriate curriculum.
nativesba.sisterskyinc.com →NCAIED
Training, resources, technical assistance, and the annual RES conference for Indigenous entrepreneurs since 1969.
ncaied.org →Accion Opportunity Fund
Small business loans with reasonable rates plus free financial coaching for underserved entrepreneurs including Indigenous business owners.
accionopportunityfund.org →Native CDFI Network
Directory of 70+ Native community development financial institutions across the US offering loans without traditional credit requirements.
nativecdfi.net →NDN Collective
Indigenous-led organization offering the $50,000 Radical Imagination Grant for individual artists, cooperatives, and small nonprofits.
ndncollective.org →Native American Bank
Full-service bank serving tribes, tribally-owned enterprises, and individual Native American and Alaska Native-owned businesses.
nabna.com →Arizona Indigenous Business Resources
Arizona has more federally recognized tribes than any other state. These organizations serve Indigenous entrepreneurs across the state — from the Navajo Nation to the Pascua Yaqui, from the Tohono O'odham to the Hopi.
Change Labs
Navajo and Hopi incubator. Free 90-minute coaching. Tribal Funding Registry.
nativestartup.org →Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
Advocates for and serves all member tribes statewide.
itcaonline.com →American Indian Chamber Education Fund — APEX PTAC
Procurement technical assistance for government contracts.
aicef-apex.org →Native Nations Institute — University of Arizona
Leadership, management, and policy for tribal economic development.
nni.arizona.edu →Native Peoples Technical Assistance Office
Technical assistance to tribes and Native-owned businesses, U of A.
nptao.arizona.edu →Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development
Business support and growth for Navajo Nation citizens.
navajoeconomy.org →Center for American Indian Economic Development — NAU
Economic development training at Northern Arizona University.
in.nau.edu/caied →Local First Arizona — Economic Resource Center
Free grant writing for Arizona tribal communities and nonprofits.
localfirstaz.com/erc →Pascua Yaqui Tribe — UA Microcampus
Tuition-free certificates for PYT members — SEO, web dev, personal finance.
pascuayaqui.arizona.edu →Rooted Relative Fund
Alternative lending for Indigenous entrepreneurs in the Southwest.
nativestartup.org/resources →Arizona SBDC Network
Free business advising across Arizona — Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff and more.
azsbdc.net →Find Resources in Your State
Click your state below to see Indigenous business resources specific to where you are. Every state includes the official tribal economic development office plus additional programs where available.
The Path Was Built for You
Every workbook, every stage, every resource on this page was built so the next Indigenous entrepreneur does not have to find the path alone. Share this page with someone who needs it.
"I found no path. So I built one." — Grace Irene