Start-Up Resources
Researching Your Business Idea
Wichita State's Albah Library offers a wealth of resources, such as market and industry reports, at no cost to students. The Entrepreneurship Research Guide is specifically designed to guide new business owners through their available resources. The Kauffman Foundation provides access to insights, research, and articles on entrepreneurship. IBIS World provides industry reports. Just look up your industry and read about size, growth, and trends.
Look up news articles regarding your industry and competitors. Read reviews for your direct competitors to get an idea of what you can do that your competitors do not.
Intellectual Property
Library Assistance
Wichita State University's Ablah Library is the only Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) in Kansas. Visit the library guide for intellectual property resources. Contact Sara Butts if you have general questions about intellectual property or if you would like assistance with a patent or trademark search. You can reach Jessica Pierpoint at (316) 978-5074 or jessica.pierpoint@wichita.edu. The library also offers several workshops about intellectual property and business topics in the Entrepreneurship Research Series of workshops.