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Business Plan Tips

What Investors Are Looking For In A Plan

Investors, whether angels or VC's, are looking for the same things when reading a business plan. They want to know how big the opportunity is, whether this is the right team to exploit the opportunity, who the competition is, what the risks are, and why they can expect this team to implement successfully. Your job in writing the business plan is to address these questions convincingly and clearly.

Emphasize Your Real Strengths

Highlight what your team brings to the table. If your business hinges on a particular competency (for example, understanding the procurement process), your plan will be more persuasive if one of your team members knows something about it and that is brought out in your plan. Rather than including generic resumes of team members, tailor the resumes to draw out the experience each member has that will make him or her a valuable contributor.

Get To The Point And Make It Clear And Comprehensive

Investors see many business plans. A 20-page plan which clearly lays out your business is far more likely to be read than a 100 page plan. Today, some entrepreneurs are using a 15 slide Powerpoint presentation. If your text is short and punchy, you won't need to repeat yourself, because the reader won't be bogged down keeping ten chapters in their head. Reading the same thing over and over, even if it's in different words, can get really tiring. The more you use brevity and give each concept a single home in your document, the more people will want to read it.

Write In Plain English

If you can't explain your idea in English, either you don't understand what you're talking about (What is a transaction enabled atomic journaling database server, anyway?) or you haven't simplified the idea enough. Think, revise, and try again.

Get Rid Of The Hype

Yes, we know you will be the "premier insert product category here of the Internet, achieving 99% market penetration with 60% customer retention in 3 months". Your product will reach "new heights in customer experience through the use of personalization and one-to-one profiling and customization". It will be "user friendly" because you will be creating a truly "ecstatic customer experience". It is a "quantum leap forward" in the marketplace for product category here. Um, yeah. Believe me, we've read it before. About a dozen times today, in fact. (And by the way, the phrase "quantum leap" really doesn't mean anything.) Stick to a tight, simple explanation of your idea. Convince your reader you'll be the best because your idea is the best, not because you can string a dozen buzzwords together.

Use Quantifiable Information

In each section, back up your assertions with solid facts. Even if you are a new venture and cannot give specific figures on the performance of your business, quote figures for the industry or your competitors. These real figures carry more weight than your assumed projections and give more reality to your plan.

Choose A Huge Market

Especially in the internet world, investors are looking more at the market than at the detailed specifics of your financials. Choose a market that is big enough to be an obvious good opportunity. A business which targets teenage girls who listen to music and has a reasonable chance of capturing 90% of the girls that are online is a huge opportunity. A business which targets net-savvy SAAB mechanics who need prosthetic limbs is not.

Local Investors

United States > New York

Ricardo Lopez, 43 years old living in New York city almost for a decade. I'm an Executive Director and ex-consultant with 18 years of IT experience looking to expand my horizons. I'm also very familiar with the entertainment industry as perform as a hobby. Currently Treasurer and Board member as well of a dance company. Certified Project Manager, who has worked in 5 continents. MBA. Last year I got my experience as an Angel Investor for a french restaurant overseas and so far, I enjoyed very much the experience. Looking for more. My previous participation as Angel investor is more as an advisory and silent. I'm very interesting on IT investments, Arts and entertainment and social, as I have a passion for a good cup of coffee where tablets, smartphones and social media are combined into a group of friends.

$5,000 to $20,000

United States > New York

Multi asset hedge fund based out of NY. Invest in both startups and established businesses. Team can help with adding expertise and value.

$5,000 to $200,000,000

Spain > BARCELONA

I’m a multi-faceted and dynamic professional, passionate for excellence, expert in managing the operational area within the hospitality/tourism industry with more than 10 years of experience who is looking for an opportunity to join your company and work hard by taking personal accountability to achieve your goals. Audacious with a clear focus on quantitative as also on qualitative results. Leader focused to work in/with a team towards a common goal that should always be the guest’s satisfaction and the attainment of the company’s objectives driving the business with honesty, integrity, and professionalism. Development of work structures based on accountability and human resources development, encouraging everybody to maximize their potential. Open to innovation and improvement always based on communication and clarity. Decisive, always identified with the objectives and non-negotiable values of the company.

$100,000 to $5,000,000

United States > California

Experienced investor. Manufacturing experience Individual and group investor

$500,000 to $10,000,000

United States > New York

No Profile info listed.

$0 to $500,000

United States > New York

I'm a private investor who is interested in small size projects. I used to be an entrepreneur myself.

$50,000 to $50,000,000

United States > New Jersey

I am young, enthusiastic individual investor in the North Jersey/NYC area. I graduated from business school in 2010 and I am currently working as a corporate restructuring consultant for a mid size firm in NYC which specializes in providing advisory services to distressed companies, lender groups/committees, etc., inside and outside of bankruptcy across various industries (majority of my experience is in real estate). I have technical financial skill set in financial modeling, valuation (DCF), accounting and auditing. I have passed the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CIRA (Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor) exams and I am awaiting certain education/professional requirements to be certified. I have no entrepreneurial investment experience but I am trying to change that as I learn quickly and could add-value to any team. I would plan on being hands off/silent with a small advisory role and on any technical financial/accounting issues I could help with.

$0 to $25,000

Singapore > Singapore

I'm a young Digital Marketing Expert looking to invest money in consumer facing projects. I have a degree in Business Management and Marketing and 5 years + of experience in the working environment. I have worked for a start-up and am currently working in a start-up business unit within a large company. I work in branding and communications and have experience in all things digital i.e. search, display, ad-serving etc. I also have contacts in clothing and alcohol distribution and import/export. I'm absolutely willing to get hands on with a business if it is a good opportunity and want to work with ambitious people similar to myself.

$1,000 to $10,000