New York Investment Network

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 > Florida

We sold our family business in 2011 to a public company. We were a healthcare transportation business in South Florida. I am looking to invest in a company and go to work to build the current revenue.

$250,000 to $1,000,000

United States > New Jersey

I am an active Angel investor, my experience as a successful seasoned entrepreneur has helped me understand many types of strategic business decisions... I am most helpful to a company when I can be actively involved with my investment.... I have successfully found and sold many startups..

$25,000 to $1,500,000

United States > Colorado

PRIVATE INVESTOR

$10,000 to $100,000

United States > Hawaii

Our Group Buys and Sells Commodity Products for all energy products Worldwide. D-2, Jet Fuel, Bio Diesel, Muzut, Gold, Diamonds,Saudi Grade Crude and more are just a few of the many products we can Buy or Sell Our Group also has access to Hedge Funds and Insurance Funds that will Finance large world wide transactions. We would love to speak to you if you have access to End Sources (Mandates) on the Buy or Sell for End Products Worldwide We love to also talk to you about funding any large products worldwide. We have a Green Fund that would love to discuss all Energy Projects that need funding Worldwide. Thanks for your business

$1,000,000 to $1,000,000,000

United States > New York

My firm assists startups in the process of raising seed capital, angel funding, venture capital, bank loans, and grants. Personally, I have been involved with startups for over 10 years as a principle and as an advisor. I have a vast network of investors and industry leaders to guide and support burgeoning visionaries. At times, we will deploy our own capital into a new venture as well.

$100,000 to $2,000,000

United States > New York

$50k Looking To Put Some Private Cash Into An Existing Business, (rental property with existing lease, building, warehouse, lots, services business) This would be a silent partnership (splits) can be determined based on specs, as I Have No Interest In Being Involved In Day-To-Day Operations. Who needs a cash infusion? serious inquiries only please.

$50,000 to $300,000

United States > Virginia

I am looking to invest in any kind of company. I need 10% return.

$25,000 to $100,000

United States > New York

I am an individual investor from Long Island with a Masters Degree in Engineering and more than 30 years of international experience of working in three continents.

$10,000 to $250,000