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

Turkey > Izmir

Having investments in Turkey as a family company, investing into automotive, energy, construction, estate, real estate sectors. Looking for investments abroad..

$1,000,000 to $99,000,000

United States > New York

I am the CEO of the leader in online currency trading world wide (550 employees). we invest in businesses and technologies that have synergy with FXCM. we have done 3 investments in the past two years not all in the online currency space but always in an area where we can help with more then just money.

$100,000 to $5,000,000

United States > New York

I built a small business from my bootstraps and recently sold the majority ownership share. I know what hard work it takes to build a business. I'm looking forward to hearing about many ideas!

$1,000 to $15,000

United States > New York

Looking for debt or equity investments as well as advisory assignments. I have worked for and invested in several startups and have strong ties in the startup world and have a strong business strategy background having successfully negotiated several $20+ million dollar deals I am based in New York City.

$0 to $100,000

United States > Indiana

50 yr old. have some real estate, landlord. experience. have construction background. looking to make incremental investment in promising business plan. will require equity for money.

$5,000 to $100,000

United States > Kansas

I am a Chemical Engineer by degree. I have worked as a Process Engineer and recently moved into a Commissioning/Start-up roll Currently employed by an EPC contractor. Would like to help startup businesses by providing the initial capital.

$0 to $20,000

Malaysia > Penang

We are an investment fund manager looking for a diversified investment portfolio .

$50,000 to $500,000

United States > Kentucky

I have over 20 years of investment experience having worked for 2 wall street firms.

$100,000 to $50,000,000