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

Hungary > Budapest

stated as investment banker, became private equity investor and finally angel investor mainly active in media-technology industries with European background, moving to the US

$1,000 to $50,000

Canada > Langley

We invest in commercial (warehouse, office, retail) income producing properties only. We are an investment group that looks for a purchase price of no less than 1M and no maximum. Extensive experience in the industry.

$1,000,000 to $10,000,000

United States > Colorado

As the owner of three different corporations started from scratch, I enjoy the excitement and rush of the transition of a creative idea into reality. I am a private investor interested in new ideas that have the strength to become a reality. Having a dual degree in finance and real estate helped me build my companies which started our as an idea and have over the past 15 years continued to blossom. My experience includes: an FDIC / Supervisoy Liquidation Specialist managing and disposing of $2B in assets for the government - to being a Court Receiver managing Real Property in Dispute. My current businesses are in Manufacturing, Specialized Freight Transpotation and the Casino Gaming Industry,

$100,000 to $1,000,000

United States > New York

I am live in NYC and married with a few kids. I work as a financial advisor and financial planner. We have a lot of investing in good companies through the stock market and through private investments. I have a very good understanding of cash flow and balance sheets. I am a private investor. We own real estate and we understand that very well. If I have value to add I would be an advisor and sometimes I prefer to be a silent investor.

$1,000 to $100,000

United States > South Carolina

Have been in the private equity and venture capital investing business for the last 12 years. Having invested in over 50+ other private equity funds and made direct investments in over 150+ businesses, I have seen a wide variety of industry segments, investment niches, and am very open to various vertical market focuses. If a transaction is too large, I many times can arrange a syndication to accomplish the needed financing as well. My primary objective or focus is North America.

$100,000 to $2,500,000

United States > Florida

I am trying to find good ideas to invest in if you can show me how to make a profit. I will help as much as I possibly can. I love helping other entrepreneurs. I am an individual investor that will do as much as I possibly can to help as long as I know what needs to get done.

$10,000 to $50,000

United States > Virginia

I am a private investor with a construction background. I am looking for a good investment in this market

$1,000,000 to $10,000,000

United States > Georgia

We have funded over 15,000 businesses since 1998. Our funding ranges from $3,000 up to $150,000. Funding can be used for anything purpose, there are no strings attached. You can use our funding to upgrade equipment, remodel, open a new location, advertisement, purchase inventor and more. We provide funding to small to medium- sized businesses based on the following factors: -Must be in business for 4 months or longer -Earn $2,500 or more in monthly credit card sales volume -No previous bankruptcies There are no application fees or any hidden fees. If you need funding for your business, we can help you receive the funding your company deserves.

$300,000 to $15,000,000