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 > New York

private investor, working in real estate and other ventures backed by hedge funds and other like minded investors looking for new projects to consider

$1,000,000 to $5,000,000

United States > New York

Hi. I'm based in Stamford CT, but am originally from New Zealand. I have managed Food and Beverage CPG and manufacturing businesses as CEO in 7 countries. I have operated businesses from 1 employee to over 2000 people; from my own start-ups to parts of global multinationals; from internet to supermarket channels. I speak Spanish and English. My key expertise is in brands and marketing, though having been CEO several times, I can apply myself to any area of a business. Vision, strategy, leadership are all strengths of mine. I have a keen interest in anything food related - from restaurants to import/export, to manufacturing and marketing brands. I am looking to be a Director and/or be in an advisory capacity with individual investment interest. I look forward to hearing from you.

$10,000 to $100,000

United States > Illinois

I invest as well as work directly with several investment groups. Looking for attractive investment opportuniites.

$500,000 to $9,000,000,000

United States > Illinois

Specialized Investment Bank

$500,000 to $50,000,000

United States > Iowa

Ask me to send you my résumé.

$50,000 to $500,000

United States > Florida

As one of the largest and fastest-growing small business finance facilitation companies in the United States, we are a dedicated to fundamentally changing how small businesses access capital. Combined our contracted funders have lent over $30 Billion to date and we expect nothing but explosive growth for the next few years. Our roots are in small business ownership. Our co-founders understand just how frustrating it can be to find the right kind of financing for your business after you have been turned down by your local bank, or have maxed out existing credit lines. We offer: APR Term Loans, Cash Advance /Consolidation Loans, Asset/Inventory/Receivables (Hybrid), Invoice Factoring, Inventory Financing, Subprime Equipment Leasing & Sale Leasebacks, Commercial Real Estate Financing, Growth Financing, Credit Lines, Special Corporate Protection & Restructure Consolidation

$50,000 to $90,000,000

United States > Pennsylvania

Looking to purchase high end real estate. Also looking to finance large real estate transactions.

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

United States > Massachusetts

Scientific background, managerial expertise. 63 years old. Married. Master degree in Biological Sciences. Master degree in Internet Management. My work experience is mostly related to pharmaceutical business. I started working in the research labs of an Italian pharmaceutical company. Then I spent a three years working as quality control and manufacturing manager of a American pharmaceutical american company. After that I move to international business development of a pharmaceutical Swiss company. I created the first plant cloning laboratory in a South American country. I would like to be involved directly in a start up or be a silent partner if requested.

$10,000 to $100,000