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 > California

Looking for projects in the entertainment, film production arena, real estate, construction, alternative energy and many more. We will take a look at all proposals and let you know if we can work together.

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

United States > Ohio

Aaron Schulman, married for 10 years with wonderful wife and 3 treasured daughters out of Columbus Ohio. Currently a partner with Venture Capitalists with a background in negotiations, marketing, real estate, affiliate marketing and M&A with VC advisory board experience. Our team will fund "make sense" projects with experienced management on your executive team. Have several relationships with conglomerate funding of up to 3BN or more and have invested in single projects of up to $536 MN. We offer mostly debt financing and some equity projects, but please contact for specifics. Our team's sweet spots include Assisted Living Facilities, Oil and natural gas mining, hospitality and multi-units near long-term mining projects, health care facilities, and some technology / medical / pharmaceutical inventions.

$10,000,000 to $500,000,000

Australia > Sydney

I am a business man from Australia which involve in many business which I establish and then sale with the profit, and now I am looking for bigger opportunity if possible to invest in.

$1 to $1,000,000

United States > Virginia

24 years of Banking and Brokerage experience. Seeking to assist clients with funding from $250k up to or over $500m. We have private lenders and do not shop your deals. Look forward to doing business with you!!!

$250,000 to $5,000,000,000

United States > Florida

I would like to invest in gold

$1,000 to $50,000

United States > California

Looking for forex,currency,oil,gold,stock, and commodities traders. Only looking for the best and most profitable traders around the world to come trade for us.

$25,000 to $100,000,000

United States > New York

My company is in the realestate and fitness business. We are located in the Tri State area and Florida. Our company is very entrepreneurial with professional management experience. I have a management degree from the Harvard Business School. We would like to invest in business that has a bright future, with smart management in place. We will take an advisory role in your company.

$100,000 to $1,000,000

United States > New Jersey

We work directly with multiple Private Investors and commercial bank lenders on an international level. As a real estate investor financier consultation company with over 30 years of business, technology and commercial property financing experience we specialize in structuring commercial transactions. We are also seeking commercial projects as a revenue share JV equity partner. Our direct lender currently has funds available for cash flowing business transactions. You many be a recent start-up, have poor personal credit, be losing money, or lack collateral, but that does not necessarily preclude our direct lender from funding your project or business.

$50,000 to $20,000,000