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

The firm I represent is looking for asset heavy opportunities through which a mix of asset backed financing and some equity could be provided. We're flexible and typically stay out of management's way allowing them to run the business without interference. We prefer investments in the U.S. and Western Europe but will consider other geographic areas. I personally have 10 years of investment banking and financial advisory experience with a primary focus on middle market activities.

$10,000,000 to $150,000,000

United States > New York

We are an investment group of fellow MBA graduates who are seeking passive investments that yield short term (less than 3 years) returns in excess 150%+. Our investment group brings not only financial resources but also over 50 years of business experience from fortune 500 companies.We have corporate experience in consumer packaged goods, beauty, pharmaceuticals, finance and consulting industries and bring this industry experience as a value added asset to our investment partnerships.

$50,000 to $250,000

United States > New York

38 Years successful owner operator in a franchised brand. Numerous Award winner in mentoring as a business consultant Sales managment team building .Results oriented professional in exceeded sales growth , new business development.

$200,000 to $500,000

United States > Texas

I am a young professional looking for good investment opportunities for idle capital.

$10,000 to $20,000

United States > New Jersey

I am a private investor who, at times, was/is able to pool other investors on a given venture. I have 25 years experience in the investment banking industry, during the course of which, I had engaged in privately funding several opportunities. Though my investment objective has been to seek a rule-of-thumb return based on "seven-in-seven", I can be flexible given the nature of the opportunity/circumstance.

$20,000 to $400,000

United States > New York

I am a V.P. with a Wall Street Investment Group; that have partnerships with Private Equity Investors, Hedge Funds, Hard Money Investors, Joint Venture Capital Firms, etc... that funds deals based on the project. Interest only payments made annually, not monthly. Balloon payment due at the end of the term of the loan. Funding available as an Equity Partner also available. Loan amounts that are funded are anywhere from $500K to 100 Million+. Please submit your projects that are in need of funding and the deal will get submitted directly to the funding source. We work with Brokers and Principals all around the World. Thank you and we hope to work with you on your next deal.........

$1,000,000 to $100,000,000

United States > Florida

I have 24 years in the Investment Banking Business. My objective is to build up and devote full time in the venture i get involved with. My specialty is M/A. I have clients all around the world that i have done many M/A transactions. I am a private investor that is willing to invest my own capital. I also have access to all my contacts all over the world. I have raised over 300 million for venture capital deals in the past. My goal is to invest my capital and raise the value of the company and sell it off to some of my groups that are looking to acquire profitable companies out of the country.

$25,000 to $400,000

United States > Texas

retired investment banker, 18 years. senior managing director / principal of broker dealer at the institutional investment level.

$10,000 to $1,000,000