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

I am a private "angel" investor with some experience in investing in the entertainment industry. Over the last ten years, I have advised entrepreneurs, specifically in regard to raising capital for the financing of various media and theatrical productions.

$25,000 to $200,000

United States > New York

27 years old, single, grad student in NYC. I am looking to invest or for a business partner who wants to start a business. You must have capital and/or solid idea. I have $50.000 saved.

$5,000 to $50,000

United States > Connecticut

My experience includes corporate restructuring as an investment banker, trader and investor, Non-Investment grade/Private Equity Investment Banking, Commercial Lending and a Principal of a Registered Investment Advisor. I have served on the Boards of public and private companies in many capacities including Audit Committee Chairman, Executive Committee Chairman and Interim CEO. I am an SEC Qualified Financial Expert. My personal investments include distressed investments, start ups, private equity and diversified portfolios of debt instruments. My start up investments relate most closely to software developers with a SaaS bias. I also have investments in an Internet ad network, a radio broadcast/syndication company, a veterinary generic pharmaceuticals company, and an RFID/medical institution systems provider and consultant. I am a private investor and Investment Banker for Venture Capital companies and have raised capital for a number of companies.

$10,000 to $150,000

United States > New Jersey

I have experience in purchasing real estate.,expereience in the stock Market

$10,000 to $500,000

United States > New York

Looking for other people who are also interested in flipping houses and real estate investments

$10,000 to $50,000

United States > New York

I represent a group of individual and corporate investors, looking to maximize their return on real estate-related projects, nationwide. I have been in this business for 18 years, the last 8 owning my own firm. I will provide you with a quick and honest answer.

$100,000 to $10,000,000

United States > New York

We focus on lower middle market businesses seeking capital for growth. Typical investment sizes are $2 - $7 million. We seek businesses with at least $1 million of cash flow and we invest across all industries except Real Estate.

$500,000 to $15,000,000

United States > New York

Financial professional with experience investing in numerous private transactions.

$5,000 to $500,000