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 > Arkansas

Investment Criteria While the merits of each investment will vary, we evaluate your venture according to the following criteria. Management Team We look for teams of high-quality entrepreneurs with a track record of leadership and performance, either in the company's specific industry or in prior entrepreneurial ventures. We also look at your team's passion for and commitment to the new business idea, and your ability to inspire confidence among future stakeholders, including employees, potential customers, and investors. As we will be working together as partners, your team's credibility is essential. In addition, your team must be open to and comfortable with receiving input provided by angel investors. Market Opportunity We invest in solutions that address major problems for significantly large target markets. Your company must demonstrate a strategy to claim significant share of this market.

$100,000 to $600,000,000

United States > New Jersey

I am new to the business and getting the hang of it. I have closed one deal about a month ago, and looking to close more for the coming year. I do have a partner she is a Realtor/Investor/Mortgagor. We are looking to Wholesale deals, REO buyrers, We can get the properties, but looking for serious buyers that wolud like to buy, and move on to the next project. Need help with funding deals to either fix the property hold or flip

$10,000 to $25,000

United States > Texas

We provide ABL, Debt & Equity for All Industry Sectors and Asset Types. Control & Non- Control Equity Investments. Loans & Equity Investments from $3,000,000 - $500,000,000+.

$3,000,000 to $500,000,000

United States > New York

Private investor looking to invest in stable projects.

$2,500 to $10,000

United States > Connecticut

I'm a 35 year equity investor. I have an JD/MBA from NYU and am looking for a return on my money with anything that I invest. Looking for the company to be successful as I've done before.

$0 to $10,000

Australia > SYDNEY

Private investor looking to invest funds from sale of previous business.

$1 to $300,000,000

United States > Texas

A Company that has been around since 2007 as a financial resource provider for commercial, residential real estate investors and business owner seeking capital.

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

United States > New York

I am a former consultant for Internet start ups, all of which folded during the Internet bust. Despite the negative outcome of my work, I still strongly believe in innovation. Given the risky nature of angel investing and unpredictability of innovation, my investment objective would be to get up to 35% over a period of 5 years. I am a private investor.

$5,000 to $20,000