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

My academic background: BA Architecture, BA Building Construction.Series 7 Education. Gas and Oil Background Experience. Securites

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

United States > New Jersey

I have been an investment advisor, venture capitalist, investor, CFO and merchant banker for over 15 years. I have worked in serveral different industries for businesses at different stages.I look forward to working with to solve your financial issues.

$0 to $550,000

United States > Florida

A financial advisory firm that provides companies with time sensitive financing needs access to senior debt, mezzanine and private equity capital for the purposes of refinancing, acquisition, restructuring and growth initiatives. Our experience spans a broad range of industries including energy, financial services, media/broadcasting, real estate, healthcare, telecom manufacturing, distribution and emerging technology to name a few. With access to over $5 billion of capital through our financing resources, Prestige has the ability to help clients quickly structure meaningful equity, senior debt and mezzanine capital. We will also make direct investment from time to time.

$2,000,000 to $50,000,000

United States > New York

I have been in banking for 26 years project manager of lend america mortgage bank within these two months........ we have over 2 billion dollars in joint venure

$350,000 to $5,000,000

Spain > Malaga

I have been investing in FEC's and retail outlets in Europe and the middle east for about 5 years. My background is in Real Estate. I represent a group of private investors and we are particularly interested in Theme park and Leisure developments

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

United States > Texas

I am a successful entrepreneur, actively involved in the day to day operations of one of the largest bulk mailing companies in central Texas. My investment history is limited to stock trades and similar broker assisted deals. I am currently seeking a more active role in exploring investment opportunities, particularly those afforded to accredited investors only. Currently, I am investing as a private investor, although I belong to a informal group of potential angel investors in our area.

$5,000 to $50,000

United States > New York

I'm an individual investor with an academic background in engineering (PhD) and currently managing a team at a top investment bank. I can bring in a combination of technological background and finance/investment banking experience. I am interested in a wide variety of opportunities and prefer to have an advisory role, but am open to more hands-on involvement if necessary.

$10,000 to $150,000

Belgium > Heverlee

Business mostly in real estate in Belgium, Europe. I am US citizen by birth, 54 years old and ready to Invest in my country of birth. I would like to be involved in the business I will invest.

$100,000 to $300,000