California 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.

Registered Investors

United States > California

I spent over 25 years in investment banking doing mergers and acquisitions and also complex financing transactions. A few years ago I began buying small companies for my own portfolio and recently set up my own fund to make non-control investments in small companies. I am keenly aware of the issues small business owners deal with when growing their businesses and I would be comfortable in a passive role or one in which I could also serve in an advisory capacity. Because of my background I am very comfortable with developing creative structures. I would be interested in deals with equity, debt or hybrid securities. I have a preference for investing in companies with strong growth potential. These could be start ups with growth concepts or existing companies leveraging a new concept. I would be very interested in helping existing companies with the structuring and financing of business acquisitions. I believe my background would be a value add in any deal

$50,000 to $1,000,000

United States > California

Investment, many deals see AngelList, mainly founder and CEO.

$1,000 to $25,000

United States > California

I am a private investor with experience in finance, accounting, and consulting for nonprofits. I am looking to transition from investing solely in traditional investment vehicles to a more diversified portfolio.

$1,000 to $20,000

United States > Washington

Small consulting and venture club working with 'eco-friendly' small businesses. The 'Consulting' team works with business owners to implement and improve branding, marketing, sales and financial results including training & owner coaching. The 'Club' members include a lawyer, banker, financial analyst, hydroligist.

$10,000 to $250,000

United States > California

I am a motivated entrepreneur that has had success in real estate development and other various construction industries. I have recently gone into an early retirement, focusing my time and efforts in sourcing passive investment opportunities. Primarily I have focused my business ventures in Southern California, but I am looking to expand my investment portfolio from simply domestic real estate investments to international markets. I am interested in getting in touch with entrepreneurs that have found niche markets for real estate development, even in the downturn in the global economy. Ilook forward to hearing about the opportunities that are out there.

$50,000 to $250,000

United States > California

Knowledgeable investor in public securities, have been on the sell side as broker and RIA. Have owned/operated several businesses. CPA Harvard MBA.

$25,000 to $200,000

United States > Illinois

We are an investment bank out of Scottsdale, Arizona. We work on two types of transactions. We do debt financing and equity funding for privately held, small to middle market companies. We also do mergers and acquuisitions, from an advisory standpoint whether it be from the buy of sell side.

$300,000 to $100,000,000

Ireland > Dublin

We were born out of a technology company that specializes in cloud software and web technologies. We've the hindsight of bringing products to market and love looking at new ventures with a view to making investment. .

$100,000 to $500,000