Business Plan¶

Dynamic & shared vision with team on where we are, where we’re going, how we’re going there

Elements¶

1. Executive Summary
2. Opportunity and the Company & its Services/Products
3. Market Research/Analysis
4. Economics of the Business
5. Marketing Plan
6. Design & Development Plan
7. Manufacturing & Operations Plan
8. Management Team
9. Schedule
10. Critical Risks, Problems & Assumptions
11. Financial Plan
12. Assumptions

Technology isn’t a section, as it is a means to the end. The real point is the value produced.

Cover Page

• Name of Venture
• Address, Contact Details
• Confidentiality Legend
• Securities Law Legend
• Control numbering of copies

Table of Contents¶

1. Put one in
2. Include page numbers

Executive Summary¶

Resume for the full plan

Goal is to get the interview to give the pitch, and answer What do investors look for?

Elements¶

1. Description of Business Concept
2. Opportunity & Strategy
3. Target Market & Projections
4. Competitive Advantages
5. Economics, Profitability, Harvest Potential
6. The Team

Characteristics¶

• 2 - 5 pages long
• Should be Logical, Clear, Interesting/Exciting

Body¶

1. IDK Plan
2. Marketing Strategy
3. Pricing & Distribution
4. Sales Tactics
5. Advertising & Promotion
6. Opportunity
7. How big is it now?
8. Trends
9. Market Analysis
10. Existing competitors
11. Who loses if you win and what will be their response?
12. Are customers interested?
13. Development Plan
14. Current Product Status
15. Further steps (Time & Resources) required
16. Difficulty & Risks
17. Product Pipeline Plans
18. Action Plan
19. What will you do and when?
20. Identification of ‘Credibility Testers’
21. Sequencing to build value
22. Eliminate/Reduce Dependencies
23. Coordination of Schedule, Value Recognition Events, and Financing Requirements
24. Appendix

Business Plan as a Financing Document¶

First reading: Like a resume¶

1. Excellent Idea
2. Excellent financial promise
3. Excellent team
4. Action plan is credible and focused
5. Details that give assurance of insight, commitment, and follow-through

Why some plans fail here¶

• Insufficient market
• Non-Credible technology
• Too large investment
• Failure to understand market
• Overly optimistic action plan
• Non-Credible team
• Poor business plan submission (misspellings, poor grammar)

Second reading: Justify the investment¶

Third reading: Commit to a plan¶

What do investors look for?¶

1. Why this? Why should I be interested?
2. Why now?
3. Why this team?
4. Why will this succeed?

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