Michigan 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.

Michigan Investors

United States > Michigan

I am a married 71-year-old retired male. I have spent 45 years running my own business and have invested with partners in various other business. I have been involved in real-estate investments, automotive repair, boat dealership, restaurant and home and business rentals. I am looking for an investment with minor involvement to keep me engaged during my retirement.

$5,000 to $100,000

United States > Michigan

27 years old. Male. Bachelors in Finance. Institutional investment experience - have assisted in investing over $5 billion dollars on behalf of pensions and other investment institutions. Spent several years at investment companies with values in excess of $30 billion dollars - specialties include private equity, venture capital, private real estate, and private credit investments. Experienced in deep financial, fundamental, and technical analysis of investment opportunities. Have experience starting a business services company from scratch that has generated over $350k in annual revenue in the first 10 months of business. Prior institutional investor, no investment license currently active. Anticipated Involvement: Silent investor that requires frequent business updates.

$20,000 to $100,000

United States > Michigan

25 year old single guy in Rochester, MI. I work as an engineering specialist at Eaton and will be an MBA grad from Indiana University in the next few years. I already have a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Aerospace Engineering. I've been investing in out-of-country real estate and in-country stock market for the most part. I've got a good network of techies that can help digitalize any industry. I've also got a few close friends who would be interested in a joint investment with me, given that the idea is solid.

$0 to $25,000

United States > Michigan

I live in Canada but have family in Michigan. I would like to invest in Michigan in order to move and be closer to my family. I am a Marketing Manager for a company and own my own design studio.

$10,000 to $60,000

United States > Michigan

Background in finance and accounting. Work with finance company but will be investing my own funds. Individual investor.

$0 to $100,000

United States > Michigan

I have over 25 years of experience in investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, venture capital and emerging company development. I began my investment- banking career in New York with the firm of Hornblower and Weeks. In 1974, I moved to Bache Stuart Halsey Inc. as vice-president of mergers and acquisitions. In 1979, I joined Asset Management Investments, a private venture capital firm, with $22 million under management. Since 1985, I have been involved with start-up companies, developing coherent and innovative financing strategies. He is an author and a frequent speaker for entrepreneurship forums and venture capital seminars. His experience as an entrepreneur/business owner, investment banker, and venture capitalist provides a unique and comprehensive perspective for VIP’s Portfolio investments and Investing Partners.

$500,000 to $5,000,000

United States > Michigan

My partner and I seek to invest equity into established businesses. We invest our own capital. We seek to deploy Growth Equity Capital into well managed companies that need capital for growth or perpetuation purposes. We do seek to have majority control. We do not look to run our companies on a day to day basis because we seek to leverage existing management teams and help them grow. Our goal is to provide advisory support and to make major decisions (acquisitions, sale of company, etc). My background includes spending 30+ years in Commercial and Investment Banking. I have advised many families and many companies to help maximize their business opportunities.

$1,000,000 to $10,000,000

United States > Michigan

I was coached at a young age by my father, who owned several different companies. I learned the ins and outs of business growth and management and built a million-dollar company at age 22. Also had a successful career in corporate America. Would like to help entrepreneurs achieve similar results.

$50,000 to $1,000,000