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"I would like to thank you for your site which I found by chance. Thanks to you I found an investor and was able to set up my limousine company in Geneva (Switzerland)."
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Business Plan Tips

What Investors Are Looking For In A Plan

Investors - whether angels or VCs - 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 you explain in your plan that of your team members knows has expertise in this area. 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 read a lot of 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 use a 15 slide Power Point 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 worded differently, can get really tiring. If you try and be as precise and to the point as possible, people are more likely to want to read it.

Write In Plain English

If you can't explain your idea in clear and simple 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, try and 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.

Don't give more away than you want to

Be aware of who is reading your information, and never give away more information than you feel comfortable with. Do due diligence on anyone who you are dealing with. If you do need to reveal sensitive information, ask for a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to be signed.


Latest Investors

Australia > Victoria

$100,000 to $500,000

July 28, 2010

Looking for a tourism, manufacturing or retail proposal with the capacity to draw in excess of 60,000 people through its front door.I have an existing tourism business that presently draws 60,000 people to its site and l am seeking to support a new project to run adjacent to this business.Ideally your proposal would compliment an Animal Park and Mini-Golf complex.Primarily my market is International holiday makers and domestic families looking to have a fun and relaxing time whilst in the region, l can provide land and depending on your needs can assist in the building of the infrastructure to 500,000.

Australia > Western Australia

$5,000 to $200,000

July 26, 2010

I am a senior professional civil engineer, with good business acumen. I have advanced project management skills and experience. I relate to hardworking, honest individuals. I have broad interests. I would find it hard not to be actively involved in a project that included my own investment and would be a potential strong contributor to its overall success.

Australia > New South Wales

$20,000 to $500,000

July 25, 2010

Married, 57 Bellevue Hill, Sydney, Australia. B.Com, Higher Diploma, Bus Data processing, Chartered Accountant Currently Chief Executive of Optivance 360 (business consulting), and executive director of iVisual International. Past senior roles include former international chief executive officer of Expense Reduction Analysts (largest cost containment consultancy of its kind in the world in 30 countries), founder and retired partner in Gruzd Zets & Co chartered accountants. Vast experience as a director of professional service firms, automotive, IT, internet, mining and metallurgy, health industry, travel industry, logistics and more. Former director of South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and regional president. Member of several professional committees. Broad experience in corporations law, corporate governance and business management, financial management. Interested in helping business achieve their potential. Strong network.

Australia > Western Australia

$0 to $20,000

July 25, 2010

Private Investor- looking at silent investments

Australia > Queensland

$0 to $10,000

July 22, 2010

Young investor interested in all things business and information technology.

Australia > Victoria

$5,000 to $10,000

July 22, 2010

I am a 23 year old new investor looking to extend my portfolio of investments with new, developing and exciting ventures. I am currently situated in Melbourne, Australia, employed as a Technology Consultant. My educational background is in Commerce and Engineering (IT). I am relatively new to investing but have a unrivaled passion and work ethic to add value to companies. I am interested in being a silent investor with my position changing as my experience in ventures grows.

South Africa > DARNALL

$200,000 to $1,000,000

July 21, 2010

Owners of a highly successful Financial business operating in North Coast, South Africa wishing to invest in egg production in suitable areas. We would be a hands-on Egg production facility and we would be an individual investor initially, then looking for finance to expand the business. Looking for areas that would demand this product, a good indication and location would be the country that imports eggs, the location would be around sea-level in order to have the right conditions to produce the eggs. Ideally the area of demand and the area of production be situated in close proximity to each other. Accurate Investment value can only be determined on market demand. Volumes from the area will indicate which size of plant to put in as this is purchased as a whole and complete ready for production facility.

Australia > Victoria

$1,000 to $100,000

July 20, 2010

Mechanical engineer by profession and working as factory manager in a manufacturing firm, wanting to invest (Any manufacturing) industries preferably.

Australia > Victoria

$50,000 to $150,000

July 19, 2010

I am an experienced sales and marketing General Manager, who has worked successfully with two business partners in the last 10 years. Those businesses were in the Sales Training & Property development areas, where the capital invested was up to $1m. I have worked at IBM, Optus & British Telecom, but my real passion now is in building small business with like minded people. I have good funding contacts as well as a strong desire to be involved in the sale and marketing of the business. I am a good salesman, with a principle-based negotiation philosophy. I am 45 years old, tertiary qualified (economoics & accounting), grew up in Melbourne and have contacts nationwide, married with two sons and live in Hawthorn, Melbourne. I see my involvement as being as an individual investor ready to put his shoulder to the wheel and build further momentum in the business.

Australia > New South Wales

$1,000 to $50,000

July 19, 2010

Individual investor, looking for any investment I can see a good future in.

Australia > Victoria

$0 to $10,000,000

July 19, 2010

An entrepreneur based in Melbourne, who loves working to develop and capitalise on start up opportunities.

Australia > Victoria

$1,000 to $300,000

July 18, 2010

I'm 33 year old GP looking for some exciting new investment opportunities, with a potential hands on approach if required. Looking forward to your ideas.

Australia > Victoria

$1,000,000 to $3,000,000

July 17, 2010

Currently own a business in South Africa for mining supply. We have been involved in supplying to the Crushing and Milling sectors of various minging industries since 1996. I am 47 years old. My family migrated to Australia two years ago. I would like to look at a new investment opportunity to have another of my business here in Victoria. I have a Master degree in mechanical engineering, and would look forward to another successful business. Provisionally I am considering at Car dealer area, a Watch store, or a mining supply company. I feel it might be approperate to join in a partnership with one of the well established business.

Australia > New South Wales

$2,000 to $75,000

July 17, 2010

Currently living in Sydney working in a Gov role and run my own business part time. Interested in Real estate, finance and share trading. Looking for a new investment opportunity being either hands-on, silent or part time involvement.

Australia > Victoria

$1,000,000 to $5,000,000

July 17, 2010

Male, 45, Married with kids, Moved to Australia 22 years ago from China Large corporate experience in supply chain, marketing, import/export, business strategy, project management, investment evaluation. Being an independent management consultant to large companies for last 5 years. MBA, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, CPIM Limited investment experience Able to add value in business management, Chinese market knowledge, ability to bring in other investors. Prefer to maintain advisory capacity in business Invest individually or with friends

Australia > Western Australia

$1,000 to $20,000

July 15, 2010

Individual investor, looking for any investment I can see a good future in.

Australia > Tasmania

$10,000 to $50,000

July 15, 2010

Im 24, single and living in Tasmania, currently an assistant manager in a large locally owned retail organization, completed diploma in front line management and cert 3 in retail. Never really invested before, looking for something I can be passionate about.

Australia > Victoria

$10,000 to $50,000

July 14, 2010

I am based in Melbourne. I currently have 2 businesses one very successful restaurant bar and an Events, live branding and Production business of which I am a the Managing Director of the Lab Creative. I am keen to explore further investment opportunities of which I would consider acting in an advisory position and or hands-on dependent on the opportunity. I look forward to considering your proposal.

Australia > Victoria

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

July 14, 2010

Financial Group est. 1998. Specialist expertise in monetising systems & products for substantial profit. Extensive Licensing & Branding development experience, as example, developed brand new product & brought to market in August 09, achieved $25M in sales over five months.

Australia > New South Wales

$100 to $15,000

July 13, 2010

I am a young investor looking for a good opportunity that can benefit from my past experience, time and money. I am currently an experienced Oracle Financials Consultant and have been working on some of the major financial projects in Australia for the last 3 years. Previous to that for 5 years I was working for one of the australia's big 4 banks in various roles. My hobbies: I love to build CMS and shopping websites on the weekends Go Karting, martial arts and chess. I have a lot of contacts in the finance and recruitment industry. I have helped other small businesses outsource certain tasks (data entry, telesales, telemarketing, information gathering, research etc..) to teams overseas.



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