Ohio 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.

Ohio Investors

United States > Ohio

I would like to help your business reach the next level. Aside from investing, I bring years of experience as a top-performing US Department of Homeland security manager. I also have a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia with a double major in economics and foreign affairs. Above all, I bring unmatched passion and commitment. I would be either a hands-on or advisory investor.

$10,000 to $100,000

United States > Ohio

I have 12+ years of experience in technology and currently working as Director of Analytics in a fortune 500 companies. I have double masters degree MS and MBA and a Bachelors in Computer Science and immense experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, voice technology, data analytics with reporting skills and an overall end to end solutions in database or designing front end UI for both web and mobile applications. I would like to invest in tech start ups or Pharma, Bio tech, Real estate, Food industry or pretty much anything as long as you have a good Project Proposal and a confident pitch. I will bring my management and technology skills and guide you to grow your social media presence with marketing and my unique experience in capturing user journey and engagement.

$5,000 to $200,000

United States > Ohio

I work with an investment firm, where we have a fund focused on supporting operating businesses in Ohio counties with less than 200,000 residents. Our non-bank capital can be used as gap financing to support working capital, equipment purchases, or acquisition financing. We focus on existing cash flows to ensure the business can support our investment, which is primarily debt investments, either senior or subordinated debt. Our investment size is customarily between $500k - $5MM. We also have a Pennsylvania fund focused on rural opportunities, as well as a national fund for larger opportunities.

$500,000 to $5,000,000

United States > Ohio

Experienced CFO at a large financial institution looking for investments and partnerships outside of day job. Can help with funding, finance, accounting, partnership, leadership, and other investors.

$5,000 to $100,000

United States > Ohio

* 31-year-old male currently residing in Columbus, OH * Individual investor looking to invest in both start-ups and small businesses seeking growth capital (open to most industries) * Willing to leverage 10-years of Business Development / Corporate Strategy / M&A experience to entrepreneur via advisory-level involvement (open to silent involvement as well) * M.B.A Graduate of The Ohio State Fisher College of Business with concentrations in Finance and Strategy

$10,000 to $250,000

United States > Ohio

Aaron Schulman, married for 10 years with wonderful wife and 3 treasured daughters out of Columbus Ohio. Currently a partner with Venture Capitalists with a background in negotiations, marketing, real estate, affiliate marketing and M&A with VC advisory board experience. Our team will fund "make sense" projects with experienced management on your executive team. Have several relationships with conglomerate funding of up to 3BN or more and have invested in single projects of up to $536 MN. We offer mostly debt financing and some equity projects, but please contact for specifics. Our team's sweet spots include Assisted Living Facilities, Oil and natural gas mining, hospitality and multi-units near long-term mining projects, health care facilities, and some technology / medical / pharmaceutical inventions.

$10,000,000 to $500,000,000

United States > Ohio

Individual real estate investor just getting into private investing.

$0 to $10,000

United States > Ohio

Private Equity Group with Operations, Sales & Hiring Expertise. Focus on small owner led businesses that are undercapitalized.

$50,000 to $500,000