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"Many thanks for excellent service you provide, your website has helped me and I am in the process of discussing with two interested Investors. I am far in PNG and your network brings investors to my door step. Great Service. "
Amos Jawut, AN Consulting Services


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

United Kingdom > London

£500,000 to £2,000,000

September 2, 2010

Former Chairman and / or Managing Director/CEO of many substantial corporations in the UK and USA. All such corporations have substantially increased profits, net assetts and share price during his time with them. Investment Parameters, £500,000 to £2,000,000. High risk / high return opportunities with a demonstrable exit strategy within 4 years. Will not accept an executive role or management obligation, but may be available to render advice. An individual Investor who prefers to be the main, possibly the only outside investor, who is not risk averse. Has underwritten an AIM Placing and Admission

United Kingdom > London

£10,000 to £100,000

September 2, 2010

Successful Property developer looking for alternative investment opportunities.

United Kingdom > Surrey

£5,000 to £100,000

September 1, 2010

Founding Partner of a private equity business. Former managing director of UBS Investment bank. 20 years experience in City. Cambridge Economics degree. Angel investor in 5 start ups. Prepared to act in an advisory capacity.

United Kingdom > London

£5,000 to £50,000

August 31, 2010

Family office type of seeding/venture investors. Graduated from top European & US Universities. 15 years of professional experience mainly gained in investment management. Can help commercially developp the projects and bring co- investors. Advisory to silent. hands-on if need be.

United Kingdom > Shropshire

£1,000 to £20,000

August 31, 2010

I am currently the manager of Athena Vehicle Solutions, previous to that I set up two of my own companies with a business partner, namely 121 Leasing and 121 Promotions Ltd, I have been a business man for nearly 20 years and I have held many responsable positions, I have also worked my way through companies, from Telesale to Director level. I have turned my present company from a proposed turnover of £20,000 to over £60,000 within two months of becoming manager. I also built 121 Leasing and 121 Promotions from scratch, to turnover approaching £100,000 within two years, we also had the websites valued that I built and maintained and these came out at almost £15,000 between the two, I am bright, unique and I am looking at investing and being involved in the business. I am an individual investor that is looking at growing my portfolio since I sold my shares in the above two companies, I am not a director or shareholder as things stand of any business.

United Kingdom > London

£5,000 to £40,000

August 31, 2010

Buy side fund manager who has worked across a wide range of funds investing across a variety of industries and geographies.

United Kingdom > Sussex

£10,000 to £300,000

August 31, 2010

With many years in Retailing I am looking to invest in a business or invention in the South East of England.Please contact with full details for a quick decision many thanks.

United Kingdom > West Midlands

£10,000 to £30,000

August 31, 2010

I am looking for an investment that I can become part of the business and make it a real sucsess. Would be happy to learn the various roles of the business and work hard if needs be to enjoy the profits that we could generate from a good business. Willing to be a silent partner if the proposition is right IT & warehousing background.

United Kingdom > Northamptonshire

£1,000 to £50,000

August 30, 2010

I'm 44, married with 4 children and live in East Northants. I have my own business which is involved in the electrical industry. We manufacture or rather assembly manufacture Electrical Cable Joints and Terminations for all Cable types and voltages up to 36kV. I am also expaning into the middle east by setting up a 50/50 joint venture with a local partner. I am currently looking to do this also in Vietnam and possibly South Africa. I am looking to possibly invest in either start up or existing businesses that may need help with funding along with some management input. It does not have to be related to my specific industry sector as I am happy to diversify. The product just needs to appeal to me and if I feel it can be marketed and sold and I feel I can help, this would meet my criteria.

United Kingdom > London

£1,000 to £10,000

August 30, 2010

I am currently the Managing Director of a TV content production company offering tv shows to the worldwide market. I have 10 years experience and my contacts within the media industry are deep and varied. We also look for ideas for content that we raise finance for by co developing with various broadcasters. We are looking for great business ideas that have a visual aspect and could be used as a basis for TV content. As well as this we also wish to invest in ideas that foster understanding and tolerance between different communities throughout the world.

United Kingdom > Dorset

£500 to £5,000

August 29, 2010

I lead a group of small, successful business owners looking to invest in other businesses. We are involved in retail, restaurants & bars, childcare, telecoms & ICT and are looking to be advisory or silent partners.

United Kingdom > London

£10,000 to £100,000

August 29, 2010

Investment banker with cash funding.

United Kingdom > Buckinghamshire

£1,000 to £1,000,000

August 28, 2010

Property Entrepreneur, Portfolio Landlord, Founder of Mortgage Rescue Network owner of Rapid Property Group of companies. Open minded to new creative ideas.

United Kingdom > Fermanagh

£0 to £50,000

August 28, 2010

We are a small private investment company, that invests in technology startups in UK, Ireland and Europe.

United Kingdom > Essex

£10,000 to £250,000

August 26, 2010

Director of Management Consultancy Company MBA General Management Experienced in Finance, Business Development, Marketing Advisory Involvement Individual Investor & Broker

United Kingdom > Glamorgan

£1,000 to £20,000

August 25, 2010

Experience: Creating and growing a software startup to an six figure annual profit in under a year. Currently working at another startup selling software into major financial institutions. Education: 1st class degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge. Investment experience: None Experience in what it takes to create, market and scale a software company. Various contacts in the IT and financial industries. Happy to invest either as a silent investor, or take a more active role if its somewhere I can add value.

United Kingdom > London

£25,000 to £250,000

August 25, 2010

Founder and Director of a successful healthcare software and workflow solutions company. Looking for an early stage company offering technological solutions in Healthcare and Media industry

United Kingdom > Cambridgeshire

£1,000 to £6,000

August 25, 2010

I am looking to invest in small start-up companies, initially small amounts to gain experience in this area of investing. My Background: - Technical specialist with twenty-eight years experience in consultancy, design, development and testing of applications primarily in the telecommunications sector. - Expertise covers the entire project lifecycle and includes development of Network Management applications, object oriented development, applications based on OSI and SNA communications protocols, software configuration management and release. -Strong experience of IT analysis and design.

United Kingdom > London

£0 to £25,000

August 24, 2010

An investor with an extensive background in IT.

United Kingdom > London

£0 to £50,000

August 24, 2010

First time investor. eCommerce experience.



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