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

We are a professional investment firm with over $10M of capital, looking to invest in strong founders/management teams.

$1,000,000 to $7,000,000

United States > Michigan

My husband and I are in our mid 30s we are looking for an investment so he can run the company/business. I work for GM so I am secure in my role but want to have a business investment of our own.

$0 to $500,000

United States > Michigan

BSc (Computer Science) MBA Extensive experience as an entrepreneur. Have started companies from startup stage, to international franchising and publicly listed a US based franchise on the Frankfurt Exchange. Extensive experience in B2B and service based industries. Well versed with international business, different cultures and how to build businesses across borders. Dual citizen (Australian, United States). I am looking to be a part of a team to help run and build an established business that does not require "on-site" attendance. I am looking for something that I be involved in remotely. I am willing to travel internationally. So I am looking for active involvement and can also invest.

$20,000 to $100,000

United States > Michigan

We work with a broad range of real estate assets and debt instruments. Commercial property and notes secured by Office, Retail, Multi-Family, Mixed- Use, Industrial and Special Purpose are the main areas of focus.

$250,000 to $50,000,000

United States > Michigan

I have started and sold three businesses from nothing. All were auto related but it is business in general that I love . I consult for all types of businesses . I have a proven track record on starting and growing small businesses with strategic exits. I am very well connected and have numerous resources to pull from. Involvement can be all the above but at this point in my life , I would rather be silent with some advisory. I am an individual investor looking to invest into a business that is at that need for growth but I am not opposed to the right start up with the right ROI. I currently have a good share of funds invested or loaned at this time but do have a small amount for the right business and I will have a good amount of funds maturing towards the end of 2018. I am also interested in loaning funds to a legal medical marihuana business. A grower/caregiver or dispensary .

$50,000 to $500,000

United States > Michigan

My name is Philip. I am from Grand Rapids, MI. I have money set aside that I want to invest in the marijuana business. Whether that is a store or growing operation, I am eager to get in with a company and into this industry. I have a bachelor's degree in communications and natural resource management from Grand Valley State University. Ideally I would like to be involved in the business.

$0 to $50,000

United States > Michigan

I am 52, married and live in Oxford, Mi. I am a business consultant and invest in small startup company’s. I am currently involved in an environmental service-based startup (hands-on & advisory role) based in Holland, Mi which will service the surrounding county’s. I can offer business advice, business set up and business financial needs. My experience and expertise is in service type related businesses. I recently sold my mobile maintenance company to a National Maintenance Provider. The company provides mobile maintenance and inspection services to the transportation industry. I started the company and grew it to nearly 50 service trucks and serviced multiple states. I am an Individual investor and available for a hands-on, advisory role. I am motivated, high-energy, easy to work with and eager to invest and assist in service-based startups.

$5,000 to $300,000

United States > Michigan

I’m a sales and biz dev leader with 12 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, where I’ve worked with global OEMs and high-growth tech companies to bring new products to market and scale revenue. I've also spent 3 years in strategy consulting at McKinsey, helping clients solve growth, go-to-market, and operational challenges across tech and industrial sectors. I hold an MBA from the University of Chicago (Booth), and I’ve also spent time on the founder side - launching two companies, one of which was successfully acquired. Outside of operating roles, I’ve been an active real estate investor for more than seven years, focusing on long-term, cash-flowing assets. I grew up in Toronto and have since lived in Dallas, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Today, I’m based near Ann Arbor with my wife and our two young boys, ages 2 and 4. I enjoy connecting with entrepreneurs, supporting early-stage teams, and getting involved where I can add both strategic insight and hands-on help

$1,000 to $50,000