This document summarizes the key points from a seminar on developing a successful business plan and pitch for investors. The presenter outlines the criteria investors use to evaluate opportunities, including potential returns, required investment, and strength of management team. Advice is provided on how to evaluate market opportunities, develop financial forecasts, and package the business plan and pitch to appeal to investors. The importance of thoroughly thinking through all aspects of the business is emphasized.
Presenting to an Investment Panel - CSUF Startup IncubatorTravis Lindsay
Learn from CSUF Entrepreneurship and CSUF Startup Incubator Director John Bradley Jackson how to give a winning investment pitch. And Director Jackson should know what makes for a good pitch not only due to his experience as an entrepreneurship professor but also as a partner in an investment firm.
Presenting to an Investment Panel - CSUF Startup IncubatorTravis Lindsay
Learn from CSUF Entrepreneurship and CSUF Startup Incubator Director John Bradley Jackson how to give a winning investment pitch. And Director Jackson should know what makes for a good pitch not only due to his experience as an entrepreneurship professor but also as a partner in an investment firm.
TCN on Air: Breaking Down Strategic Investments for Life Sciences and technol...The Capital Network
There are many routes to funding your life science startup. One way to get to the next step in the early stages is through strategic investments with industry partners. In this online interactive Google hangout, we will look at how a strategic investment differs from regular financial investments such as angels or VCs, and how this can both negatively and positively impact your company. It will also discuss who potential strategics are, their motivation, as well as the recent trends in strategic investment.
If you are looking for alternative routes to funding, this is the hangout for you!
Expert:
Ryan Sansom – Goodwin Procter
You never get a second chance at a first impression. Early-stage ventures seeking investment need to know how to target, locate, approach, and close with venture capitalists, angels, and strategic investors. Hear first-hand a successful pitch from an entrepreneur who has closed a funding round (or two) and how the company’s pitch evolved over time.
How do you figure out how much money you need, and when? We’ll look at a case study and talk P&L to help you determine the right market for your product and which funding source is most appropriate to maximize the exit for your company.
Know Your Valuation for Equity Compensation (And Avoid the Perils of 409A)The Capital Network
If you are a CEO or a CFO of a high growth startup, it is vital to understand how to value your company correctly.
Here is a quick list of questions this lunch will help you answer:
Do you offer or are you planning to offer your employees stock options? Do you know the difference between ISOs and non-ISOs? Do you understand the general valuation concepts and approaches that the IRS has outlined, especially as they apply to early-stage companies? Did you know that if you run afoul of the 409A rules, your employees could have an unpleasant tax surprise and that some of that responsibility could revert back to you as the employer? Do you know if and when you need to engage an outside expert to assist with a valuation?
This is a limited seat lunch to teach issues of valuation for equity compensation and ask specific questions about your company.
Experts:
– Alicia Amaral, Scalar Analytics
– Scott Goodwin, Wolf & Company
Delivered during the workshop on How to Pitch Investor as part of the SPEC 2009. Focuses on how to give an effective 6 minute pitch at a Venture Conference. Covers Elevator Pitch at end.
Merchandising Your Content: Inspirations from the Retail WorldOne North
What does your website have in common with stores like Whole Foods? More than you might think. Just as the shelves of grocery stores are crammed full of products competing for your attention, law firm websites are packed full of content, with attorneys and practices competing for the attention of your clients.
Join Jen Bullett, Nancy Kostakos and Kalev Peekna as they take techniques from the retail world and apply them to content marketing and legal website strategies.
Our presenters drew direct parallels from retail environments and highlighted specifically how they relate to law firms—including how you can package content to drive cross-practice area promotion and how to structure pages so that your prime content captures readers and inspires them to take action. Using a fictitious law firm, they also demonstrated how content merchandising can play a broader role within law firm websites.
To view a recording of the webinar, visit http://bit.ly/10jriV1.
Kleos Africa webinar Babatunde Akin-Moses - Business Valuation SimplifiedGlory Enyinnaya
Value (like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder - and this is never more apparent than when one is evaluating an emerging or established business.''
When introducing your company to potential investors and partners, a significant portion of the conversation typically revolves around the value of the entity and how much it's worth in an arm's length transaction. Without the proper grounding, you stand at a distinct disadvantage when negotiations of this nature arise.
In this webinar, Kleos Africa consultant and Beta Gamma Sigma member Babatunde Akin-Moses will take you through the fundamental principles which every business professional should know about the art and science of valuation.
Babatunde brings to bear his considerable technical expertise as a PwC and KPMG-trained chartered accountant and First Class economist. He will also draw upon his experience as a technology entrepreneur and CEO of Sycamore, a peer-to-peer lending platform that connects lenders to borrowers using technology.
This is a BDC presentation and not StartMeUp Ryerson.
The BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to help companies continue with operations and to promote their success.
Running Your Business in a Low Inventory MarketMaura Neill
Buyer's Market? Seller's Market? Low Inventory? Whatever the market conditions, smart agents know the strategies and tactics to keep business flowing and clients happy. What are you doing to keep your business thriving in today's market?
Extra Ordinaire Janitorial and Manpower Services (Sytems Analysis and Design)ruthannbasnillo
This is a presentation of our final project in Systems analysis and design wherein we were assigned to propose a new system for the company of our choice. Here, we chose a janitorial and manpower services company and studied their marketing system. After some interviews with their marketing manager, we learned that they had this telemarketing system to acquire prospective clients. From then, we proposed a system which is a web-based marketing system for them.
TCN on Air: Breaking Down Strategic Investments for Life Sciences and technol...The Capital Network
There are many routes to funding your life science startup. One way to get to the next step in the early stages is through strategic investments with industry partners. In this online interactive Google hangout, we will look at how a strategic investment differs from regular financial investments such as angels or VCs, and how this can both negatively and positively impact your company. It will also discuss who potential strategics are, their motivation, as well as the recent trends in strategic investment.
If you are looking for alternative routes to funding, this is the hangout for you!
Expert:
Ryan Sansom – Goodwin Procter
You never get a second chance at a first impression. Early-stage ventures seeking investment need to know how to target, locate, approach, and close with venture capitalists, angels, and strategic investors. Hear first-hand a successful pitch from an entrepreneur who has closed a funding round (or two) and how the company’s pitch evolved over time.
How do you figure out how much money you need, and when? We’ll look at a case study and talk P&L to help you determine the right market for your product and which funding source is most appropriate to maximize the exit for your company.
Know Your Valuation for Equity Compensation (And Avoid the Perils of 409A)The Capital Network
If you are a CEO or a CFO of a high growth startup, it is vital to understand how to value your company correctly.
Here is a quick list of questions this lunch will help you answer:
Do you offer or are you planning to offer your employees stock options? Do you know the difference between ISOs and non-ISOs? Do you understand the general valuation concepts and approaches that the IRS has outlined, especially as they apply to early-stage companies? Did you know that if you run afoul of the 409A rules, your employees could have an unpleasant tax surprise and that some of that responsibility could revert back to you as the employer? Do you know if and when you need to engage an outside expert to assist with a valuation?
This is a limited seat lunch to teach issues of valuation for equity compensation and ask specific questions about your company.
Experts:
– Alicia Amaral, Scalar Analytics
– Scott Goodwin, Wolf & Company
Delivered during the workshop on How to Pitch Investor as part of the SPEC 2009. Focuses on how to give an effective 6 minute pitch at a Venture Conference. Covers Elevator Pitch at end.
Merchandising Your Content: Inspirations from the Retail WorldOne North
What does your website have in common with stores like Whole Foods? More than you might think. Just as the shelves of grocery stores are crammed full of products competing for your attention, law firm websites are packed full of content, with attorneys and practices competing for the attention of your clients.
Join Jen Bullett, Nancy Kostakos and Kalev Peekna as they take techniques from the retail world and apply them to content marketing and legal website strategies.
Our presenters drew direct parallels from retail environments and highlighted specifically how they relate to law firms—including how you can package content to drive cross-practice area promotion and how to structure pages so that your prime content captures readers and inspires them to take action. Using a fictitious law firm, they also demonstrated how content merchandising can play a broader role within law firm websites.
To view a recording of the webinar, visit http://bit.ly/10jriV1.
Kleos Africa webinar Babatunde Akin-Moses - Business Valuation SimplifiedGlory Enyinnaya
Value (like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder - and this is never more apparent than when one is evaluating an emerging or established business.''
When introducing your company to potential investors and partners, a significant portion of the conversation typically revolves around the value of the entity and how much it's worth in an arm's length transaction. Without the proper grounding, you stand at a distinct disadvantage when negotiations of this nature arise.
In this webinar, Kleos Africa consultant and Beta Gamma Sigma member Babatunde Akin-Moses will take you through the fundamental principles which every business professional should know about the art and science of valuation.
Babatunde brings to bear his considerable technical expertise as a PwC and KPMG-trained chartered accountant and First Class economist. He will also draw upon his experience as a technology entrepreneur and CEO of Sycamore, a peer-to-peer lending platform that connects lenders to borrowers using technology.
This is a BDC presentation and not StartMeUp Ryerson.
The BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to help companies continue with operations and to promote their success.
Running Your Business in a Low Inventory MarketMaura Neill
Buyer's Market? Seller's Market? Low Inventory? Whatever the market conditions, smart agents know the strategies and tactics to keep business flowing and clients happy. What are you doing to keep your business thriving in today's market?
Extra Ordinaire Janitorial and Manpower Services (Sytems Analysis and Design)ruthannbasnillo
This is a presentation of our final project in Systems analysis and design wherein we were assigned to propose a new system for the company of our choice. Here, we chose a janitorial and manpower services company and studied their marketing system. After some interviews with their marketing manager, we learned that they had this telemarketing system to acquire prospective clients. From then, we proposed a system which is a web-based marketing system for them.
Master Maids provides you the best office cleaning services along with special offers. Master maids is one of the prominent cleaning companies in Dubai with professional cleaning services.
Startup ShowCase is a unique platform to showcase, market and raise your business through crowd funding,events, investor, social networking & marketplace
The following presentation is a version from a business plan development workshop conducted by Biruwa Ventures at Thames College, Kathmandu on January 11, 2012. Biruwa conducts similar works on issues related to business in colleges across Nepal.
If you are an entrepreneur in Nepal, this is a must see presentation for you.
Entrepreneurship and Commerce in IT - 06 - Funding, Expanding, and Exit Strat...Sachintha Gunasena
This series in about the Entrepreneurial and E-Commerce opportunities and how to harness the power of Information Technology to improve or revolutionize business.
This session discusses about the options that an entrepreneur has to fund a venture, paths to expand a venture, and finally the exit strategies for a venture.
Getting funded sometimes seems like a career itself (and indeed it is a big part of the CEO’s responsibilities). In order to succeed, need to understand both the rules of the game and the equipment – without these you may squander some of your most valuable resources - time and relationships. Two keys communication tools are the Executive Summary and the PowerPoint Presentation (Pitch Deck). This forum will help you understand how these tools are used to generate a face-to-face meeting, make a persuasive and memorable presentation, and then follow through with the details needed for investors to begin their due diligence process.
Landmines for Entrepreneurs with Olivier Wenker, MD, MBA, DEAAPlatform Houston
About Dr. Olivier Wenker
Since 2001, Dr. Wenker is M. D. Anderson Cancer Center's Director of Technology Discovery. In this function, he has created a novel support mechanism for clinical and research faculty. The fund he manages created within a few years a multiple of 4 on value creation for the institution. Dr. Wenker also teaches entrepreneurship classes in collaboration with The University of Texas System.
Dr. Wenker started his career as an anesthesiologist in 1985. He is triple European board certified in anesthesiology, critical care medicine and emergency/disaster medicine and holds the title Professor of Anesthesiology. Dr. Wenker served many years as emergency/trauma physician on board rescue helicopters, ICU airplanes, ambulances, and emergency physician vehicles. He worked as a trauma field physician, rescue diver, disaster medicine triage and lead physician, and served many years as chief of a medical team for special police forces. He was involved in over 700 rescue missions. In 2004, Dr. Wenker earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Jones Graduate School for Management at Rice University in Houston, Texas, receiving the prestigious Jones Award for Academic Excellence.
Dr. Wenker's special interests involve electronic publishing and the use of digital information for education. In 1996, he founded "Internet Scientific Publications, LLC." This online platform became the world's largest electronic medical publishing house. Approximately 15,000 daily readers enjoy the free medical content offered by the site. Dr. Wenker created and launched 64 online journals in the past nine years. He assembled over 1,000 international editors and reviewers and closely collaborates with over 60 editors-in-chief. For two consecutive years he won the esteemed ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) "Exceptional Merit for Outstanding Education in Anesthesia Award." In addition, he won over 20 awards for his online journals. Most recently he received the Golden Web Award presented by the International Association of Webmasters and Designers.
Earthsoft Foundation of Guidance (EFG) is working as an NGO/NPO for students - Education & Career
guidance and for Professionals for soft skills enhancements. I am working on speading , sharing
knowledge; experience globally.It has uploaded important presentations at http://myefg.in/downloads.aspx.
Also https://dl.dropbox.com/u/83265908/Links-events.xls has links for all ppt files.
Read http://tl.gd/jm1gh5
Be mentor using your education, knowledge & experience to contribute for a social cause & do conduct
free training/ workshop seeking help of existing platforms like rotary,etc
Kindly spread to your friends.Thank you!
- Earthsoft Foundation of Guidance
Let us make earth little softer..
It doesn’t matter how many leads you have; it matters what you do with them. Buyer and seller leads are only as valuable as the time and effort an agent puts into them – from seeking out high-quality leads to nurturing and incubating them to converting them into clients who know, like, and trust you.
Ideation, business models; and how and where to startSaberi Marais
Presentation promotes the Lean Startup principles and includes Steve Blank's cusotmer development process and Osterwalder Business Model generation canvas as recommended by the authors
What are the main advantages of using HR recruiter services.pdfHumanResourceDimensi1
HR recruiter services offer top talents to companies according to their specific needs. They handle all recruitment tasks from job posting to onboarding and help companies concentrate on their business growth. With their expertise and years of experience, they streamline the hiring process and save time and resources for the company.
The world of search engine optimization (SEO) is buzzing with discussions after Google confirmed that around 2,500 leaked internal documents related to its Search feature are indeed authentic. The revelation has sparked significant concerns within the SEO community. The leaked documents were initially reported by SEO experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King, igniting widespread analysis and discourse. For More Info:- https://news.arihantwebtech.com/search-disrupted-googles-leaked-documents-rock-the-seo-world/
As a business owner in Delaware, staying on top of your tax obligations is paramount, especially with the annual deadline for Delaware Franchise Tax looming on March 1. One such obligation is the annual Delaware Franchise Tax, which serves as a crucial requirement for maintaining your company’s legal standing within the state. While the prospect of handling tax matters may seem daunting, rest assured that the process can be straightforward with the right guidance. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of filing your Delaware Franchise Tax and provide insights to help you navigate the process effectively.
Accpac to QuickBooks Conversion Navigating the Transition with Online Account...PaulBryant58
This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to
effectively manage the convert Accpac to QuickBooks , with a particular focus on utilizing online accounting services to streamline the process.
Personal Brand Statement:
As an Army veteran dedicated to lifelong learning, I bring a disciplined, strategic mindset to my pursuits. I am constantly expanding my knowledge to innovate and lead effectively. My journey is driven by a commitment to excellence, and to make a meaningful impact in the world.
Attending a job Interview for B1 and B2 Englsih learnersErika906060
It is a sample of an interview for a business english class for pre-intermediate and intermediate english students with emphasis on the speking ability.
Explore our most comprehensive guide on lookback analysis at SafePaaS, covering access governance and how it can transform modern ERP audits. Browse now!
Cracking the Workplace Discipline Code Main.pptxWorkforce Group
Cultivating and maintaining discipline within teams is a critical differentiator for successful organisations.
Forward-thinking leaders and business managers understand the impact that discipline has on organisational success. A disciplined workforce operates with clarity, focus, and a shared understanding of expectations, ultimately driving better results, optimising productivity, and facilitating seamless collaboration.
Although discipline is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it can help create a work environment that encourages personal growth and accountability rather than solely relying on punitive measures.
In this deck, you will learn the significance of workplace discipline for organisational success. You’ll also learn
• Four (4) workplace discipline methods you should consider
• The best and most practical approach to implementing workplace discipline.
• Three (3) key tips to maintain a disciplined workplace.
RMD24 | Debunking the non-endemic revenue myth Marvin Vacquier Droop | First ...BBPMedia1
Marvin neemt je in deze presentatie mee in de voordelen van non-endemic advertising op retail media netwerken. Hij brengt ook de uitdagingen in beeld die de markt op dit moment heeft op het gebied van retail media voor niet-leveranciers.
Retail media wordt gezien als het nieuwe advertising-medium en ook mediabureaus richten massaal retail media-afdelingen op. Merken die niet in de betreffende winkel liggen staan ook nog niet in de rij om op de retail media netwerken te adverteren. Marvin belicht de uitdagingen die er zijn om echt aansluiting te vinden op die markt van non-endemic advertising.
RMD24 | Retail media: hoe zet je dit in als je geen AH of Unilever bent? Heid...BBPMedia1
Grote partijen zijn al een tijdje onderweg met retail media. Ondertussen worden in dit domein ook de kansen zichtbaar voor andere spelers in de markt. Maar met die kansen ontstaan ook vragen: Zelf retail media worden of erop adverteren? In welke fase van de funnel past het en hoe integreer je het in een mediaplan? Wat is nu precies het verschil met marketplaces en Programmatic ads? In dit half uur beslechten we de dilemma's en krijg je antwoorden op wanneer het voor jou tijd is om de volgende stap te zetten.
"𝑩𝑬𝑮𝑼𝑵 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 𝑻𝑱 𝑰𝑺 𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑭 𝑫𝑶𝑵𝑬"
𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐬 (𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬) is a professional event agency that includes experts in the event-organizing market in Vietnam, Korea, and ASEAN countries. We provide unlimited types of events from Music concerts, Fan meetings, and Culture festivals to Corporate events, Internal company events, Golf tournaments, MICE events, and Exhibitions.
𝐓𝐉 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐬 provides unlimited package services including such as Event organizing, Event planning, Event production, Manpower, PR marketing, Design 2D/3D, VIP protocols, Interpreter agency, etc.
Sports events - Golf competitions/billiards competitions/company sports events: dynamic and challenging
⭐ 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬:
➢ 2024 BAEKHYUN [Lonsdaleite] IN HO CHI MINH
➢ SUPER JUNIOR-L.S.S. THE SHOW : Th3ee Guys in HO CHI MINH
➢FreenBecky 1st Fan Meeting in Vietnam
➢CHILDREN ART EXHIBITION 2024: BEYOND BARRIERS
➢ WOW K-Music Festival 2023
➢ Winner [CROSS] Tour in HCM
➢ Super Show 9 in HCM with Super Junior
➢ HCMC - Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Festival
➢ Korean Vietnam Partnership - Fair with LG
➢ Korean President visits Samsung Electronics R&D Center
➢ Vietnam Food Expo with Lotte Wellfood
"𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬."
1. TED
ROGERS
SCHOOL OF RYERSON
MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY
Business Plan Seminar
Dr. Dave Valliere
Entrepreneurship & Strategy
2. Investor’s Screening Criteria
• How much money can be made?
• How quickly can it be made?
• How will it be made?
• How much investment is required?
• How liquid is the investment?
• How involved do I have to get?
• Who else is involved?
Valliere
3. What Investors Like
• Large and rapidly expanding market
• Complete team of “stars”, with proven
track records
• “10X” improvement
• Compelling strategy, competitive
advantage, and business model
• Sustainability
Valliere
4. What Scares Them Off
• High risk, relative to the expected returns
• Seeking too much capital, or too little
– High tides hide the rocks
• Quibbling over deal terms
• Lack of commitment, integrity, realism
• Weak managers
– Poorly thought out Bizplans
– Lack of Investor’s Perspective
Valliere
5. Your Business Opportunities
• An opportunity is not just an idea
– “it can be done” is insufficient
– “is it worth doing?”
• Think big, high-potential
– Not “what can I do with what I have?”
– Instead, “what will it take to do the right
thing, and how can I get it?”
– People like to back winners
Valliere
6. Opportunity Evaluation
• What product or service will be sold?
• Who will it be sold to?
• How much will it cost to produce? Average selling?
• How big is the target market?
• What percentage of that market must be penetrated to
reach $50 million in sales?
• Who is the direct and indirect competition?
• What is the sustainable competitive advantage?
• Who is on the team?
• Is the product complete? If not, when?
Valliere
7. DEVELOPING THE PLAN
• It doesn’t matter how flashy the document
or the presentation, if the ideas are lame
or half-baked
• You should want to wirebrush it more than
anyone else
– Not the case? Then you are wasting your time
Valliere
8. The Business Plan
• Audience: people with resources to invest
– Financial, talent, relationships
• Help these investors understand the business
– Why they should invest their resources
• Typically “poor” and not well-received
– Not thought through
– Ignores the key questions for investors
Valliere
9. Bizplan Answers
• Why does the market care?
– the only problem money can’t solve
• What is your competitive advantage?
– how you can sustain it
• Can you handle your Unforeseen Killer
Variables?
– by definition, you won’t know your UKVs
• Can you make money at it?
Valliere
10. Bizplan Contents
• Executive Summary
• Customer Need & Market Opportunity
• Business Strategy & Key Milestones
• Marketing Plan
• Operations Plan
• Management & Key Personnel
• Financial Projections & Requirements
• Appendices
Valliere
11. Some Questions You Need to
Think Through
• Market • Regulatory Issues
• Competitors • Location
• Pricing • Risks
• Customers • Physical Assets
• Suppliers • People Assets
• Service • Financial
Which ones are most important in YOUR business?
Valliere
12. Financial Forecasting
• Project your expected sales
• Associated COS
• Infrastructure ramp-up, staff, and G&A
• Working capital policy implications
• Fixed asset requirements
• Adjust for
timings, depreciation, interest, taxes
• Cashflow with negative balance
• Impact of various financing scenarios
Valliere
13. Sensitivity Analysis
• What assumptions in your business are
reasonable to vary?
– Pricing trends
– Duration of sale cycle
– Magnitude and timing of revenues
– Launch expenses
– Cost of key supplies
– Lead time to hire staff
– Working capital days
– Cost and lead time for financing…
Valliere
14. Scenarios
• Monthly for first 1 or 2 years
• Yearly for 5 years
• Most likely case
– Credibility test: how realistic are you?
• Best case
– Credibility test: how good can it get without
dreaming in Technicolor?
• Worst case
– Credibility test: can you face up squarely?
Valliere
15. General Tips
• Model the dependencies
– COS= f(sales), G&A = f(staff), Pricing = f(time)
• Avoid specious precision
– Use $000s
– Follow GAAP
• Summarize into charts
– Sales hockey stick
– Cashflow and profit J-curves
– Key ratios (which ones do you think?)
• Investors love/hate hockey sticks
– Watch for synchronization
Valliere
16. PACKAGING THE PLAN
• The most important sales document you
will ever produce
• Understand the how/why of the reader
• What does the artifact signal about you?
Valliere
17. How to Read a Bizplan
• Executive summary
– 2 pages max
– Are they out to lunch?
• Team bios at the end
– Any credibility?
• Market description
– Real need?
• Everything else
Valliere
18. Appearances Matter
• How many pages?
• Binding?
• Colour?
• Multimedia?
Valliere
19. Details Matter
• Spelling, grammar
• Page numbers, TOC
• Organization, headings
• Consistency between figures and text
• What belongs in an appendix?
Valliere
20. LIFE’S A PITCH
• What are you really selling?
• What does your ability to pitch say about other
important things?
– Communicate
– Connect with people
– Persuade and convince
– Understand the audience
– Anticipate objections
– Handle unforeseen problems
Valliere
21. Understand the Investor
Perspective
• Understand the judges as your customer – your product
is your company
– Judges are sophisticated, BS-proof sounding boards
• The judges want to help you to
– See the truth, for better or worse
– Iron out the bugs in your plan/pitch
– Avoid going after the wrong opportunity
– Survive after the $25k runs out
– Raise even more money from professional sources
– Become rich and famous (remember those who helped you :)
Valliere
22. The Basic Idea…
• You are a group of people who
– Have identified something that solves a
problem for somebody willing to pay
– Have a plan to
• Create the company
• Build and market the solution
• Use an initial investment wisely
• Protect yourselves from competitors
– Can adapt to changing situations
– Are smart and get things done
Valliere
23. Be Prepared
• Complete, concise business plan with good
executive summary
• Be prepared to market your company to the
judges
• Be “Up” and show the “Fire in the Belly”
• Be realistic in terms of your requirements
• Anticipate additional information which may be
required – and be ready!
• Don’t BS judges, or yourself…
Valliere
24. Be Realistic
Have a realistic idea of:
• Your strengths and weaknesses
• The amount of money you will need to achieve
your objectives
– Seeking too little is worse than seeking too much!
• The amount of time required to fill the gaps in
your plan
– Raising more money, hiring good people, landing
reference customers
Valliere
25. Judges Ask Themselves
• Screening Criteria
– Is it worth it?
• Use of proceeds
– VA or overhead?
• Spending enough to ensure success
– Thinking big but realistically?
• Depth of market knowledge
– How do people buy?
Valliere
26. Judges Evaluate You
• How good is the selected Opportunity?
– Should we encourage this student to go for it,
or think of something even better?
• How good is the Plan?
– Has this student really thought it through?
• How likely is this business to survive?
– What happens when the prize is spent?
Valliere
27. Go for the Close
• Recap your main messages
• Ask for what you want!
– There’s more available than just the $25k
• Mine the valuable feedback
– Pay attention to what questions get asked
– Hot leads and referrals
Valliere