Illinois 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.

Illinois Investors

United States > Illinois

Lease fund provides 100% of cost for both to be built and to be renovated existing Special Purpose Entity in exchange for a lease. $10-300M USD Our lease funds and it’s affiliate, has a long history of providing competitively priced long-term commercial real estate financing for single tenant projects. The lease fund was formed by its affiliate as a conduit to provide a Special-Purpose Entity (“SPE”) for Strategic Alliance projects, wherein each SPE leases (1) the land and improvements to the Major Company or (2) to a JV between the Major Company and Project Operator. Under either option, the lessee buys out the SPE for $1.00 at the end of the lease term. The lease funds, with generally the lowest long-term commercial real estate interest rates in the country, are provided by its affiliate’s low-yield bond investors. Industries that qualify for the 100% SPE lease funding are: Manufacturing Facility Distribution Center Hospital Corporate Headquarters Retail Store (single tenant

$25,000,000 to $99,000,000

United States > Illinois

Owner of successful tech company in Chicago, looking to invest in early stage companies in the technology space.

$20,000 to $750,000

United States > Illinois

Individual Investor looking to expand my investment/business portfolio. Masters in applied mathematics with experience in risk management and data science.

$0 to $200,000

United States > Illinois

My name is Jason, and I am well known in the Chicago area as a “connector” and go-to person for entrepreneurs who want to grow and maintain their success. Currently, I am the Founder and Managing Partner of Seed stage venture funds that invests in companies across a broad range of industries in Chicago and the greater Midwest. Prior to launching the venture fund, I was a Principal a private, for-profit venture capital fund for Wisconsin alumni that invests in seed, growth, and later stage companies with a Wisconsin alumni connection. For most of my career, I have provided venture development services to align emerging businesses with resources for growth.

$50,000 to $500,000

United States > Illinois

Specialized Investment Bank

$500,000 to $50,000,000

United States > Illinois

I'm an individual investor with my sights on supporting businesses and ideas that advance adoption of new and existing technologies. My investment target has been very specific over the past few years, mostly in stocks and crypto. My current job in a research facility and a graduate thesis in 3D printing has add flavor to my investment portfolio. Real estate is also an avenue I would like to venture into. I would like to support entrepreneurs in a monetary and / or contribution role.

$1,000 to $20,000

United States > Illinois

We invest in early stage information technology companies, including enterprise software and services, Internet infrastructure software, wireless applications, and digital media. We also invest in all sectors or give free referrals.

$1,000,000 to $99,000,000

United States > Illinois

I am just an entrepreneur looking to invest a little.

$100 to $25,000