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Key Elements to Include in Your Business Plan if You Want to Attract Investors

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Nate Nead


Creating a business plan is essential for any business, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for years. A business plan can help you to organize your thoughts and ideas, and it can also be used to pitch your business to potential investors. If you’re looking to raise money from investors, there are a few key elements that you’ll want to make sure to include in your business plan.

What is a Business Plan & Why Do you Need One?

A business plan is a document that outlines your business goals and strategies. It serves as a roadmap for your business, and it can be used to track your progress and ensure that you are on track to reach your goals. An investor business plan is also essential for obtaining funding for your growth.

Benefits of Using a Business Plan (Not Just for Investors)

There are many benefits of writing a business plan–and they’re not all related to obtaining investors’ funding–including the following:

  1. It helps you to organize your thoughts and track your progress.
  2. It can be used for internal financial planning.
  3. It can help you to identify areas where you need to make changes in order to improve your business’s performance.
  4. It gives you a clear roadmap for starting and growing your business.
  5. It demonstrates that you are serious about your business and have done your homework.
  6. It helps you to pitch your business idea to investors or lenders.
  7. It provides the foundations for business success.

By completing a business plan, you can ensure that your business has the best chance of success and that you have taken into account all aspects of running a business. A business plan is essential if you want to attract investors or lenders, as it shows them that you are serious about

What Are the Different Types of Business Plans?

When it comes to business plans, there are several different types that you can create. Here are a few of the most common types:

1. The traditional business plan.

This is the most common type of business plan and is used to pitch a business to potential investors. The traditional business plan includes detailed information about the business, its products and services, its market analysis, financial projections, and more.

2. The Lean Plan.

The Lean Plan is a newer type of business plan that is designed for businesses that are in the early stages of development. The Lean Plan is less formal than the traditional business plan and focuses on highlighting the business’s key assumptions and risks.

3. The One-Page Plan.

The One-Page Plan is a very simplified version of a business plan that can be used to quickly summarize a business’s goals and objectives. This type of business plan is ideal for businesses that are just starting out or don’t have a lot of financial data to include in their plan.

4. The Business Model Canvas.

The Business Model Canvas is a tool that helps businesses to visualize their business model and track its progress over time. This type of business plan is ideal for businesses that are in the early stages of development and want to test out different aspects of their business model.

When creating your business plan, it’s important to choose the type of plan that best suits your business’s needs. If you’re looking to target investors, you may want to consider having more than one type of plan, so you can tailor your message to investors, depending on their personality or internal processes.

5 Tips for Creating a Business Plan That Investors Will Love

When you’re putting together your business plan, there are certain things that you can do to make it more attractive to potential investors. Here are 5 tips for creating a business plan that investors will love:

1. Start with a strong executive summary.

This is the first thing that potential investors will read, so make sure to pack it with information about your business and its potential.

A good executive summary will include a synopsis of the entire plan, including the following:

  1. Start with a strong executive summary
  2. Introduce your business and its products or services
  3. Outline your business’s goals and strategies
  4. Describe your target market
  5. Detail your financial projections
  6. Summarize your business’s strengths and weaknesses
  7. Include an appendix with additional information

2. Clearly describe your business and how it operates.

Investors want to know what your business is, what it does, and how it plans to make money.

When you write your business plan, you will want to describe your business and how it works. This includes explaining what your business does and how it plans to make money.

3. Perform a market analysis.

Investors want to know if there is a market for your product or service, and they will also want to know who your competitors are.

Performing a market analysis is essential when creating your business plan. This step will help you to determine whether or not there is a market for your product or service, and it will also give you insight into who your competitors are.

Investors want to know that you are aware of the business environment and have done your research when it comes to the competition. Make sure to provide a thorough market analysis, which includes things like industry trends, competitors’ business models, customer segmentation, etc.

To perform a market analysis, you’ll need to research your industry and collect data about the size of the market, trends in the industry, and consumers’ needs and wants. You can use this data to create a marketing strategy that will help you to stand out from the competition.

4. Include detailed financial projections.

Investors need to see evidence that your business is viable and has the potential to be profitable.

This section will show investors how your business plans to make money and how it expects to be profitable.

There are a few things that you will need to include in your financial projections:

  1. A summary of your business’s income and expenses.
  2. A forecast of your business’s income and expenses for the next 3-5 years.
  3. A breakdown of your business’s startup costs and ongoing expenses.
  4. Your business’s estimated profit or loss for the next 3-5 years.
  5. Your assumptions about future economic conditions and how they will impact your business.

When creating your financial projections, it’s important to be realistic about your business’s chances for success. Don’t make lofty promises that you can’t back up with evidence. Investors want to see a realistic plan that has a good chance of succeeding, so make sure to do your research before you begin drafting your projections.

5. Make sure your business plan is well-written and easy to read.

Use clear and concise language, and be sure to format your document correctly.

Here are a few tips for making your business plan easy for investors to read:

  • Use short paragraphs and clear headings.
  • Write in a business-like tone.
  • Use formatting features (such as bold text and headings) to emphasize important points.
  • Use charts and graphs to illustrate financial data.
  • Consider using PowerPoint as your delivery mechanism and not just a Word Doc.
  • Don’t make your business plan too long as no one wants to get lost in the weeds of a long-winded plan.

Why You Should Write a Business Plan for Internal Use

When you’re writing a business plan, it’s important to remember that the document is not just for external use only. This means that you should use the business plan to organize your thoughts and track your progress, not just as a tool to obtain funding from outside investors.

One key benefit of writing a business plan is that it can be used for internal financial planning. By creating a business plan, you can track your business’s progress and ensure that you are on track to reach your financial goals. Additionally, a business plan can help you to identify areas where you may need to make changes in order to improve your business’s performance.

What to Do If Your Business Plan Is Rejected by Investors

One of the most common reasons that business plans are rejected by investors is that they don’t include all of the necessary information. If your business plan is rejected by investors, don’t give up! There are several things that you can do to improve it:

  • Consider pivoting your plan to better match what certain investors might be looking for (without being too focused on a single investor or investment group).
  • Make sure to include a detailed description of your business and how it operates.
  • Perform a more comprehensive market analysis.
  • Include financial projections that show how much money your business can make in the future.

Conclusion

A business plan is a living document. It’s constantly evolving and changing as your business grows and matures. What you wrote in your business plan when you first started your business may not be relevant a few months or years down the road. And if you share your business plan with outsiders, they may not understand or appreciate the changes that have taken place since it was first written.

When creating a business plan, it is important to make sure that all of the necessary information is included so that investors will be interested in funding your business. However, if your business plan is rejected by investors, don’t give up! There are several things you can do to improve it and make it more appealing to potential investors. Keep in mind that a business plan is a living document that should constantly be evolving as your business grows and changes.

Nate Nead

Nate Nead is the CEO & Managing Member of Nead, LLC, a consulting company that provides strategic advisory services across multiple disciplines including finance, marketing and software development. For over a decade Nate had provided strategic guidance on M&A, capital procurement, technology and marketing solutions for some of the most well-known online brands. He and his team advise Fortune 500 and SMB clients alike. The team is based in Seattle, Washington; El Paso, Texas and West Palm Beach, Florida.

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Fintech Kennek raises $12.5M seed round to digitize lending

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Google eyed for $2 billion Anthropic deal after major Amazon play


London-based fintech startup Kennek has raised $12.5 million in seed funding to expand its lending operating system.

According to an Oct. 10 tech.eu report, the round was led by HV Capital and included participation from Dutch Founders Fund, AlbionVC, FFVC, Plug & Play Ventures, and Syndicate One. Kennek offers software-as-a-service tools to help non-bank lenders streamline their operations using open banking, open finance, and payments.

The platform aims to automate time-consuming manual tasks and consolidate fragmented data to simplify lending. Xavier De Pauw, founder of Kennek said:

“Until kennek, lenders had to devote countless hours to menial operational tasks and deal with jumbled and hard-coded data – which makes every other part of lending a headache. As former lenders ourselves, we lived and breathed these frustrations, and built kennek to make them a thing of the past.”

The company said the latest funding round was oversubscribed and closed quickly despite the challenging fundraising environment. The new capital will be used to expand Kennek’s engineering team and strengthen its market position in the UK while exploring expansion into other European markets. Barbod Namini, Partner at lead investor HV Capital, commented on the investment:

“Kennek has developed an ambitious and genuinely unique proposition which we think can be the foundation of the entire alternative lending space. […] It is a complicated market and a solution that brings together all information and stakeholders onto a single platform is highly compelling for both lenders & the ecosystem as a whole.”

The fintech lending space has grown rapidly in recent years, but many lenders still rely on legacy systems and manual processes that limit efficiency and scalability. Kennek aims to leverage open banking and data integration to provide lenders with a more streamlined, automated lending experience.

The seed funding will allow the London-based startup to continue developing its platform and expanding its team to meet demand from non-bank lenders looking to digitize operations. Kennek’s focus on the UK and Europe also comes amid rising adoption of open banking and open finance in the regions.

Featured Image Credit: Photo from Kennek.io; Thank you!

Radek Zielinski

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

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Fortune 500’s race for generative AI breakthroughs

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Deanna Ritchie


As excitement around generative AI grows, Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, are carefully examining the possible applications of this technology. A recent survey of U.S. executives indicated that 60% believe generative AI will substantially impact their businesses in the long term. However, they anticipate a one to two-year timeframe before implementing their initial solutions. This optimism stems from the potential of generative AI to revolutionize various aspects of businesses, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes. In the short term, companies will likely focus on pilot projects and experimentation, gradually integrating generative AI into their operations as they witness its positive influence on efficiency and profitability.

Goldman Sachs’ Cautious Approach to Implementing Generative AI

In a recent interview, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti revealed that the firm has not yet implemented any generative AI use cases. Instead, the company focuses on experimentation and setting high standards before adopting the technology. Argenti recognized the desire for outcomes in areas like developer and operational efficiency but emphasized ensuring precision before putting experimental AI use cases into production.

According to Argenti, striking the right balance between driving innovation and maintaining accuracy is crucial for successfully integrating generative AI within the firm. Goldman Sachs intends to continue exploring this emerging technology’s potential benefits and applications while diligently assessing risks to ensure it meets the company’s stringent quality standards.

One possible application for Goldman Sachs is in software development, where the company has observed a 20-40% productivity increase during its trials. The goal is for 1,000 developers to utilize generative AI tools by year’s end. However, Argenti emphasized that a well-defined expectation of return on investment is necessary before fully integrating generative AI into production.

To achieve this, the company plans to implement a systematic and strategic approach to adopting generative AI, ensuring that it complements and enhances the skills of its developers. Additionally, Goldman Sachs intends to evaluate the long-term impact of generative AI on their software development processes and the overall quality of the applications being developed.

Goldman Sachs’ approach to AI implementation goes beyond merely executing models. The firm has created a platform encompassing technical, legal, and compliance assessments to filter out improper content and keep track of all interactions. This comprehensive system ensures seamless integration of artificial intelligence in operations while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining client confidentiality. Moreover, the platform continuously improves and adapts its algorithms, allowing Goldman Sachs to stay at the forefront of technology and offer its clients the most efficient and secure services.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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UK seizes web3 opportunity simplifying crypto regulations

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Deanna Ritchie


As Web3 companies increasingly consider leaving the United States due to regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom must simplify its cryptocurrency regulations to attract these businesses. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange recently released a report detailing ten suggestions for improving Web3 regulation in the country. Among the recommendations are reducing liability for token holders in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and encouraging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to adopt alternative Know Your Customer (KYC) methodologies, such as digital identities and blockchain analytics tools. These suggestions aim to position the UK as a hub for Web3 innovation and attract blockchain-based businesses looking for a more conducive regulatory environment.

Streamlining Cryptocurrency Regulations for Innovation

To make it easier for emerging Web3 companies to navigate existing legal frameworks and contribute to the UK’s digital economy growth, the government must streamline cryptocurrency regulations and adopt forward-looking approaches. By making the regulatory landscape clear and straightforward, the UK can create an environment that fosters innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the global fintech industry.

The Policy Exchange report also recommends not weakening self-hosted wallets or treating proof-of-stake (PoS) services as financial services. This approach aims to protect the fundamental principles of decentralization and user autonomy while strongly emphasizing security and regulatory compliance. By doing so, the UK can nurture an environment that encourages innovation and the continued growth of blockchain technology.

Despite recent strict measures by UK authorities, such as His Majesty’s Treasury and the FCA, toward the digital assets sector, the proposed changes in the Policy Exchange report strive to make the UK a more attractive location for Web3 enterprises. By adopting these suggestions, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while ensuring a robust and transparent regulatory environment.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in various countries has prompted Web3 companies to explore alternative jurisdictions with more precise legal frameworks. As the United States grapples with regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom can position itself as a hub for Web3 innovation by simplifying and streamlining its cryptocurrency regulations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Borba; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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