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"Why You, Why Now" - A Critical Component of a Winning Business Plan
Business plans continue to be an essential element of the capital-raising process. They must convince investors to take notice - investors that are shrewder today due to the ups-and-downs they have experienced over the past few years. Adding to the financing challenge is the plethora of high-quality companies, both public and private, in which investors can choose to invest. In this environment, more and more investors are asking companies seeking capital the question "Why You, Why Now"? The question seems simple at first, but has many complexities. The management team must clearly delineate what it is about the business opportunity that makes it such a good investment now. Should this investment have been made a year ago to cement a market leadership position? Or, is the venture before its time - will slow market adoption cause slow sales over the next few years, and as such, should the investment wait. Questions like these, based on investment failures from the past few years, continue to surface and must be addressed by the management team in their business plans. Likewise the team must address what it is that makes them uniquely qualified to succeed. Does the team have proprietary (and protectable) technology, management talent and experience that competitors do not, long-term strategic partners? According to Growthink president, Dave Lavinsky, "Management teams must prove to investors why they are unique and why they will succeed. They can't just state how wonderful they are - they need to prove it through detailing past successes and unique qualifications." A business plan that fails to address the "Why You, Why Now" question, is most likely a business plan that will remain in the stack of "not now" business plans. Business plans must present a compelling argument as to why the investor should invest and in our fast-paced world with unbelievable opportunities and opportunity costs, why investors should invest now.
About The Author
Dave Lavinsky Since its inception, Growthink has developed over 200 business plans. Growthink clients have collectively raised over $750 million in financing, launched numerous new product and service lines and gained competitive advantage and market share. Growthink has become the firm of choice for venture capital firms, angel investors, corporations and entrepreneurs in the know. For more information please visit http://www.growthink.com. dave@growthink.com
Business News
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Stocks slump after jump in unemployment rate - Bismarck Tribune NEW YORK - Investors sent stocks sharply lower Friday after the U.S. unemployment rate shot above 7 percent, signaling that Americans will be sticking to their tightened budgets for a while. The Dow Jones industrials were down more than 100 points ...
Gazprom wants Ukraine to pay $470 per 1,000 cu m of Russian gas - RIA Novosti MOSCOW, January 9 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine should pay a market price for Russian gas, and in the first quarter of 2009 the price for Eastern Europe is about $470 per 1,000 cu m, the Russian energy giant Gazprom said Friday. "If the price for gas ...
Illinois House impeaches Blagojevich - Raw Story The Illinois House of Representatives has voted to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, 114-1. The Illinois Senate trial will begin on Jan. 26. Blagojevich has been accused of seeking favors in exchange for an appointment to the Senate seat being vacated by ...
Israel, Hamas Reject UN Truce Vote Amid Gaza Fighting (Update1) - Bloomberg Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Israel and Hamas rejected a UN call for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the military offensive aimed at stopping rocket fire would continue. Olmert said the firing of rockets from ...
Virgin, BA Fight For Business Class - Forbes Just like retailers that are slashing prices to lure consumers through their doors, European airlines Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are undercutting each other to try and get premium passengers flying again. The latest move in their traditional ...
Business Xpansion Journal Publishes Article on 'Obama’s ... - Carolina Newswire Raleigh, NC -- Business Xpansion, the nation’s leading industrial relocation and economic development journal, published Innovative Opportunities: Obama's Entrepreneurial Moment, by Thomas E. Vass, in its January edition. Vass is one of the ...
BUSINESS: Firm to work on new technology for Army - New Castle News Officials of a company formed to develop new technology for the Army will begin limited hiring in March. Lee Rankin, co-founder of Koppel Fabrication Corp. with Joe Handrahan, said yesterday work will begin in about two months on a prototype of a ...
German business calls for consortium to take over gas lines - Top News India Berlin - Stakeholders in the transport of Siberian gas to western Europe should form a consortium to manage the pipelines, a leader of German business said in Berlin on Friday. Klaus Mangold, who chairs the Business Council on the East, said the ...
