The document outlines the process for developing an effective business plan, including starting with defining the core idea and story, establishing goals and milestones, developing financial projections through scenario planning and assumptions, and ultimately presenting the plan to investors. An effective business plan should clearly articulate what the business is, how it will make money, and have the ability to profitably address a real market need or opportunity. Investors will evaluate plans based on the clarity, strengths of the team, viability of the business model, size of the market opportunity, and likelihood of achieving sustainable competitive advantage.

1. What is a Business Plan?
A document to that articulates
1)What you are going to do
2)How do you plan to do it
3)How will you make money from it
A plan for your business
Do it for yourself… not just for investors

2. What’s the process of working on a
business plan?
o Start with a ‘story’ - ‘See the film in your mind’
o Work out rough milestones and goals
o Think deeply of how you will implement it
o Work out the ‘structure’ of an excel sheet – with formulae
o Start working in the excel sheet – assumptions are critical
o Work on multiple ‘scenarios’
o Finally, articulate it into the ‘presentations’
It’s a little bit like planning a journey

3. Investors look for CAP
Clarity
Ability
Profitability – business case

4. Key decision making points for investors
Will this team deliver
Is the need /opportunity real
Is the market size large and can this venture scale
Is there a Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Are the assumptions practical

5. Startup Name
One line business description:
e.g. “We are an online music release platform for artistes to well or
share their music’
City:
Stage: i.e. concept, post-pilot stage, growth stage
Contact Person:
E-mail id:
Mobile:

6. Overview of your business
•What is your service/product/concept? i.e. what do you do? i.e.
Concept
•Whom is this service targeted at? i.e. your
customers/consumers? i.e Who will pay
•What is the pain point you are addressing or what is the
opportunity you are targeting? i.e. the need/value proposition

7. Team
• Brief description of each team member with key points on
what he/she brings to the team [e.g. someone could lead
technology, someone could lead marketing, etc.]

8. Product / Service Differentiator
• Highlight the uniqueness of your offering i.e. why would your
users be excited about your offering?

9. Business model e.g. how do you plan to make
money?
Should answer the questions “Who will pay how much, to
whom and for what”
Types of business models
• Free for users – advertisers pay
• SAAS – pay only for service / rental
• Pay per use
• Pay up front
• Annual / periodic payments
• Pay in installments
• B2B2C

10. Business model e.g. how do you plan to make
money?
Example of a business model
“We have a B2B2C model. We will charge parents Rs.250 per child per
month. This will be collected by the school from parents who subscribe
to our service and will be paid to us at the beginning of every quarter.
Students will be pre-registered but subscription is not compulsory and
parents can choose to opt out.
School will keep 20% of total revenues, which we will give them at the
end of the year on achieving a pre-agreed minimum revenue
commitment.”

11. What is the size of the opportunity
• Potential
• What markets are you addressing e.g. India, global, etc. – be
specific for the 18 – 24 months horizon

12. Implementation plan
How do you intend to implement this concept?
•Operations: procurement/supply chain/logistics/fulfillment, etc.
•Marketing Strategy: how will you reach your customers
•Sales strategy: How will you sell to those you reach
•Org chart: What team do you envisage to deliver this
•Mention your key assumptions, and highlight if different than
generally accepted numbers

13. Your goals
• In the next 3 – 6 months
• In the next 12 – 18 months or 24 months
• In the next 5 years
• Indicate when you become profitable
Current achievements / status:

14. Competitive landscape
• Who will you compete with? [current or in future]
• Why would someone choose you over them?
• Why do you have a chance to be a dominant player?

15. Funding objective
• How much do you
need
• What do you need the
money for i.e. what will
you achieve with this
money, when do you
see profitability
Also mention any fund
raising history, if any

16. Matrices
being
tracked
Sample.
Please use
your own
parameters.

17. Needs gaps
What areas do you need assistance on