tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15000271085979361042024-02-18T18:41:09.018-08:00Innovation In ActionNews from the Big Bang! Business Plan CompetitionInnovation Into Actionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302206043641044542noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1500027108597936104.post-32780579153488533102009-01-31T11:45:00.000-08:002009-01-31T11:50:49.206-08:00Executive Summary Development By Roger Akers <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBOBKAY%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBOBKAY%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBOBKAY%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:127741841; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:662594334 -281788210 1783236152 323017752 1173619372 -57224778 -965563470 1306667100 -1211083066 2131899726;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:•; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} @list l1 {mso-list-id:306788322; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:252868866 469803330 67698689 620031010 -1707993950 -37869882 -300128790 900738342 -2072626042 1594364592;} @list l1:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:•; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} @list l1:level2 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l2 {mso-list-id:1394236584; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-339458222 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l2:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:39.3pt; mso-level-number-position:left; margin-left:39.3pt; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l2:level2 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:o; mso-level-tab-stop:75.3pt; mso-level-number-position:left; margin-left:75.3pt; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:"Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When listening/reading today's media anyone considering joining/starting an earlier stage, innovation driven business would have to have second thoughts. It, however, is important to realize that innovation, engineering, and/or investment projects do not necessarily stop during periods but become more highly focused; and planned with a path to profitability and/or strategic impact. All emerging companies must have a plan and associated executive summary that convey why the company will be successful despite current or future "environmental" obstacles. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Investors initially want to hear a clear mission statement and description of the industry where the company will compete.<span style=""> </span>Of course accomplishments and milestones to date, market trends, market growth, and, of course an evaluation of the competition is a must.<span style=""> </span>Then obviously why the will be successful despite that competition or any other “environmental” circumstance.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Within these descriptions an explanation of where the company is positioned with current technology and economic cycles will help generate a rationalization for success. <span style=""> </span>Knowledge of the general market size and addressable market, with a bottoms-up calculation in the appendix is very helpful. <span style=""> </span>Do not overstate the expected growth rate.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Obviously concise descriptions of key staff and why they are a part of the company is appropriate.<span style=""> </span>Not simply a regurgitation of a resume; but why the sales guy is the right guy to sell this product to these customers (gee, maybe he did it before), etc. <span style=""> </span>Highlight current Board or Advisory Board members as well.<span style=""> </span>It is important to understand that the better the Board, the better validation of the company’s potential future success.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Selecting the appropriate investment firms to present to; is as important as much of your content.<span style=""> </span>In the cover letter introducing an Executive Summary a clear strategy of explaining why their firm has been selected as one that should be interested the plan is an important first step.<span style=""> </span>The required research to properly select and position an investor is difficult but a qualified investor creates positive synergy from the beginning.<span style=""> </span>Finding a referral to a specific investor is also extremely important.<span style="">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Outlining the support you would hope to be provided by the investor both in the near and longer terms is mature demonstration of your view of what investor participation really means.<span style=""> </span>Recruiting, access to industry data/customers, process validation, and also governance support, financial syndication support in current and future rounds or best practices adoption; are all components that can be included in the Executive Summary.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A critical component of a plan and summary is to clearly articulate a direct comparison of your business model and a successful, known company that has employed a similar model.<span style=""> </span>Examples demonstrating these similarities might include the company selling similar products, sold to the same buyers, or IPO’d or sold for a great return; or the company’s involvement of with other complimentary companies as part of the go-to-market-strategy.<span style=""> </span>Possibly direct reference to a common set of successful strategic or tactical milestones that reduce early stage risk can make for a very compelling argument.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.3pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What is the sales and go-to-market strategy?<span style=""> </span>Break the marketing/sales effort into identifiable elements from initial customer contact, to sampling/testing, prototypes, field trials, production timelines/orders and delivery.<span style=""> </span>What might be some of the key contract components that might be specific to the business?<span style=""> </span>Such insight is very compelling to the would-be investor. <span style="">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.3pt;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Discussion of valuation in initial documentation is always inappropriate.<span style=""> </span>Determining current or the discounted blue sky/future valuation of the business is best served as being part of the due diligence process versus being dictated by the founders.<span style=""> </span>Outlining that its determination is viewed as part of this process in the Executive Summary will lead to an opportunity for developing mutual respect with a would-be partner.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When discussing the businesses product do it concisely. Explain how it solves the target problem; identify its key differentiating technology, and key barriers to entry including patents, deals and licenses.<span style=""> </span>Description of the honest current stage of development is also very important.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Additional compelling topics than can be referenced in the Summary might include:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Initial customer concerns about the company products or approach and what was done to resolve or mitigate the concern.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Acquire one or two alpha sites with champions that are willing to talk or be referenced.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Highlighting the current company’s feature set, the developing product roadmap and why customers will buy more than once.</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 39.3pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Presentation of ill-conceived or incorrect financial information can undermine the best Executive Summary more quickly than any other plan component.<span style=""> </span>Seasoned investors know the relative costs of labor, construction, distribution, and sales, etc. as a matter of course.<span style=""> </span>Attention to and a clear understanding of each and every financial component presented is important.<span style=""> </span>This concise knowledge in building a proper rationalization goes a long way in convincing the reader that everything else they are reading might have integrity.<span style="">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Describing how much money the company will need at each set of inflection points is critical.<span style=""> </span>Within that description, how the money will be spent also is a component of the plan that can add great credibility to the document.<span style="">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Description of the competition and how you are positioned against them is of importance.<span style=""> </span>Demonstrating transparency in this conversation again shows maturity.<span style=""> </span>Include alternate technologies that solve the same problem.<span style=""> </span>There is always competition.<span style=""> </span>It validates your business idea and might even help defray your marketing and sales costs by educating the market.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In summary, what investors are looking for must be considered in detail when presenting the company.<span style=""> </span>Investors want: <b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span></span> <ul><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Great deals, not good deals<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Exceptional ROI<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dominant competitive advantages<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Proven management<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Large and growing markets<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In their comfort zone<span style=""> </span>(size diversity, space)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Synergy with other portfolio companies</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">About Roger Akers</span></u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">:<span style=""> </span>Roger Akers is a co-founder and managing partner at Akers Capital LLC.<span style=""> </span>Since successfully raising The Pac West Technology Fund I in 2000, Roger and the Akers Capital team have invested in, mentored and helped build emerging technology companies throughout the western region.<span style=""> </span>For more information about Roger Akers and Akers Capital LLC, please visit their website at http://www.akerscapital.com<o:p></o:p></span></p> Bob Kayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08058013533507773126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1500027108597936104.post-8321395144121055662008-11-25T15:22:00.000-08:002008-11-25T15:27:38.524-08:00YouNoodle Official Press Release now availableAs a follow-up to the previous post, you can now view <a href="http://younoodle.com/static/press/University_Ranking_List_November_20_2008">the official press release</a> ranking UC Davis 10th in the world for entrepreneurial talent and activity.<div><br /></div><div>Happy innovating,</div><div>The Big Bang! Organizing Committee</div>Innovation Into Actionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302206043641044542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1500027108597936104.post-45556803221286950262008-11-24T10:16:00.001-08:002008-11-24T11:51:58.470-08:00UC Davis Ranks #10 on YouNoodle's list of Top University Startup CommunitiesUC Davis, anchored by the Big Bang Business Plan Competition, has ranked in the top 10 of YouNoodle's first-ever <a href="http://younoodle.com/topschools">List of Top University Startup Communities</a>. The list is developed using an algorithm that takes into account factors such as number and quality of startups, activity of groups at the university, business plan competitions, and success of past startups.<div><br /></div><div><div><div>The Big Bang! has 106 active YouNoodle members and 1,002 subscribers - a total entrepreneurial community of 1,108. The competition is working to build its YouNoodle community and encourages all affiliates to<a href="http://younoodle.com/register/big_bang_business_plan_competition"> join its group</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>YouNoodle is an online entrepreneurial community that offers tools for networking, business plan competitions, startup value predictions, and much more. The company is based in San Francisco and has been featured recently in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/technology/18vc.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink">New York Times</a> and INC Magazine. Visit the company's <a href="http://younoodle.com/static/faq">FAQ </a>for more information.</div></div></div>Innovation Into Actionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302206043641044542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1500027108597936104.post-79791603798188826422008-07-30T10:44:00.000-07:002008-07-30T10:59:59.727-07:00Coming soon: a new website for Big Bang!For those of you who have experienced frustrations with the Big Bang! website, fear not - a new and improved site is on the way! The new interface will be easier to navigate and will provide <em>accurate, up-to-date information</em> about the contest. Along with a host of other web tools, anyone and everyone should be able to have helpful information at their fingertips. The new site should be live any day now, so keep checking the <a href="http://bigbang.gsm.ucdavis.edu/">website</a>.<br /><br />You will have to bear with us as we add content and information over the next few weeks. Feel free to give us your feedback or suggestions by commenting below, discussing website topic on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=25788047805&topic=5026">Facebook forum </a>or emailing us at <a href="mailto:bigbang@ucdavis.edu">bigbang@ucdavis.edu</a>.<br /><br />Happy innovating!Innovation Into Actionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302206043641044542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1500027108597936104.post-85931809474331516182008-07-17T10:31:00.000-07:002008-07-17T10:56:19.191-07:00YouNoodleYou might have seen the link in the right-hand column for "YouNoodle".<br /><br />What the heck is YouNoodle?<br /><br />Think of it as Facebook for entrepreneurs. YouNoodle provides forums for networking with fellow entrepreneurs and potential funding sources. Additionally, as a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/technology/18vc.html?ex=1361163600&en=02be5fce4ef897c9&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink">New York Times article </a>mentions, they hope to build in a tool that predicts the future value of a start-up. YouNoodle is still in its beta phase, so this is an exciting time to get involved!<br /><br />The Big Bang! has been invited to test the tools they provide for business plan competitions, so we created a group page. We encourage all Big Bang! affiliates to <a href="http://younoodle.com/register">create a profile </a>and <a href="http://younoodle.com/groups/big_bang_business_plan_competition">join our group</a>. The group page provides a forum for open discussion, which we will monitor and respond to throughout the year. It is also a great way for Big Bang! contestants to communicate with each other and might be very useful in team formation. So check it out and join!<br /><br />We will also be creating a Facebook page this year so that anyone involved with the Big Bang! can have as much information at their fingertips as possible, no matter where they look.<br /><br />However, as always, the <a href="http://bigbang.gsm.ucdavis.edu/">main website </a>(we will be rolling out a new site in the next few weeks!) is your definitive resource for official competition information.<br /><br />Happy Innovating,<br />LizInnovation Into Actionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302206043641044542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1500027108597936104.post-33103063686059567662008-07-15T22:56:00.000-07:002008-07-15T23:40:12.404-07:00Wordle Rocks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvfptR9cZ5xHgQtQHxfjGzWxrITEiHnlo8O0ZkWHhLGWmoSOMl3JJTE50wRJUL7Gvo9WZMSknqgT7AyeB6hwUbApKDwVQRU7Sm8qG3SzXUIi1mtQ2Prxvd0pA7GMcAyby_kE49hBpHQwn/s1600-h/WordleJuly15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvfptR9cZ5xHgQtQHxfjGzWxrITEiHnlo8O0ZkWHhLGWmoSOMl3JJTE50wRJUL7Gvo9WZMSknqgT7AyeB6hwUbApKDwVQRU7Sm8qG3SzXUIi1mtQ2Prxvd0pA7GMcAyby_kE49hBpHQwn/s400/WordleJuly15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223487273666665154" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Talk about putting innovation into action! Check out Wordle, an amazing way to turn any text into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_cloud">word clouds</a>. I created the image using text from Wikipedia entries on business plans, entrepreneurship and venture capital. The bigger the word, the more often it is found in the text.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Anyone can create one, and all clouds generated by Wordle are released via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons">Creative Commons</a> licensing. So, Wordle away and get inspired!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Happy Innovating,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Liz</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div></div>Innovation Into Actionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302206043641044542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1500027108597936104.post-80171264854819973142008-07-15T21:56:00.000-07:002008-07-15T22:35:52.061-07:00Big Bang! has a blog!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Welcome to the official blog for the Big Bang! Business Plan Competition at UC Davis!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The organizing committee for Big Bang! envisions this blog as a way to share important news and information related to the Big Bang! competition. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">This blog will supplement the information provided on our <a href="http://bigbang.gsm.ucdavis.edu/">official competition website</a>. We highly recommend subscribing to our blog to get the latest and greatest information from Big Bang! organizers!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The 2008-2009 Big Bang! Competition Kick-Off is scheduled for October 15, 2008 from 7-9pm at UC Davis' Buehler Alumni Center. More information is available <a href="http://www.trumba.com/calendars/BigBangBusinessPlanCompetition?eventid=78997042">here</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Happy Innovating,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The Big Bang! Organizing Committee (BBOC)</span></div>Innovation Into Actionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15302206043641044542noreply@blogger.com0