1. Elements of a Technology Business Plan

2. Business Planning "In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." -Dwight Eisenhower “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” -George Hewell

3. Understanding business plans is not only important for those who are starting businesses. More and more banks are requiring business plans for loans, for new projects and on-going operations. Business plans are used to attract potential key partners and stake holders for the enterprise. Its a projected roadmap on which the enterprise is headed. The Business Plan

4. Executive Summary Team Composition Market Environment Marketing and Sales Strategy Operations Financial Plan Risk Analysis and Mitigation The (very) Basics of a Business Plan

5. Your Business Plan Will... Discuss a particular market opportunity Examine the markets that you will compete in, and explain who your customers will be The management team that will implement the plan Describe the products or services that your company will provide Your competition, and how you will defend against it The operation that you will put in place in your company The profitability of the enterprise in the long run

6. Executive Summary Many people who read your plan, will only read your Executive Summary......and then they may read your financials. NOT an introduction, but a short version of the whole plan and that includes Strategic direction –Mission statement –Goals and objectives –Values and vision

7. Team Composition People – Relevant skills and expertise of management team – Past track record – Relationships with potential customers, suppliers in the field – Risk sharing agreement

8. Market Environment All external factors affecting the market that influence the success of your enterprise. – Market structure – Market trends – Competition – Opportunities/Threats

9. Marketing and Sales Strategy Products or services offered Follow-on products Intellectual property or other defendable positions Market research data (if any from authentic sources) Marketing plan – Brand strategy – Distribution strategy – Product strategy – Pricing strategy

10. Operations Practical details required to meet the plan Facilities for manufacturing and quality Manufacturing or out-sourcing Personnel, Process and Business Practices After Sales Support Infrastructure

11. Financial Plan Three key reports – Income statement ( past and projected ) – Key profitability rations – Balance sheet ( projected over 3 years )

12. Risk Analysis & Mitigation Risk scenario – Market risk – Competition risk – Technology risk – Regulatory risk – Financial risk – Management risk What measures are proposed to counter these risks?

13. Writing a great business plan “A great business plan is one that focuses on a series of questions relating to the four factors critical to the success of every new venture: 1. The People, 2. The Opportunity, 3. The Context, and 4. The possibilities for both Risk and Reward.” – William Sahlman Source: How to write a Great Business Plan, William Sahlman, Harvard Business Review

14. Outline of Business Plan Section Suggested# of pages Executive summary2-3 Market opportunity and Market Size2-4 Your offering/product/service/IP2-5 Competitive landscape -analysis with data1-2 Marketing Strategy- Positioning, Differentiation, Pricing, Distribution 1-2 Financial Plan – Projections, Use of Funds5-6 Risk scenario & mitigation1-2 Your team2-4 Supporting data, research, resume5-10