Do I need to bring a business plan when I meet with investors or is a slide deck okay?

I think that business plans are a waste of time. You need to know everything that you would put in a business plan. And if it is helpful to you to put it in writing to sort out all the things that are important in your business, then by all means write a business plan. But most VCs won’t read your business plan. They want you to present a PowerPoint and then will talk with you about the business to find out if you know everything you should (that you would otherwise put in the business plan).

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Do you need to have a business plan developed before meeting with vc's?

Answered by Robin Axon – Partner, Mantella Venture Partners

A traditional full-blown business plan is rarely required in a first meeting with a VC. Another way to look at this question is “how prepared should you be with your busin... (more)

Dan, How are you doing? I have come up with an idea for a social site that is unique and actually adds value to the user unlike many of the ones out now. I do lack the b...

Answered by Dan Martell – Founder & Investor.

Matt, no investor will invest in an idea unless you previously sold your last company for more than $50M. The best thing to do is pay/hire/convince a developer to build a ... (more)

I am writing my business plan and realizing that I need more cash upfront then I initially realized - I had originally thought I could grow the company organically. Is a bu...

Answered by Tim Berry – Founder of Palo Alto Software

A business plan is a necessary but not sufficient condition for raising money. You're crazy to even try it without a business plan to give you a handle on the basic numbers... (more)

I am currently in the process of finalizing a business plan for a start-up. The main hurdles I am facing are related to bootstrapping. Is it ok to approach investors with a...

Answered by Raymond Luk – Partner, Year One Labs

It's ok for you to receive compensation of course. Just be careful that you don't present a plan that seems like you are asking the investors to pay you to be comfortable w... (more)

Should I bother doing a business plan or is a powerpoint enough?

Answered by Corey Kossack – Partner, Game Change Ventures Posted in Product Development Money

Depends. If you want to be funded in Silicon Valley, they won't read your business plan anyway so powerpoint is a good starting point. Focus more on growing your business, ... (more)

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