Business Plan Guide
In order for us to determine a potential fit with Catamount, each business plan we receive should address the following questions:
1. Who are you and how did you come up with your idea?
2. How will you define the success of your company?
3. What milestones will you achieve with the money you raise that will substantially increase the value of your company?
4. What are your hiring needs and what do you need to do to achieve the milestones?
Intense focus on the core-value proposition to targeted customers is also critical. We have found that by answering the following questions, entrepreneurs are better prepared for the road ahead:
1. How big is the total market for your product or service?
2. Who makes up this market? What are its demographics/psychographics?
3. What problem does your product or service solve? More specifically, what "pain" will it alleviate or eliminate for your target market? What does your target market care about most? In addition, what other, related concerns does your target market have?
4. What sub-segment of the total market feels that pain most?
5. How big is the ideal sub-segment of the total target market?
6. How do you place a value on the pain that your product or service targets?
7. What are the existing alternatives to your product or service? What new entrants might compete with or even leapfrog you in the future?
8. How will your solution build a lasting competitive advantage through intellectual property, a unique management team, partnerships, etc.?