Investor engagement: Executive summary (template)

 

The executive summary should be two to four pages long. This list from Guy Kawasaki’s Reality Check covers the components that should be included in the executive summary:

1. Problem: What pressing and important problem are you solving or what opportunity are you addressing?
2. Solution: How are you solving this problem or tapping this opportunity?
3. Business model : Who are your customers and how will you make money?
4. Underlying magic: What makes your company special?
5. Marketing and sales strategy: What is your go-to-market strategy?
6. Competition : Whom do you compete with? What can you do that they cannot? What can they do that you cannot?
7. Projections: What are your financial projections for the next three to five years? What are your key assumptions and metrics to achieve these projections?
8. Team: Who is on your team? Why are they special?
9. Status and timeline: Where are you now? What are the major and immediate milestones?

Useful links:

http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/English/publications/FactSheetsAndBrochures/Pages/Planningfor.aspx#viii1
http://www.entrepreneurship.com/tools/pdf/businessPlanWorkbook.pdf

References

Cardis, J., et al. (2001). Venture Capital: The Definitive Guide for Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Practitioners. Toronto: John Wiley & Sons.
Kawasaki, G. (2008). Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition. Toronto: Penguin Canada.

Tags: business-plans, pitching