Comments on: For the MIT 100K Participants: Executive Summaries http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/ Simeon Simeonov on entrepreneurship, innovation & venture capital Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:24:10 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Raising Money — view from the other side « Wade Appelman — Blog and Website http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-18008 Raising Money — view from the other side « Wade Appelman — Blog and Website Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:41:39 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-18008 [...] are great posts on what should be in a Exec Summary or VC pitch – HERE & HERE so I’m not going to cover that part.  What I’m going to comment on is the [...] [...] are great posts on what should be in a Exec Summary or VC pitch – HERE & HERE so I’m not going to cover that part.  What I’m going to comment on is the [...]

]]> By: Simeon Simeonov http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17903 Simeon Simeonov Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:48:21 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17903 Troy, I wouldn't put this in the ES because the purpose of the ES is to help you raise money. As long as this is a valid option you are pursuing, also considering an acquisition is quite alright. The thing to be careful about is not leading either potential investors or the acquirers down a path with false promises. Deciding when to communicate about alternative paths is hard and depends on the situation and relationships you have developed. Troy, I wouldn’t put this in the ES because the purpose of the ES is to help you raise money. As long as this is a valid option you are pursuing, also considering an acquisition is quite alright.

The thing to be careful about is not leading either potential investors or the acquirers down a path with false promises. Deciding when to communicate about alternative paths is hard and depends on the situation and relationships you have developed.

]]> By: Troy Peterson http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17897 Troy Peterson Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:05:07 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17897 I have an experienced CFO who is working on spec because he believes he will make a fair amount of money creating a successful private equity plan. Personally, I believe that we are just as likely to sell our platform to a large competitor selling in the same space. Should I mention either of these potential outcomes in our ES or would it appear that the leadership isn't clear on a single focus? For the record, selling the product, not the company is the real focus. I have an experienced CFO who is working on spec because he believes he will make a fair amount of money creating a successful private equity plan. Personally, I believe that we are just as likely to sell our platform to a large competitor selling in the same space. Should I mention either of these potential outcomes in our ES or would it appear that the leadership isn’t clear on a single focus?

For the record, selling the product, not the company is the real focus.

]]> By: Executive Summary Advice from VC-Judge | Venture Circuit http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17857 Executive Summary Advice from VC-Judge | Venture Circuit Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:21:23 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17857 [...] recently came across this blog post by Simeon Simeonov, a partner at Polaris Venture Partners. Simeon’s post described what [...] [...] recently came across this blog post by Simeon Simeonov, a partner at Polaris Venture Partners. Simeon’s post described what [...]

]]> By: Simeon Simeonov http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17810 Simeon Simeonov Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:02:55 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17810 Spot on, Eduardo. The main problem is that most teams end up drinking their own kool-aid and don't benefit from the exercise. The documents end up being over-the-top sales pitches as opposed to credible, thoughtful representations of that the startup is about. Spot on, Eduardo. The main problem is that most teams end up drinking their own kool-aid and don’t benefit from the exercise. The documents end up being over-the-top sales pitches as opposed to credible, thoughtful representations of that the startup is about.

]]> By: Eduardo http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17809 Eduardo Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:32:47 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17809 in the end, the writing of business plans and exec summaries by the founders and management of start-up ventures ultimately benefits them the most, by having them go through many possible growth scenarios and get a better sense of the execution path and resources required to succeed and/or survive! in the end, the writing of business plans and exec summaries by the founders and management of start-up ventures ultimately benefits them the most, by having them go through many possible growth scenarios and get a better sense of the execution path and resources required to succeed and/or survive!

]]> By: Shane http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17801 Shane Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:42:33 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17801 Sim, thanks for your reply. I think we will take Wanless' approach now :) Sim, thanks for your reply. I think we will take Wanless’ approach now :)

]]> By: Simeon Simeonov http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17800 Simeon Simeonov Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:27:49 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17800 Shane, the exec summary should cover everything briefly. Shane, the exec summary should cover everything briefly.

]]> By: Shane http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17799 Shane Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:41:37 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17799 This is a great post. One question, should the exec summary focus more on the product, or should there be other concerns that are primarily addressed? I know that the current incarnation of our executive summary focuses mainly on the product, and why we believe it will provide value for our potential users. This is a great post. One question, should the exec summary focus more on the product, or should there be other concerns that are primarily addressed? I know that the current incarnation of our executive summary focuses mainly on the product, and why we believe it will provide value for our potential users.

]]> By: wanless http://blog.simeonov.com/2009/02/11/for-the-mit-100k-participants-executive-summaries/#comment-17798 wanless Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:38:27 +0000 http://simeons.wordpress.com/?p=425#comment-17798 As a writer of business plans, and frequent judge for these b-plan competitions, I can agree completely that most exec summaries too often are bloated, beyond belief and burdened with a "management" team that's barely two steps away from being a barista. My advice to many of these plan writers: Burn it. And then begin again, this time telling the truth instead of overselling. As a writer of business plans, and frequent judge for these b-plan competitions, I can agree completely that most exec summaries too often are bloated, beyond belief and burdened with a “management” team that’s barely two steps away from being a barista.

My advice to many of these plan writers: Burn it. And then begin again, this time telling the truth instead of overselling.

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