Resources| Guide

Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

 

1. Business Plan

A business plan is the pen-to-paper "rallying cry" of any start-up venture. Sound business plans not only help companies raise capital but they also help create enduring value. The business plan acts as the operations manual for the company and as a reference tool for investors and board members. It’s therefore very crucial to think through and write a good business plan. This guide will walk you through the whole process in writing a successful business plan that will fit your technology company.

Click on the link to open the .PDF document: Sample Business Plan

Click on the link to open the .PDF document: 10 Common Mistakes That Startup and Small
Companies Make

 

2. Business Presentations

A compelling PowerPoint presentation on your business is a vital tool for any start-up company. CONNECT has developed a presentation template that can help you tell your story to investors and other stakeholders.

Click on the link to open the PowerPoint document: Presentation Template

Click on the link to open the article: "Secret to Compiling your Thoughts for your New Business Venture"

Click on the link to view TED video on pitching tactics: TED talk

Click on the link to open the PowerPoint document: CONNECT-SBDC Springboard Presentation Template

Watch and listen to a perfect pitch below. Click the enlarge icon for full screen view.

3. Sample Executive Summaries

The Executive Summary may be the most important part of your business plan. It is the first - and sometimes the only - part potential investors and other stakeholders will read. Following are a few samples of Executive Summaries written by recent Springboard companies. Thanks to MindTouch and Remora Pharmaceuticals for making their Executive Summaries available for viewing on this site.

MindTouch
Remora Pharmaceuticals

 

4. Business Valuation

Any small business entrepreneurs expecting to find equity financing from angel or venture capital investors should be aware of the many ways sophisticated investors use to value a candidate business, and should be prepared to supply information to the investor to help in that process. Learn more about company valuation with this paper by David W. Berkus.

Click on the link to open the .PDF document: Business Valuation

The following presentations were developed by David Kramer, CFO and member of CONNECT's Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) team in collaboration with several other EIRs and CONNECT staff. The presentations provide examples of business valuations at various stages for three different types of startup companies:  Bio-Pharma, Medical Devices, and High Tech.

Click on the respective company to view power point presentation:

 

5. Due Diligence

This due diligence checklist was developed and borrowed from Express Ventures and AvTech Ventures

Click on the link to open the .PDF document: Check List

 

6. Tech Coast Angels – The Art of Angel Investment

Learn all about the Tech Coast Angels, their organization, their investment preferences and profiles.

Click on the link to open the .PDF document: About Angel Investments

 

7. Term Sheets

Term Sheets are an essential part of the entrepreneurial process. Below is a sample developed by Richard Horning of Fish & Richardson P.C.

Click on the link to open the .PDF document: Sample Term Sheet

 

8. Marketing

The following workbook was developed by members of the CONNECT Staff and EIRs as a general reference workbook to "go-to-market" strategy and development.

Click on the link to open the Word document: Springboard Workbook

Mike Harris is the founder of Harris Consulting LLC and is an expert in resolving challenging marketing situations. He has served as the top marketing and business development executive for companies or divisions in consumer electronics, software, data storage/networking and others with revenues up to $120 million. He has also served as a corporate officer and head of investor relations for NASDAQ:NM companies. He is a former management consultant with PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

Mike holds a B.S. from the University of Tennessee and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Vanderbilt University. He is a frequent guest lecturer at the Rady School of Management at UCSD, where he is also a student mentor. Contact: E: mike.harris@harconllc.com, T: (858) 481-8665

Click here to view a paper on market concept testing by Mike Harris.

Adam Harris, Principal and Founder of Calacles Consulting Group, developed this presentation on "Building Sound Financial Models" for our Springboard Clients.

Click on the link to open the PowerPoint document: Building Sound Financial Models

 

9. Grants

To access CONNECT's interactive federal grants database and set up a profile for your company please click here. As of late 2008, the NCI SBIR & STTR Programs requirements and processes have changed. Linked below is the latest information on these programs. For additional questions please contact: Ali Andalibi, Ph.D. of the National Cancer Institute - SBIR Development Center
Phone: 301-496-9686
Address: Building 31, Room 10A19
31 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-2580

SBIR Phase II Bridge Award Flyer

Overview of the NCI SBIR & STTR Programs Flyer

Overview of the NCI SBIR Program Presentation

SBIR & STTR Resource List

Other Grant Resources:


10. Access to Grant Writers

Ann Ronan, Ph.D. - www.grantright.com 909-717-1113
Richard Hake - rich_hake@msn.com 858-675-1163
Daniel Hartley - hartley@usa.net
Michael Huber - mhuber@scripps.edu
Tina Huth - thuth@rndbs.com
Vivian Lauderdale - vivianlauderdale@cox.net
Jules Miller - julesmillerlaw@att.net 714-550-1734
Dr. Karel Petrak - kpetrak@agennix.com
John T. Ransom - jtrconsulting@sbcglobal.net
Candace Chandra - canarytx@yahoo.com
Mahasweta Sarkar, PhD - msarkar2@mail.sdsu.edu 619-594-7797
Ingrid Stuiver, PhD - ISGconsult@yahoo.com 619-977-8689
Frederick Zarndt - frederick@zarndt.net

 

11. Courses

CONNECT FrameWorks Workshops
FrameWorks Workshops are half-day, in-depth sessions addressing various topics of interest to technology or life sciences entrepreneurs. Our workshops offer targeted information needed by entrepreneurs in technology-based companies in order to more effectively start, develop and grow their companies. Each workshop features subject-area experts and interactive instruction. Most workshops are limited to 30-40 people, and early registration is encouraged.

Springboard
Springboard offers free guidance and development to life sciences, clean-tech, high tech and consumer product companies in all stages of development, ranging from concept, technology transfer to start-up, to companies that have reached a significant inflection point. Innovators are matched with Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) with related domain expertise and experience in raising capital and/or growing companies. >> Springboard Presentation

 

12. Other Mentoring Programs in San Diego

Chairmen’s RoundTable
The Chairmen’s RoundTable is a non-profit volunteer organization comprised of successful Chief Executive Officers with diverse industry backgrounds who provide businesses in San Diego County advice on how to manage and grow their businesses through a well-defined mentoring program. CRT members provide this service free of charge to qualified area businesses as a way of giving back to the community.

CommNexus NEXT STAGE -  Venture Acceleration for Communications Companies
The mission of the San Diego Telecom Council’s NEXT STAGE Program is to increase the number and magnitude of successful Communications Technology companies in San Diego County. We help entrepreneurs develop early-stage technology companies, by offering advisory assistance in areas such as Fundraising, Marketing, Strategy and Management.  We listen to the company's venture presentation, grill them as if we  were potential investors, then give them feedback about their plan and make suggestions to  improve their chances for success. 

 

13. Blogs

http://headrush.typepad.com

 

14. Other Resources

Center for Business Planning a library of resources that covers topics such as market analysis, competitive analysis, investment financing, production management, tax problems, legal issues, financial statements and writing a business plan.

Center for Entreprenomics at the San Diego North Economic Development Council

The center for Entreprenomics serves as a regional clearinghouse of information and resources for entrepreneurs and a support system for new business development in North County.

Entrepreneur Magazine offers a broad range of resources for startups.

www.eVenturing.org
To help entrepreneurs start and manage businesses, the Kauffman Foundation recently launched Kauffman eVenturing™.Designed for growth-oriented entrepreneurs, the new website provides access to current information, organized around key subjects such as finance and accounting, people and human resources, sales and marketing, products and services, operations, and the entrepreneur. New collections of articles will be featured monthly, including original material and an aggregation of “the best of the best” existing articles. Fresh content also will be added through a link-blog to articles and tools on a variety of subjects.

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the development of the art and science of Entrepreneurship.

Inc. Magazine articles from Inc. magazine on growing a startup.

Pacific Community Ventures (PCV)

Pacific Community Ventures (PCV) is an innovative, 7-year old 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has pioneered a new approach to community economic development. They provide capital, mentoring and resources to businesses that have the potential to bring significant economic gains to low-income communities throughout California. PCV targets companies, generally not high tech, that draw a significant portion of their workforce from low/moderate-income communities, and offer free business and workforce service programs and targeted equity investing activity. Launched in the SF Bay Area, they commenced operations in San Diego earlier this year.

SCORE

SCORE offers free expert business advice from highly successful executives and entrepreneurs.

SDSU Small Business Institute

The Business Consulting Program at San Diego State University is designed to assist local businesses by providing cost-effective business and management consulting services.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of North County
The SBDC of North County is hosted by MiraCosta College and is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration. It serves all of San Diego County north of Interstate 8. SBDC offers no-cost assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs and low cost seminars and workshops.  For more information contact Joe Molina, jmolina@miracosta.edu, 760.795.8740

Small Business Development & International Trade Center (SBDITC) at Southwestern College

The SBDITC assists potential and existing companies through one-on-one counseling, seminars and training, information, referrals, and more. It is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more infomation contact Ken Clark, Executive Director, kmcsbdc@sbditc.org, or Victor Castillo, victor@sbditc.org

SYENT

San Diego's advanced defense technology cluster, provides small businesses with services such as training, mentoring, consulting, potential funding, etc. to fast-track technologies in the areas of C4SIR which include command and control, network sensors, robotics, Internet and communications solutions, surveillance and advanced autonomous systems and cyber security.

U.S. Small Business Administration