Whether you are emailing us your executive summary or meeting with us, the following tips will help convey your investment opportunity:

1. Business plans are not graded by weight — keep them simple and to the point.

2. Describe the opportunity — be specific about the unmet market need, and how you fill it. Is there an open upside potential to your venture?

3. Define your market clearly and definitively — Tell us who your customers are, what their problems are, how you are going to reach them...efficiently..., and how you plan to solve those problems. We’ve seen enough "upper right hand quadrant" PowerPoint stacks.

4. What is your secret sauce? What do you have that is so compelling that customers will pay for your solution

5. How much investment is needed? Successful software companies are capital efficient. Remember, customers are better sources of cash than the venture industry.

6. Realism — have a thoughtful operating plan. Research operation margins of existing competitors. Are yours in line?

7. Honesty, integrity, and a total commitment to the success of the venture.