We use business plans as a mentor-matching tool, as we have found that document review is the best way to get 20 people to look at a company (with a goal of 2 or 3 of them engaging longer-term) in a way that works for everyone’s schedule.
Your plan should be sent to the MCN as a single file in Adobe PDF. Most plans we see are 16-24 pages long. We do not have a strict length limit, but plans longer than 30 pages will probably annoy your reviewers. You may link to additional online resources in your business plan.
Email your plan to network@mentorcapitalnet.org as an attached file by your cohort deadline. (Current timelines are on this page.)
We do NOT have a specific plan format to suggest, because the most important thing is that you submit a document that you have written written to and for your leadership team, not for the MCN or someone else. However, if you want to make sure you’re not leaving anything out — here is a list of suggestions to our reviewers on what they should comment on.
Please include the following logistical information for the MCN on either the cover page of your plan, or the in the text of the email to which your business plan is attached:
- Company name
- Name(s) of the lead contact individual(s), and email and telephone contact information.
- Physical address of the company.
- Website (if you have one), and any social media addresses that you are actively using.
- An answer to: “Where do you need the most help in making your company successful?”
- A list of any competitors that you want to make sure do not review your plan.
A note on language. Almost all of the of the MCN reviewers are fluent in English, and many are fluent in French or Spanish. While several dozen other languages are represented in our reviewer/mentor community, we can only be sure of having a critical mass of reviewers in those three languages at this time. And we’ll need advance notice if you will need to conduct your video calls in French or Spanish. If the lead entrepreneur is not fluent in English, Spanish, or French, please make sure that someone who can translate into English is available for the video calls.
While your business plan can describe investments funds you are seeking to raise, and how you plan to raise them, it should not itself be a pitch deck or other request for funds. We are not funders, and some of our reviewers are not accredited investors.