Each business idea, they say, is unique & needs to be evaluated in the right context. Herein lies the catch. Can we use any common parameters to do a first cut evaluation? Here is a guide

1. TITLE
• This is the first introduction to your venture.
• If your brand name is not an indicator of your business activity, then add an
addition title to capture the essence of the business (e.g. if your brand name is
Urban Ladder, you probably need to provide an alternative title too)
• If the title itself should convey the business idea, then it has to be well thought
out

2. PROBLEM / OPPORTUNITY
• Describe the customer's pain point proposed to be addressed
• Or the user need being fulfilled
(e.g. using a clichéd example – instead of saying we provide self-drive rental cars,
talk about addressing privacy & cost related concerns of customers hiring vehicles)

3. YOUR SOLUTION
• What are you doing to address the customer's pain point?
• Or to provide them pleasure!!

4. OPPORTUNITY SIZE
• Make sure to define the opportunity in terms of the specific strategy adopted by
you, and the target clients chosen
• Size of the Blue Sky opportunity has a limited relevance
(e.g. total rental car opportunity may not be your target market, if you are in the
business of renting self-drive cars!!)

5. REVENUE MODEL
• How do you propose to get money from your customer?
• Alternatively, how will you make someone else pay for your customer (e.g. think
Facebook, Youtube)

6. MANAGEMENT TEAM
• Who are the key personnel?
• What skills do they bring to the table?
• What is the width & depth of the talent pool?

7. GO TO MARKET
• Who is your target group?
• How do you propose to reach it in the short & medium terms?
• What are your business implementation plans?
• Are there any critical activities required to be completed before business launch?

8. COMPETITION ANALYSIS
• Who are your competitors - present & potential?
• Any feature-wise comparisons?
• What entry barriers are you creating?

9. ACHIEVEMENTS/RESOURCES
• What has been done so far in terms of setting up the business infra, acquiring
technology & customers etc?
• What are the short/medium term goals?
• What incremental resources are required to achieve these goals?

10. FUND REQUIREMENT / USAGE
• What kind of financial resources do you need to address your entire resources
needs?
• What is the use of proceeds?
• For what duration will this money last?