Griffith Innovation Challenge 2010 Business Plan Template Instructions for completing the Template Your business plan must address each of the nine key headings listed over the page. The issues listed below each heading are suggestions of the type of information that could be provided for each topic, but should be adapted as appropriate for your business plan. Business plans must not exceed 40 pages (with appendices of no more than 15 pages). Read the Griffith Innovation Challenge Guidelines for further design, layout and presentation guidelines. How / When to submit Five (5) hard-copies of your completed Business Plan and one (1) copy of the attached Business Plan Submission Form must be submitted (to either address specified on the attached Submission Form) by 5.00 pm on Friday 3 September 2010. Questions? If you have any questions about the Business Plan Template or submission process, please contact the Project Coordinator, Ms Alicia Moran on 07 3735 4467 or email griffithinnovation@griffith.edu.au. griffith.edu.au/innovation-challenge
1. Enterprise Name Please use the Team name, as specified on the Registration Form completed at the commencement of the competition. If you have decided to change your Team s name, please provide the new name and briefly explain the circumstances leading to the change. 2. Executive Summary Please provide a clear, concise executive overview of your idea that would be effective as a standalone overview of your business plan. Your executive summary should include the following information: a. A brief description of the concept and proposed value proposition and revenue model b. An overview of the market potential c. A summary of managerial skills required d. An overview of financial forecasts and expected returns for the enterprise e. The purpose of the plan (e.g. to attract investment capital; to be used as a management tool etc) 3. Overview What is the legal status of the enterprise (i.e. proprietary limited company, trust, company limited by guarantee, sole trader)? Please provide a brief overview of your current or anticipated organisation. The overview could include information relating to: a. The purpose of the enterprise b. The history of your organisation c. The genesis of the concept d. The current status of the concept The overview should also provide an outline of your organisation s overall strategy and objectives over the next few years. 4. Products and Services Please provide a description of the new or improved product(s) and / or service(s) that are the subject of this business plan. In your description, you could include information relating to: a. Product features, functionality and benefits b. Pricing c. Proprietary position d. Current status of product / service development Your description should clearly indicate why the product/service will be innovative or superior from both a technical and market perspective.
5. Market and Marketing Strategy Please provide an overview of the market the enterprise will operate in, and the proposed marketing strategy that will enable the enterprise to enter and prosper in this market. Your overview could: a. Identify the market and describe its characteristics (including market segments, estimated size, potential growth and barriers to market) b. Give the estimated market share the enterprise expects to achieve and the basis for this estimate c. Identify the main competitors, their competing products or services, relative prices, and explain what differentiates your product from that of your competitors d. Detail how the product/service will be commercially exploited (including information on the proposed selling and distribution arrangements, pricing and promotion strategies) e. Explain how barriers to entry will be overcome 6. Operations Please provide an overview of the proposed operations of the organisation. Your overview could: a. Detail the proposed production/delivery of product(s) and / or service(s) b. Identify the likely product/service cost and associated margins c. Describe any necessary research and development activities necessary to achieve project outcomes d. Identify the resources required to achieve the objectives of the business, and describe ownership or access to the requisite plant, equipment and facilities 7. Management Please provide an overview of the proposed management structure and style of the organisation. Your overview could: a. Detail the proposed organisational structure (using a schematic diagram) b. Detail the key management personnel involved in the organisation and their relevant skills particularly in the areas of marketing, promotion, innovation, human resources and finances c. Briefly describe any relevant commercialisation experience within the management team d. Describe how the management team have the ability to execute the strategy of the organisation, identify any skills gaps that exist and how these gaps will be managed e. Identify the personnel requirements and the proposed strategies to ensure recruitment and development of these human resources f. Identify any external contractors essential to the business 8. Financial Plan Please provide an overview of the organisation s financial plan. Your overview could also a. Identify any research and development, commercialisation, establishment and other recurring costs (e.g. production, distribution, marketing cost) associated with the enterprise and describe how these costs will be met b. Describe the forecast for both domestic and export sales c. Describe any other sources of income (e.g. licensing royalties, upfront contributions) and the timing of such additional income d. Provide a summary of financial forecasts for the enterprise and details of financial assumptions used to prepare the financial model A full set of forecast financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow) for the first five years of operation (with monthly breakdowns for the first year) should be included in the appendices to the Business Plan.
9. The Funding Proposition Summarise the capital or investment required to successfully commercialise or develop the concept and the benefits for the investor or funder. Your plan could state how much finance is required by your enterprise, and from what sources (i.e. management, venture capital, banks and others), what the money will be used for, and when it is required. Where this is an investment proposition, outline the capital structure and ownership before and after financing (i.e. what is the equity share proposed for investors? What is the expected return on investment?). What are the possible exit strategies for investors, i.e. how do they make money from this? Which is the most likely exit strategy? When? Why? This section should be tied back to the financial plan. You will need to quantify the return on investment for the investor. You could also consider: a. Scenario plans in relation to this (e.g. consider the impact on returns if sales are 20% higher or lower than expected) b. What do you want from your investors aside from money? Can they add value to provide smart money? c. What are the benefits for the investor and the company from this deal? d. Will you require further rounds of funding? Why? How much? When? How will it be raised? Where this is a funding proposition (grant or donation), explain: a. What the benefits providing the funding will bring? b. What outcomes will be expected? c. How the funder will benefit? d. If the expected outcomes are achieved, what are the next steps and is there a requirement for further funding?
Griffith Innovation Challenge 2010 Business Plan Submission Form Complete one copy of this form, and submit with five hard-copies of your business plan to either of the locations below by 5.00 pm Friday 3 September 2010. Retain the bottom of the form for your records. OR Alicia Moran, GIC Project Coordinator Business 3 (N63) 0.17 Nathan campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan QLD 4111 Jan Bickerton, Team Leader (Program Service Team) Business 3 (G06) 2.14 Gold Coast campus, Griffith University, QLD 4222 Team name: Team leader name: Team leader address: Team leader telephone: Team leader email: I submit this business plan on my team s behalf, for the 2010 Griffith Innovation Challenge Team leader signature: Submission date: Received by: (please sign and print) Griffith Innovation Challenge 2010 Business Plan Submission Receipt Team name: Submission date: Received by: (please sign and print)