What is the primary difference between a venture capital business plan and a small business or other business plan? The answer is typically risk. Venture capital business plans have much more risk than other plans, and as a result, the potential rewards from success are much higher.

When preparing a plan for venture capitalists, it is critical to try to mitigate the risks inherent in the venture. To mitigate the risks, the plan should stress areas in which the venture excels. This will give the investors validation that their chance of success is highest. To accomplish this, the plan must, among others, stress the qualifications of the management team, prove that the size of opportunity is formidable, show competitive advantage, and detail the operations plan that will allow the venture to effectively and efficiently go "from here to there."

When venture capitalists read a business plan, they constantly ask