Business Models and Financial Plans
Our advanced course on business models and financial projections - including live sessions and downloadable toolkit
How to do a financial forecast for a start-up
This course is not about passive learning. Participants will be hands-on and will be equipped with a toolkit that they can immediately apply beyond the course. Participants will receive a customized review of a start-up financial forecast of their choice.
3 hours of live interactive sessions with Expara CEO Douglas Abrams
A custom review of a financial projection of your choice
39 videos - 8 hours of viewing and 25 original articles for reading
Pro-forma Valuation Excel Model for start-ups
Start-up evaluation checklist and term sheet template
Access to Expara's network of more than 2,000 venture investors
Expara Academy Certificate of Course Completion
A message from the instructor
About the instructor
Connecting to my network
READ FIRST: How to complete the course
About Expara
Reading list for investors
What is the relationship between risk and return?
Risk and return
Why fear risk?
Risk and return - Small versus scalable business
Reading: Risk and return
Reading - Two types of entrepreneurs
Reading - Fear and failure
Welcome to venture capital world
Highest returning asset class
VC is the highest returning asset class
VC improves portfolio diversification
Reading - Why do investors invest in VC funds?
Reading - Top VC fund managers can consistently outperform
Why VC now
Why venture capital now
Reading - Is moores law over?
Reading - Amaras law
Scalable or lifestyle business?
Why should startups raise investment
Reading - Why do start-ups raise money?
How to fund growth?
Which form of funding is best?
How to fund growth
Reading - What is the best form of funding for a start up
Reading - What is the difference between debt and equity?
Reading - Only a moron starts a business with a loan
What kind of companies do VCs invest in?
How do VCs make money?
Which one is more scalable- product or service?
What kind of companies generate high returns?
Reading - What is the optimal time to enter a market?
Reading - What do VCs invest in?
Reading - Which scales better?
Reading - Good business vs good investment
What sectors do VCs invest?
The investor’s decision tree
The investor’s decision tree
Key elements for success
Key elements for success
Reading - Product market fit or team
Reading - Three most important factors
Reading - Key elements of success
Download: Business plan outline and checklist
Communicating with investors
Investor and start up communication
Reading - How to connect with investors
In the financial section of the business plan
Why do we need a financial plan?
Financial projections - financial section of the business plan (2)
Valuation - financial section of the business plan (3)
Business Model - The financial section of the business plan (1)
Key revenue model issues
Business model - how will you make money?
Reading - What is a business model?
Business model innovation
Business model innovations
Reading - What is the Gillette business model
Reading - Disruptive business models
Create financial projections
Download: Financial projection and valuation model
Why forecast 5 years?
Starting with revenue forecast
Top-down market sizing example - Plant-based meat
Top-down market sizing example - Sesame milk
Bottom up market sizing
Introduction to Revenue forecast in Excel
Why is the top-down forecast different from bottom-up forecast?
Mistakes startup CEOs make
Reading - Why will financial forecasts always be wrong?
Financial model explained 1
Financial model explained 2
Financial model explained 3
Balance sheet
Income statement 1
Income statements 2
Cash flow budget
DCF valuation model
Financials and DCF Valuation
Weighted average cost of capital
Valuation in financial modelling
Dilution schedule and investor ROI
Reading - Why are there so many unprofitable startups?
Reading - How is a model different from reality
Venture funding downloads
Submission: Live session