Marquis names impress investors. Choosing well-respected professional resources such as accountants and lawyers will not only expand your network but also increase your credibility with investors. These assumptions should be clearly spelled out. If you have an existing business, you have a pretty good sense of how much things will cost, how much staff you'll need, and the sales you're likely to make. But when you're just starting out, these projections are difficult to make.
Angels tend to have less aggressive goals than VCs.
Know your numbers and be ready to explain how each item in your projections has been calculated, because any serious investor is likely to grill you on the detail. They want to understand what the market situation is that needs to be addressed and how you plan to exploit it. Part of targeting a significant market opportunity is knowing everything about the market, not just its size and opportunity. Provide a full analysis of the market, its characteristics, growth potential and all relevant trends. Include a competitive analysis, which describes the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors within your market and your competitive advantage.