Publications & Tools

	Why Business Plans Don't Get Funded September 2003 PDF version \| HTML version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office Your business plan is very often the first impression potential investors get about your venture. But even if you have a great product, team, and customers, it could also be the last impression the investor gets if you make any of these avoidable mistakes.
	The Four Cornerstones of Every Business Plan June 2010 PDF version \| HTML version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office The thought of preparing a business plan for the first time can be very intimidating. There are many "moving parts," and it's easy to get lost in the details. Here's an easier method.
	What Kills Startups? April 2009 PDF version \| HTML version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office Sooner or later, disaster will strike. A disciplined approach to identifying and mitigating risks can help you beat the odds. Will you be ready?
	Understanding Investors: Investors Are People, Too August 2010 PDF version \| HTML version by Richard Hasenpflug, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office Sooner or later every entrepreneur thinks about raising funds from outside investors. Although many look forward to the process, others find the prospects daunting.
	Fit to be an Entrepreneur: 12 Tips January 2010 PDF version \| HTML version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office A large part of entrepreneurial success comes from perseverance: the ability to tirelessly grind it out, day after day. But if you aren’t in great physical and mental shape, that’s a recipe for burnout.
	Ten Big Questions April 2005 PDF version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office Potential investors want answers. In deciding whether or not they want to continue discussions, they generally want you to answer The Ten Big Questions.
	Swing Thoughts for Entrepreneurs April 2010 PDF version \| HTML version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office The golf swing is a tricky thing to master. There are countless moving parts that all have to work together in flawless unison, all in the span of a split second. This is a lot like running a business.
	High Tech Startup Valuation Estimator August 2003 HTML version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office Wondering what your pre-money valuation will be if a VC ever puts a term sheet on the table? Valuing a startup is intrinsically different from valuing established companies. Because of the high level of risk and often little or no revenues, traditional quantitative valuation methods like P/E comparables or discounting free cash flows are of little use. Startup valuations are largely determined based on qualitative attributes.
	How Often Should You Update Your Business Plan? April 2005 PDF version by Booway Balhaajav, Cayenne Consulting, Boston Office After many hours of hard work, you've finally finished your business plan. It is well written and all the data is up to date. Will this still be true in 6 months? How often should you review and update your business plan, and while doing so, how do you make sure you keep track of all the changes and don't leave out anything important?
	Do You Have a Venture Value Scorecard? June 2009 PDF version \| HTML version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office The Venture Value Scorecard is a one-page summary of your company’s achievements and assets: the factors that contribute to the value of your organization. It should be updated monthly so that you have a regular reminder of where you’re making progress, and where you may have become complacent.
	Your First Pitch June 2005 PDF version by Booway Balhaajav, Cayenne Consulting, Boston Office Unlike baseball, your first pitch isn't ceremonial. It really counts. It can be decisive in shaping the rest of your life. So, if you want to succeed at it, the following preparation strategies should help.
	Presentation: Building a High Performance Startup Team November 2009 Powerpoint version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office Slides to accompany a brief talk on team building fundamentals for startups.
	Workshop: Preparing to Raise Capital in Today's Environment November 2004 PDF version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office Slides to accompany a talk on the challenges in today's funding climate and practices to maximize your chances in the fund raising process.
	Workshop: Budgeting and Forecasting for Startups October 2004 PDF version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office Slides to accompany a talk on the fundamentals of budgeting and forecasting for startups.
	Approaches to Writing a Business Plan March 2004 PDF version \| HTML version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office There are four basic approaches to writing your business plans. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
	Plug Yourself In April 2009 PDF version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office It’s vital to stay on top of developments in your marketplace: you need to know about new trends, new data, and new developments with customers and competitors. Here are four quick tips for staying plugged in.
	Rising From the Dot-Com Ashes March 2006 PDF version by Akira Hirai, Cayenne Consulting, Phoenix Office A startup consultant survives - and thrives - through five tough years, and shares some lessons learned.