diff --git a/docs/BusinessPlan/Expectations.md b/docs/BusinessPlan/Expectations.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5341a95 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/BusinessPlan/Expectations.md @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +Some software Capstone teams have continued to develop their projects after Capstone, and have even +started businesses related to their Capstones. The business plan extra is for teams who wish to conceive of +ways to monetize their Capstone project after Capstone ends. A good business plan report should include +the following, plus any other information the team feels is necessary. Marks will be based on the depth +of critical thought and justification, plus evidence of research-backed values presented in the document. +It is not necessary to gather primary information (i.e., your own surveys and focus groups), but all +information and estimates should be based whenever possible on realistic values from other, properly-cited +sources. + +* **Problem and market need:** Identifies target customer, the specific pain point your software addresses, + evidence of demand for the product, and why your solution is better than existing ones. For any unknown + pieces of market need, proposes surveys or focus groups that could be used to gather the missing + information. +* **Market size and business model:** Defines the target market. Includes a research-based estimate of the size + of the addressable market of this product, with projections of the user base size for the first 5 years. + Describes and justifies revenue model (e.g. SaaS, freemium, etc), the rationale for your pricing, and + provides basic financial projections. +* **Cost breakdown:** Includes a detailed breakdown of the initial investment needed to make the project + into a launchable product (the cost to take it from Capstone Rev1 to a full product). Detailed breakdown + of ongoing costs of running the service, including salaries to maintain the software, marketing/user + acquisition costs, ongoing service costs, and any other relevant costs. Identifies realistic uncertainty + and ranges of costs. States these costs as a proportion of the number of users to show how costs scale as + the user base grows. Includes projections of costs for several numbers of users spanning many orders of + magnitude. +* **Competition and positioning:** Identifies both direct and indirect competitors, comparing your product + to those other ones on relevant dimensions chosen by the team. Identifies barriers to entry into this space. + Justifies the “moat” that your product will build to have an ongoing sustainable advantage. +* **Execution plan and milestones:** Includes a detailed timeline of the work needed to launch the product. + Includes a clear phased approach with achievable milestones, with details for the time leading up to launch + as well as plans to continue to improve in the first five years after launch.