Issue #22: The One-Page Business Plan That Raised $100K

September 03, 2025

Kick off: Emma was 23 with zero experience when she got $100K funding in 24 hours. Her secret? A one-page business plan that investors actually read. Here's what's inside this issue — and next week, the "15-second elevator pitch" that lands meetings with anyone...

The Power of One Page

Emma realized most business plans are ignored because they're too long. Her one-page format forced focus on what matters.

Emma's Template:

THE PROBLEM (2 sentences) "73% of college students can't afford textbooks. This impacts grades and graduation rates."

THE SOLUTION (2 sentences)
"We rent textbooks for 80% less than buying new. Same-day delivery, return at semester's end."

THE MARKET (3 numbers)

  • 20M US college students

  • $14B annual textbook market

  • $400+ average student spend per semester

BUSINESS MODEL (1 sentence) "Students pay 20% of retail for semester rental; we buy used at 10% retail."

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

  • Same-day campus delivery

  • 80% savings vs. new, 40% vs. competitors

FINANCIALS (3 years) Year 1: $50K revenue, $15K profit, 500 customers Year 2: $300K revenue, $90K profit, 2.5K customers
Year 3: $800K revenue, $240K profit, 5K customers

FUNDING REQUEST "$100K for inventory ($60K) and marketing ($40K) at 3 universities."

Why It Worked:

  1. Respected investor time (60-second read)

  2. Forced clarity and focus

  3. Easy to remember and discuss

  4. Showed prioritization skills

  5. Action-oriented next steps

Results: 3 meetings scheduled, $100K in 24 hours, sold for $2.3M after 3 years.

Weekly Spark: Mindset Hack

The Simplicity Test - If you can't explain your business to a 12-year-old in 30 seconds, it's too complicated.

Weekly Build Challenge

Write a one-page business plan using Emma's template. Time limit: 2 hours. If it takes longer, your idea might be too complex.

Creator's Corner - What's Next?

Next week: "The 15-Second Elevator Pitch" - The exact script that gets meetings with CEOs, investors, and dream clients.

Keep it simple,

Basat Hussain