An investable business model

 An investable business model is a clear plan for how your company creates, delivers, and captures value in a way that attracts investors. Investors are looking for evidence that your business can scale, generate revenue, and deliver returns. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what makes a business model investable:


1. Clear Value Proposition

  • What problem are you solving?

  • Who has the problem? (target market)

  • Why is your solution better than existing alternatives?
    Example: Zoom solved the problem of unreliable video calls with a simple, high-quality solution.


2. Scalable Revenue Streams

Investors look for repeatable, scalable ways to make money. Examples:

  • Subscription model (SaaS): recurring revenue from users.

  • Marketplace/Commission model: take a percentage of each transaction.

  • Freemium + Upsell: attract users free, convert them to paying customers.

  • Licensing / IP royalties: monetize your technology or patents.

  • Ad-supported model: if user base can scale massively.


3. Large & Growing Market

  • Total Addressable Market (TAM) should be big enough to justify the investment.

  • Investors prefer markets that are growing, not shrinking.

  • Showable evidence: market reports, trends, or adoption rates.


4. Defensible Advantage

  • Why can’t someone easily copy you?

  • Competitive moats include:

    • Technology/IP

    • Network effects

    • Brand & community

    • Exclusive partnerships


5. Unit Economics & Profit Potential

  • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) vs Lifetime Value (LTV): profitable companies usually have LTV > 3× CAC.

  • Investors need to see that each new customer adds real value.


6. Clear Growth Path

  • Show how you plan to acquire users/customers: marketing channels, partnerships, viral loops.

  • Explain scaling plan: staffing, tech infrastructure, distribution.


7. Strong Team

  • Investors bet on founders more than ideas.

  • Highlight complementary skills, domain expertise, and track record.


8. Exit Potential

  • Investors want a way to realize returns:

    • Acquisition

    • IPO

    • Strategic partnerships


Example: Investable SaaS Model

ComponentExample
ProblemBusinesses struggle to manage remote teams efficiently
SolutionCollaboration software + AI productivity assistant
Market50M+ SMBs globally (TAM $50B)
Revenue$20/user/month subscription
GrowthViral adoption via freemium model
MoatProprietary AI algorithm + integrations
Unit EconomicsCAC $50, LTV $300
ExitPotential acquisition by Microsoft/Google

Key Takeaway: An investable business model clearly answers:

  1. Who is your customer?

  2. What is the problem & solution?

  3. How will you make money?

  4. Can this scale?

  5. Why is it defensible?

  6. How will investors make a return?

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