QUESTION 1 [100 MARKS]

It is the individual or collective entrepreneurs that give strength to the economy. With their creativity, they take initiatives and make the transformations necessary to survive in a competitive global system. The vitality of the economy depends on a sufficiently active and dense entrepreneurial culture (de Woot, 2016). This abstract has become more important especially after the social and economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, your entrepreneurial ideas and or projects are needed not only for yourself but for the economy. Your country needs you.

Required:

Prepare a proposal to a potential venture capital investor who seeks to invest in a new commercial entrepreneurial idea and or project. The venture capitalist wants the proposal to address the following:

An assessment of your own entrepreneurial idea and or project based on the description of the product or service offering, opportunities, team, etc. (5) An attribution of factors and risks influencing the feasibility of the idea and or project. (8 marks)

Outline the ideas and or projects value proposition. (10 marks)

An appraisal of the market characteristics for the idea and or project (addressing customer characteristics, market structure, market size, potential growth rate, market capacity, cost structure and potential market share in the first 2-3 years). (10 marks)

A comprehensive but relatively brief competitor analysis. (7 marks)

Design a pricing model for your product or service offering and investigate factors you would consider. (10 marks)

Examine two other financing options besides the venture capital option. Examine their suitability to the idea and or project, and highlight the key financial ratios you would carefully track to ensure the idea and or project is financially viable for the first 2-3 years. Include how much capital is required and detail how you would determine it. (15 marks)

Prepare a six month cash forecast for the idea and or project. (15 marks)

Investigate and articulate ethics and sustainability issues or aspects you would consider; how they will impact the idea and or project; what CSI initiatives will you embark on, how you will contribute to the betterment of the community in which your product is produced or service is offered; and how your idea and or project would benefit. (10 marks)

Appraise a type of management information system (MIS) you would implement, its suitability in operations, giving feedback or reports, monitoring performance, etc in the first 2-3 years. (10 marks)