Analysis of Business Plan for Non-Dilutive Startup Grant Application

This report details the business plan for the Donnybrook Environmental Sustainability Project, an initiative by students to address environmental pollution through recycling and reuse of plastic waste. The project sought a $150,000 non-dilutive startup grant from the Australian government, with the plan outlining the project's mission, market analysis, competitor assessment, operational and financial plans. The business plan emphasized creating employment and contributing to environmental sustainability. The report highlights the essential components of a successful business plan, including an executive summary, business description, marketing strategies, and a clear financial plan. The grant was approved based on the thoroughness of the plan. The author reflects on the process, emphasizing the importance of a well-written business plan to secure funding and the potential of non-dilutive grants for startups, particularly for students aspiring to become entrepreneurs. The plan included detailed allocation of funds, including machinery purchase, premises setup, public sensitization, and operational costs. The project's success showcases the value of a compelling business plan in securing funding and achieving environmental goals.

Running head: BUSINESS PLAN 1
A report on application for a non-dilutive startup business grant
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Introduction
Donnybrook Environmental Sustainability Project is an initiative started by ten locals of
Donnybrook with the aim of addressing the problem of environmental pollution within the town
and its environs. The program was established following the coming together of ten students; six
from various Universities and four from colleges, to help address the problem of environmental
pollution in the town of Donnybrook. As residents of the town, nine of my friends and myself
felt that it was high time the entire populace of Donnybrook got involved in addressing the issue
of pollution. This idea came following the recent deplorable state of the town despite the efforts
by authorities to clean it up. We would collect wastes such as plastic bags, recycle and come up
with usable products for sale in the market. Being a new venture, run by University and college
students, the initiative needed funds to spearhead its objective.
The program therefore applied for a non-dilutive startup business grant from the
Australian government. The total amount needed for running the program was $200,000. At the
start, the program had $50000 which had been raised from contribution of the ten members. This
necessitated the application of the $150,000 non-dilutive business grant from the government.
The $150,000 grant would be used in the purchase of machinery for recycling wastes which
would cost $80,000, of the remaining amount; $20,000 would be used in setting up the premises,
$20,000 for public sensitization, $5000 for setting up dust collection bins across the town and
$15000 for operational costs.
The intended outcome of the grant was to promote environmental sustainability within
the town by recycling and reusing all plastic wastes. The grant would also enable the business to
create employment and help the government in addressing the issue of unemployment. In the
application for the non-dilutive business grant, the program faced the problem of writing a clear

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business plan which would appeal to the government to finance it. To solve this problem, the
program sought the advice of business experts who pointed out that in order for the program to
get support from the government, it was essential to assure the government that the money
invested in the business would guarantee success(Wyss, 2014).
Some of the essential elements which the government would look for in the proposal in
order to offer the non-dilutive business grant include the business description through features
such as the Mission Statement which communicates the purpose of the business and the
principles and purpose which guide the business, market analysis, competitor assessment,
operating plan as well as the financial plan of the business.
Feedback
The business plan of the program which was submitted clearly communicated the goals
of the business, the strategies which the business intended to use to achieve the set goals, the
obstacles which the business was likely to encounter as well as a clear highlight of the solutions
to the obstacles. The business plan submitted had all the essential components of a good
business plan. For instance, it had an executive summary, business description, marketing
strategies, operation plan, development plan, management plan, business design as well as a
competitive analysis structure(Beylin, et al. 2011).
In a nutshell, the business plan provided a clear highlight of what it was going to do, how
things would be done, the people engaged in carrying out every activity as well as the financial
requirements for carrying out every activity(Stutely, 2012). Similarly, the business plan that was
submitted had a clear financial plan detailing how every penny of the non-dilutive business grant
would be used as well as the benefits to be accrued from the finances.

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Through its Mission Statement and vision, it was very clear that the business was to be
engaged in a worthy cause which would benefit the government directly(Lyon, 2014). For
instance, recycling of plastic waste by the business would save the government the hustle of
investing in waste storage and management while at the same time the business would create
youth employment which has been a headache to the government.
Therefore, following the clear highlight of the business plan, the government approved
the non-dilutive business grant citing its optimism that following the clear highlight of the
business, its mission and vision, the management structure, operation structure, financial plan,
market analysis, competitor assessment as well as marketing plan, it was sure of the positive use
and productivity of its finances(Burns, 2016).
Reflection
I learned valuable lessons from the submission of the business plan to the Australian
government seeking for the non-dilutive grant for starting up the Donnybrook Environmental
Sustainability Project. As a business student aspiring to become a successful entrepreneur in
future, I never imagined the possibility of getting large sums of money as capital without selling
company shares(Chen, et al. 2009).
The funding of this project by the government has made me realize that the secret to
acquiring non-dilutive grants lies in the content of the business plan. There is a lot of money and
people out there who are more than willing to provide capital for businesses without demanding
collateral or acquisition of the shares of the business(Jordan, 2010). What one needs to do is to
guarantee the donors that there money is safe in the venture invested in. This I learned should be
done through a clearly written business plan which should communicate the goals of the

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business, the strategies to be used by the business to achieve the set goals, the obstacles likely to
be encountered by the business as well as a clear highlight of the solutions to the obstacles(Jones
& Hill, 2017).
The submission taught me that the business plan should convince the donor that although
there exists fears in their mind over the possibility of their money being safe, the business has the
best plan of handling the challenges. All information concerning the business; its structure,
financial plans, management plans, operation plans, marketing plans, competitor assessment
must be provided to convince the donor that indeed the business has a clear plan that will ensure
the proper use and safety of the finances(Jordan, 2010). Through this, there will be no fears of
raising capital for startups since many venture capitalists are willing to invest where the safety of
their finances is guaranteed.

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References
Beylin, D., Chrisman, C. J., & Weingarten, M. (2011). Granting you success. Nature a-z index,
29(7), 567-570.
Burns, P. (2016). Entrepreneurship and small business. Palgrave Macmillan Limited.
Chen, X. P., Yao, X., & Kotha, S. (2009). Entrepreneur passion and preparedness in business
plan presentations: a persuasion analysis of venture capitalists' funding decisions.
Academy of Management journal, 52(1), 199-214.
Jordan, J. F. (2010). Innovation, Commercialization, and the Successful Startup.
Jones, C. H., & Hill, A. (2017). BUILDING A BUSINESS. NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY,
35(2), 113.
Jordan, J. F. (2010). Sustaining Life–The Role of Small Business Innovation Research Program
(SBIR).
Lyons, J. M. (2014). Financing a Startup: Selecting the Investor and Negotiating the Term
Sheet–The Entrepreneur’s Perspective.
Stutely, R. (2012). The definitive business plan: the fast track to intelligent planning for
executives and entrepreneurs. Pearson UK.
Wyss, C. (2014). How venture capital finds you. Chimica Oggi-Chemistry Today, 32, 1.

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Appendix
Evidence of grant submission: Business plan
Application for $200,000 for Donnybrook Environmental Sustainability Project, May 20,
2018, 11:00AM
Executive Summary
Donnybrook Environmental Sustainability Project plans to ensure environmental sustainability
of the town by recycling plastic waste products.
Business Description
The reason for the establishment of this business is to ensure environmental sustainability and
create employment. Donnybrook Environmental Sustainability Project is a partnership of ten
members as follows;
Simon Bryant - C.E.O
Kevin Kone - HR Manager
Albert James -Marketing manager
Franklin Jane -Corporate Affairs
Loyce Miller -Legal Affairs
Albert Moreno -ICT
Alvin Sol -Member
Moureen Jane -Member
Ken Mourice -Member
George Wilson -Member
Mission Statement: To promote a pollution free environment and promote environmental
sustainability by bringing all members of society on board in the fight against pollution.

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Market Analysis
The business will recycle plastic products such as containers and sale to members of the public
both within and outside the town. 80% of the Australian population use plastic containers. The
only available company producing the same products within the town is the XYZ. Nonetheless,
market research show that this company sales its products at high prices. This is due to the fact
that XYZ imports its raw materials. Since we will be using locally available materials, we will
sale our products at cheaper prices thereby gaining a competitive advantage.
Financial plan
The total amount needed for running the program was $200,000. At the start, the program had
$50000 which had been raised from contribution of the ten members. This necessitated the
application of the $150,000 non-dilutive business grant from the government. The $150,000
grant would be used in the purchase of machinery for recycling wastes which would cost
$80,000, of the remaining amount; $20,000 would be used in setting up the premises, $20,000
for public sensitization, $5000 for setting up dust collection bins across the town and $15000 for
operational costs