The $100,000 Blank Page Problem
Every great business starts with an idea, but every funded business starts with a plan. If you want an investor to hand you $100,000 or more, they need to see that you have done your homework. They want to know how you will make money, who your customers are, and why you are the right person for the job.
Most people get stuck because writing a 30-page business plan feels like writing a book. In 2026, you can use artificial intelligence to break this giant task into small, easy steps. By using the right tools, you can move from a "blank page" to a professional plan that gets attention. This guide will show you how to build a plan that investors actually want to read.
Step 1: Crafting a Hook that Investors Love
he first thing an investor reads is your Executive Summary. It is the most important part of the whole plan. If it is boring, they will stop reading right there. You need to explain what problem you are solving and why it is worth a lot of money.
To get started, you can use tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude to brainstorm your main message. But to really make it professional, you should try our Brainstorming Expert.
Try this prompt:
"I am starting a business that [describe your idea]. Act as a startup coach. Help me write a 1-page executive summary that focuses on the biggest problem my customers face and how my product solves it in a way no one else can. Use simple language that a busy investor would understand."
When you use a clear prompt, the AI stops giving you "fluff" and starts giving you real business value. This is a key part of how to build better AI prompts.
Step 2: Proving People Want to Buy from You
Investors do not just want to hear your opinion. They want facts. They want to know how many people are already buying products like yours and what those people are unhappy about. This is called Market Research.
Instead of spending weeks reading old reports, use a tool like Perplexity AI. It is a search engine that uses AI to give you real-time data with links to the sources. You can also use our Research Assistant to organize those facts into a clean table for your plan.
Ask the AI this:
"Find the three biggest trends in the [your industry] for 2026. What are the three biggest complaints customers have about current companies in this space? Provide links to the articles or data you find."
Learning how to use Perplexity for research ensures that your business plan is based on reality, not just guesses.
Step 3: Explaining the Operations Simply
A big part of a $100K plan is the operations section. This explains how the business actually works day-to-day. If this part is too complicated, investors might worry that the business is too hard to run.
This is where the Simplifier Specialist comes in. You can take your complex ideas and turn them into a simple "Step 1, Step 2, Step 3" format.
What to do:
Write down how you plan to make and sell your product.
Paste it into the AI and ask it to rewrite it for a general audience.
Ensure it explains exactly where the $100,000 will be spent.
Investors love clarity. If they can understand your plan in two minutes, they are much more likely to trust you with their money.
Step 4: Thinking Like a Critic
Before you send your plan, you need to know where it is weak. Every business has risks, and investors will find them. It is better if you find them first.
Use our Thinking Hat prompt to look at your plan from different angles. You can ask the AI to "wear the black hat" and tell you every reason your business might fail. Then, you can write a section in your plan that explains how you will prevent those failures. This shows investors that you are a serious professional who is ready for anything.
The $100K Business Plan Tech Stack
Part of the Plan | Best Tool to Use | Why it Works |
The Hook | Turns a basic idea into a professional pitch. | |
Market Proof | Provides real-time data and live links. | |
Operations | Makes complex plans easy for investors to read. | |
Risk Check | Finds the weak spots before an investor does. | |
Writing | Great for a natural, human-sounding tone. |
Moving from Draft to Dollars
A business plan is just a document, but a great business plan is a story. It tells the story of how you are going to change a small part of the world and make money doing it. By using AI as your business partner, you can finish this document faster and with more confidence.
At Vertech Academy, we focus on these high-stakes outcomes. We know that many of our students and members are looking to start their own path. That is why we offer specialized tools to help you manage your research and your planning. We want to help you take the "busy work" out of your startup so you can focus on building your dream.
Ready to see how these tools work together? Explore our 7 essential AI tools list for a complete look at what every entrepreneur needs in 2026. Whether you are writing your first plan or your fifth, we have the resources to help you win.
Common Questions About AI Business Plans
Will investors know I used AI to write my plan? If you just copy and paste from a chatbot, yes. It will sound boring and generic. But if you use AI to research and organize your own ideas, the plan will sound professional and original. Always edit the final version to make sure it sounds like you.
How much data do I need for a $100K request? You should aim for at least three to five pages of real-world data. This includes market size, competitor prices, and your own financial goals. You can find this data on official sites like the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Is it safe to put my secret business idea into an AI? Most big AI companies have privacy modes, but you should still be careful. Avoid putting in private names or specific trade secrets. Use the AI to help with the structure and logic of the plan.
What is the most important part for getting funding? The financials. Investors want to see exactly how their money will turn into more money. Use a spreadsheet for the numbers and use the AI to explain the logic behind those numbers.
