Instructor PerspectiveBank officer perspective: Evaluate the business plan as a lender would, focusing on repayment capacity, borrower readiness, risk, collateral, evidence quality, and whether the funding request matches the business purpose.Essential TerminologyDebt financing, equity financing, grant funding, crowdfunding, and owner investmentUse of funds, working capital, collateral, personal guarantee, lien, and loan termCreditworthiness, repayment capacity, debt service, debt-service coverage ratio, liquidity, leverage, and cash-flow cushionUnderwriting, risk rating, contingency plan, covenants, and supporting documentationRequired MaterialsDraft integrated business plan from Weeks 1–3Startup budget, break-even estimate, 12-month revenue and expense forecast, and cash-flow projectionDraft or estimated funding need and use-of-funds listCalculator or spreadsheet access; paper alternative providedLender-readiness checklist and mock underwriting worksheetTimed Agenda — 120 Minutes0–10 min | Opening and continuity review: Instructor reviews the course sequence and asks learners to identify one financial or market assumption from prior weeks that a lender might question.10–25 min | Mini-lesson: funding options and fit: Compare bank loans, microloans, SBA-backed lending, community lenders, owner investment, trade credit, grants, and equity-style funding. Emphasize matching funding source to business purpose, amount, timeline, and repayment ability.25–40 min | Case study 1: Review a food-service startup requesting funds for equipment and working capital. Learners identify strengths, gaps, collateral issues, and cash-flow concerns.40–55 min | Guided business-plan development: Learners draft or revise their funding request using four prompts: amount requested, purpose, timing, owner contribution, and expected business impact.55–65 min | Break and instructor check-ins: Instructor reviews 2–3 learner funding requests for clarity and realism.65–80 min | Mini-lesson: repayment capacity and common lender concerns: Connect projections to repayment. Discuss cash-flow cushion, seasonality, owner draw, taxes, startup delays, weak assumptions, and optimistic sales forecasts.80–98 min | Collaborative mock underwriting activity: In triads, learners rotate roles as borrower, lender, and observer. The lender asks about credit, collateral, repayment, risks, and use of funds. The observer records unresolved questions and evidence needed.98–110 min | Case study 2 and professional examples: Compare two similar loan requests: one with strong documentation and conservative assumptions, one with vague use of funds and unsupported revenue growth. Learners identify why one is more fundable.110–117 min | Formative assessment: Learners complete a five-item lender concern review: funding fit, use-of-funds clarity, owner investment, repayment support, and top risk response. Instructor collects or reviews responses for feedback.117–120 min | Assignment preparation and handoff: Instructor explains how today’s checklist feeds the Week 4 assignment workspace and final lender-style presentation. Learners note two required revisions before Meeting 8.Professional Examples and Case StudiesEquipment loan with clear vendor quotes, owner contribution, and conservative revenue assumptionsWorking-capital request where repayment risk increases because cash-flow timing is not explainedService business with limited collateral that strengthens the plan through contracts, recurring revenue evidence, and contingency reservesGuided Business-Plan DevelopmentLearners update the funding request, use-of-funds table, repayment explanation, collateral notes, credit and owner-investment narrative, risk analysis, implementation milestones, and supporting-evidence checklist.Instructor NotesKeep feedback practical and nonjudgmental; focus on what evidence would reduce uncertainty for a lender.Do not provide legal, tax, or credit-repair advice. Encourage learners to consult appropriate professionals when needed.Challenge overly optimistic forecasts by asking what happens if sales are delayed, costs rise, or collections slow.Document recurring issues for the Meeting 8 final presentation: unclear funding amount, unsupported sales assumptions, weak owner investment story, missing contingency plan, or repayment gaps.Formative AssessmentEach learner submits a lender-readiness exit ticket identifying their requested amount, primary use of funds, repayment source, strongest supporting evidence, and one lender concern they must address before the final presentation.Preparation for Linked AssignmentLearners use today’s checklist to complete the Week 4 Assignment Workspace: Funding Request and Lender Readiness Checkpoint. The workspace becomes the funding request, risk response, implementation milestones, and presentation preparation section of the final integrated business plan.Beginner SupportProvide plain-language definitions and sample funding-request sentence starters.Allow learners without exact numbers to use clearly labeled estimates and identify evidence still needed.Use a paper repayment worksheet for learners not comfortable with spreadsheets.Advanced ExtensionAdd a simple debt-service coverage calculation and sensitivity note for lower sales or higher costs.Compare two funding scenarios, such as smaller phased financing versus one larger request.Add contingency milestones that show when the owner would delay hiring, reduce expenses, or seek alternate financing.