From this information, you see your end point. Your goal should be to make your company look like the one (or ones) you think would be attractive to potential acquirers. How can you find that out? By examining the acquisitions already made! By looking at past acquisitions, you can learn

* The technology areas that interest acquirers
* The level of development required to attract acquirers’ interest
* Other factors that acquirers consider when examining a purchase

Once you know these things, figuring out your business plan is simple.

Wow... and I thought Michael Blake was just comic relief on startup lounge! :D Oustanding post about creating your business plan by working backwards from Form 8-K filings of your potential acquirers.

"Dood, google will acquire us within 5 years." Oh yeah? What would you have to do and what would you have to achieve for them to consider that, based on their history of acquisitions? Working backwards from the 8-Ks, you can figure that out.