Getting some seed funding for your startup company isn't like trying to apply for a mortgage.  You can't just fill out enough of the right paperwork and get "approved".  Even your business plan, while an important exercise, doesn't guarantee funding is on it's way.

Finding an investor that will write a check has a lot to do with who is pitching the plan and how well it's communicated. 

If the investor is saying "no", it may not be because your idea sucks.  It could simply be that an investor just doesn't feel comfortable with you as a person.  Don't think the world is so simple that a great idea will overcome all.

Here are 3 popular reasons entrepreneurs (not ideas) get overlooked:

You're Not Credible

You may have a sweet idea for a new energy drink that will rock the market (like Powerthirst, easily the best pitch for a energy drink EVER!).  But if no one believes in your ability to pull off the idea, it doesn't matter how sweet it is.

Any investor will tell you that they don't bet on the horse (your idea) they bet on the jockey (you).  If you can't convince them that you are a winning jockey, your horse is gonna sit in the stable for a long time.

Don't overlook your own credentials when pitching a plan. 

If you're new to the game, you can talk about your ability to execute on other strategies and goals you've undertaken.  Impressing an investor with how well you can pull off an idea is a big deal.  Once they write a check, they are stuck with you for a long time, so they need to know they can count on you to execute.

You Don't Present Well

Not every entrepreneur is a natural salesperson.  In some cases, you may be an inventor or engineer that doesn't even relate real well to other humans.  If you think that the simple brilliance of your idea is going to overcome any ability to present it will, you're sadly mistaken. 

A strong presentation can go a long way toward making even a lackluster idea sound far more appealing.  An entrepreneur needs to be able to communicate and convey their enthusiasm for the opportunity like none other.  If you're not wildly excited about the product no one else is going to generate that enthusiasm for you.

It also helps to know what the hell you're talking about.  If you're not well-prepared for a barrage of questions, you're going to look like an idiot.  Investors will try to punch holes in your idea to see how well you've thought through the plan.  If you start stumbling through all of the responses, the credibility of you and your plan is going to drop like a rock.

They Don't Like You

I've sat through more than a few startup presentations where after the entrepreneur left the room, the investors looked at each other and said "what a jerk!"

Even good ideas that are well-presented can fall flat when the presenter comes off like a jerk. 

Frankly if I have to explain to you how not to be a jerk in a meeting you're probably already a jerk.  But for the sake of explanation, there are a few things you never want to do in a meeting.

You never want to talk down to the investors.  You shouldn't talk down to anyone, but particularly investors.  They may not know your business as well as you do (that's why you're the entrepreneur and they are the investor) but they shouldn't feel as though they are being reprimanded for asking questions.  You should be excited to answer questions, not offended.

It's usually a good idea to respond with "That's a really good question" when people query you.  It shows that you value their input and a little compliment goes a long way.

Along the way, try to establish some basic rapport with the audience so that they see you're a regular person, and not a business plan robot.  When people feel comfortable with you and personally like you, they'll give you more latitude in your presentation.

Sell Yourself

Don't think of getting to "yes" as something that is just about the business plan.  While the plan is ultimately what people are investing in, the people around the plan can make all the difference in moving the deal forward.