Starting and funding a startup in India
A founder's guide to starting up in India: registering the company and getting DPIIT recognition, choosing Pvt Ltd or LLP, raising from angels and VCs, valuation and ESOPs, and the government schemes worth applying for.
Angel investors in India: the main networks and platforms, and how to pitch them well
Angel investors in India: the leading angel networks and platforms, how angel rounds work, what angels look for, and a pitching process that gets replies.
Bootstrapping vs funding: how to choose between self-funding and venture capital for your startup
Bootstrapping vs VC funding compared: control, speed, risk, dilution and outcomes, the businesses suited to each, and middle paths like revenue-based finance.
Business plan template for an app startup: ten sections, what to write in each, and a one-page version
A business plan template for app startups: ten sections with prompts for each, a one-page lean version, and the financial basics investors and banks expect.
DPIIT registration: Startup India recognition benefits, eligibility and the step-by-step process
DPIIT startup registration explained: 2026 eligibility rules, documents, the step-by-step process and every benefit — tax, compliance, IP and funding.
ESOP meaning: how employee stock options work in India — vesting, exercise, tax and buybacks
ESOP meaning in plain English: how employee stock options work in Indian startups — grants, vesting, exercise, the two tax points, deferral and liquidity.
Government schemes for startups in India: grants, seed funds, credit guarantees and tax benefits
Government schemes for startups in India: Seed Fund grants, Fund of Funds, the credit guarantee, tax holiday, BIRAC and Mudra — who qualifies and how to apply.
How to find a technical co-founder: where to look, how to test fit, and how to split equity fairly
How to find a technical co-founder: where good engineers meet founders, how to pitch them, how to test fit with a trial project, and how to split equity.
How to raise seed funding in India: sources, instruments, timelines and what investors check
How to raise seed funding in India in a tighter market: who invests, which instruments to use, how to run the process and what investors check at seed.
How to start a startup in India: a step-by-step founder's guide, from idea to first funding
How to start a startup in India: validate the idea, pick a structure, register, get DPIIT recognition, open banking, comply and raise your first money.
Pitch deck template: the 12 slides investors expect, what goes on each, and common mistakes
A startup pitch deck template with the 12 slides investors expect, what to put on each, examples of strong slides and the mistakes that get decks skipped.
Private limited vs LLP: which structure is better for your startup in India?
Private limited company vs LLP for Indian startups: fundraising, ESOPs, tax, compliance, audits and cost compared, with a clear verdict for each founder type.
Shark Tank India startups: we analysed 25 tech and app pitches from season 5 — here's what the deals reveal
We analysed 25 tech, AI and app pitches from Shark Tank India season 5: how many got deals, how valuations changed, and lessons for app founders.
Startup valuation: how to value your startup at pre-seed and seed, with methods and worked examples
How to value a startup at pre-seed and seed: the methods investors use, a worked VC-method example, dilution maths and India's valuation report rules.
Top VC firms in India by stage and focus — and how to pick the right one to pitch
Top VC firms in India grouped by stage — seed, early and multi-stage — with their focus areas and a practical method for choosing which investors to pitch.
Unicorn startups in India: how many there are, the list by sector, 2026's new entrants and who went public
Unicorn startups in India: why counts differ (61 to 131), the major unicorns by sector, 2026's new entrants, and which went public in the 2025 IPO wave.