Most founders treat their ESOP as a single decision. They carve out a pool when an investor asks for one, hand out a few grants, and move on. Then, two rounds later, the pool is…
Unit Economics 101: The 6 Numbers Investors Stress-Test in Indian Startups (2026) I have sat on the founder's side of enough fundraising conversations to know the exact moment a pitch changes gear. It is not…
Key Takeaways A cap table that reconciles in Excel is not the same as a cap table that survives due diligence. Six structural issues commonly hide inside what founders describe as "clean". The most expensive…
Key Takeaways Series A due diligence typically reviews 80 to 100 documents across 8 categories: corporate, financial, tax, regulatory, IP, HR, commercial, and compliance. Most Indian startups have 30 to 40 of these ready when…
Key Takeaways SEBI notified the AIF Second Amendment Regulations 2026 on April 15, 2026, creating an "Inoperative Fund" classification for AIFs that cannot deploy capital in time. Regulation 29 now requires every AIF to file…
Key Takeaways A Delaware Flip moves the parent company to the US. A Reverse Flip moves it back to India. The Delaware Flip triggers Indian capital gains tax at an effective rate of about 14.95…
Note: All section references in this article are to the Income-tax Act 2025 (effective April 1, 2026), which has re-enacted the corresponding provisions of the Income-tax Act 1961 without substantive change to the transfer pricing…
If you are a founder or a finance leader running multi-state operations across India, your registered office may now sit under a different ROC than the one printed on your incorporation certificate. The MCA quietly…
Key Takeaways FEMA penalties can be up to 3x the contravention amount for ongoing violations. RBI's compounding facility lets you self-report and settle penalties before enforcement action. The compounding fee depends on the contravention amount,…
Key Takeaways ESOPs in India are not taxed at the time of grant. The tax event happens later. At exercise, the difference between Fair Market Value (FMV) and exercise price is taxed as perquisite (salary…
