Why Your Cap Table Looks Clean But Isn’t
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…
The 95-Document Due Diligence Checklist for Indian Startup Fundraising (2026)
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…
The Due Diligence Data Room Checklist for Series A
"Can you share your data room?" This is the first thing every serious investor says after the pitch. And most founders scramble. After reviewing 40+ data rooms in the last year, one pattern is clear:…
How Much Equity Should You Give? ESOP Pool Ranges for Indian Startups
"How much equity should I give my CTO?" It is a question founders bring to us at A S Banka Advisors Private Limited, and the honest answer starts with a different question: how many people…
The Startup Cap Table Guide: From Founding to Series A
Your cap table is the single most important financial document in your startup. It determines who owns what, how much you dilute at each round, and whether your company passes due diligence when you actually…
ESOP vs Phantom Stock: Which Equity Plan Is Right for Your Startup?
You want to retain your best people. You've heard about ESOPs. Maybe someone mentioned Phantom Stock. Your CA says "just do ESOPs" because that's what everyone does. Here's the problem: "what everyone does" is exactly…
The Cap Table “Red Flag” Check
The Cap Table "Red Flag" Check I’ve seen Term Sheets get pulled at the last minute, not because the product was bad, but because the Cap Table was "uninvestable." Founders obsess over their Pitch Deck…