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…
ESOP Taxation for Indian Startups: Complete 2026 Guide
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…
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:…
ESOP Benchmarks 2026: How Much Equity Are Indian Startups Giving?
"How much equity should I give my CTO?" This is the single most common question founders ask us at A S Banka Advisors Private Limited. After structuring ESOP plans for 50+ Indian startups, we compiled…
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…
Founder or CEO?
Founder or CEO? Just helped a founder transition out of the CEO role to appoint an internal leader. The tricky part wasn't the handover, it was the incentives. How do you ensure the new CEO…