Startups & Venture Capital
The regulatory environment for Indian startups has witnessed its most significant structural shift since the inception of the Startup India initiative. In 2026, founders must move away from the "move fast and break things" mentality and focus heavily on governance. With a transformative new DPIIT notification completely redefining eligibility thresholds, the introduction of a highly anticipated "Deep Tech" category, and a strict compliance amnesty scheme issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), the rules of the game have fundamentally changed.
Startups & Venture Capital
Startups in the IT sector love the Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) for its speed and simplicity. But here is the critical legal truth: A pure US-style SAFE is not a legally valid instrument under Indian law. Instead, Indian founders are increasingly adopting the iSAFE. While it is marketed as a highly founder-friendly alternative to traditional equity rounds, executing one without understanding the underlying corporate structure is a massive risk.
Startups & Venture Capital
For the past decade, the foundational playbook for Indian tech startups building marketplace models—whether for ride-hailing, food delivery, hotel bookings, or local home services—relied heavily on a single, powerful legal shield: The Intermediary Safe Harbor under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Startups & Venture Capital
You have built a revolutionary marketplace. Customers log in, buy a service from a third-party vendor listed on your app, and pay at checkout. The funds flow seamlessly into your startup's standard current account. Every Friday, your finance team deducts a 10% platform commission and wires the remaining 90% to the respective vendors.
Startups & Venture Capital
One of the most critical decisions a founder makes is choosing the jurisdiction to anchor their business. Will you incorporate your holding company in Singapore to attract global Venture Capital? Will you set up in Dubai to leverage the Golden Visa and zero personal tax? Or will you build a domestic Private Limited Company in India to capture the booming local market?