Plain-language articles on company registration, ROC filings, NGO compliance, brand protection, DPDP readiness and practical business paperwork.
Each guide gives you practical steps, document lists, timelines, mistakes to avoid and direct answers before you start work.
BHASKAR is Startup India’s ecosystem platform for discoverability and connections among founders, investors, mentors and other stakeholders. DPIIT startup recognition is a separate status determined under the current notification and application process. A BHASKAR ID does not replace a DPIIT certificate, and a DPIIT certificate does not guarantee funding, tax exemption or a BHASKAR match.
Official procurement guidance describes specified relief for eligible DPIIT-recognised startups, including treatment of prior experience, prior turnover and earnest-money requirements under applicable rules. Those provisions are not a blanket waiver of technical, quality, safety or performance requirements. A startup should verify the current tender document and GeM workflow, then prepare evidence for each clause before bidding.
MAARG is Startup India’s mentorship platform, intended to connect founders with guidance across stages and sectors. BHASKAR supports ecosystem discovery, while Investor Connect facilitates investor engagement. These are support and matching channels, not automatic funding, professional certification or approval of a regulated business. Choose a platform from a specific business question and verify its current workflow.
If a DPIIT startup-recognition application is returned or rejected, first read the official reason and preserve the submitted version. Check entity facts, turnover, formation history and the evidence for innovation or scalability against the 2026 notification. Correct genuine errors through the current NSWS process; do not fabricate pilots, patents or a new business model merely to secure a certificate.
Bootstrapping preserves ownership but uses founder resources; grants may be limited to a specific purpose and window; seed and angel rounds trade equity or convertible rights for risk capital. Later VC rounds demand stronger traction and governance, while debt creates repayment duties. The right startup funding route depends on stage, cash flow, dilution tolerance and the legal instrument used.
A seed round normally begins with a term sheet and due diligence, then moves through instrument choice, valuation, board and shareholder approvals, subscription and shareholder agreements, receipt of funds, allotment and MCA records. Private placement or preferential issue rules may apply. A non-resident investor also brings FDI entry-route, pricing, banking and FEMA reporting checks.
A startup convertible note begins as debt with agreed conversion or repayment features and has specific eligibility conditions. CCPS and CCD are compulsorily convertible instruments with different company-law rights and FEMA treatment. For non-resident investment, RBI’s direction includes a ₹25 lakh single-tranche condition and ten-year outer period for qualifying startup convertible notes. Confirm current rules and the whole transaction before signing.
Section 42 of the Companies Act governs private placement to identified persons and restricts public solicitation. The process generally involves approvals, a PAS-4 private-placement offer, a PAS-5 record, subscription through prescribed banking channels, timely allotment and PAS-3 return of allotment. Preferential-issue rules may also apply to the instrument. Check current MCA forms and timelines before sending the offer.
A rights issue offers securities to existing shareholders under section 62. Private placement under section 42 is an offer to identified persons with strict solicitation and banking rules. Preferential allotment under section 62 and related rules addresses issue to selected persons and may interact with private placement. Choose from the actual investor group, instrument and articles; check FEMA separately for non-residents.
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