Fundraising Advisory
स्टार्टअप के लिए सीड फ़ंडिंग
सीड फ़ंडिंग वह पहली संस्थागत पूँजी है जो स्टार्टअप शुरुआती दौर के बाद जुटाता है। हम आपका पिच डेक, वैल्यूएशन और टर्म शीट तैयार करते हैं और निवेशकों से बातचीत में आपके साथ रहते हैं।
- Typical seed range
- ₹1Cr-15Cr
- From deck to term sheet
- 15-45 days
- Typical seed dilution
- 20-25%
- Deck review by founders who have raised before
- Terms explained in plain language, no jargon tax
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मुख्य तथ्य
ज़रूरी तथ्य, एक ही जगह
जो जानकारी आम तौर पर पाँच अलग-अलग पेजों से जोड़नी पड़ती है, वह सब एक ही जगह।
- What it is
- First institutional capital round
- After bootstrapping or friends-and-family
- Typical range
- ₹1 crore - ₹15 crore
- Varies by sector, traction, and geography
- Typical dilution
- 15 - 25% equity
- At seed stage; lower at pre-seed, higher at pre-series A
- Main sources
- Angels · Seed VCs · Accelerators
- India has 1,200+ active angel investors
- Required
- Pitch deck · Financial model · Term sheet
- We prepare all three
- Typical timeline
- 15 - 45 working days
- From deck freeze to signed term sheet
- Investor rights
- Board seat · Pro-rata · Liquidation preference
- Negotiated and explained before signing
What is seed funding for startups?
Seed funding is the first significant round of outside capital a startup raises, sitting between the founder's own money (bootstrapping or friends-and-family) and Series A. In India, seed rounds typically run from ₹1 crore to ₹15 crore, though some SaaS and deep-tech startups raise ₹20 crore+ at seed.
The name 'seed' comes from planting: this is the capital that lets a startup grow from an idea or an MVP into a company that can sustain growth, hire a team, prove unit economics, and attract Series A investors. It is the riskiest round for investors - and the most important one for founders to get right.
In India, seed funding comes from three main sources: angel investors (high-net-worth individuals investing their own money), seed venture capital funds (professional funds managing other people's money with a thesis), and accelerators (Y Combinator, 500 Startups, Axilor, and domestic programs like T-Hub, Nasscom 10,000 Startups). Each type has a different check size, focus sector, and decision process.
The current Indian startup funding landscape, post-2022 correction, has shifted. Investors are more selective. A working product, early revenue, or at least validated problem-solution fit with clear unit economics is now table stakes. The days of funding on an idea alone are largely over, especially in consumer-facing categories.
Pre-seed vs Seed vs Pre-series A: what changes between rounds
These three stages are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct purposes, investor types, and typical check sizes. Knowing which one you are in shapes everything from your deck to the dilution you give away.
Pre-seed
₹25 lakh - ₹1 crore
Pre-series A
₹5 crore - ₹20 crore
| पहलू | Pre-seed | Pre-series A |
|---|---|---|
| Typical amount | ₹25 lakh - ₹1 crore | ₹5 crore - ₹20 crore |
| Typical investor | Founders, friends & family, angels | Seed VCs, micro-VCs, some angels |
| Purpose | Build MVP, validate the problem | Prove product-market fit, build repeatable sales |
| Typical dilution | 10 - 15% | 15 - 25% |
| Valuation basis | Team, idea, market size | Revenue growth, unit economics, traction metrics |
| Pitch deck focus | कमी: Problem and solution narrative | फ़ायदा: Growth metrics, cohort data, CAC/LTV |
| Instrument | कमी: Convertible note / SAFE | फ़ायदा: Equity (preferred shares) |
| Board seat | Rarely | Typically one seat |
Bizeneed विज़ुअल गाइड
स्टार्टअप के लिए सीड फ़ंडिंग
Navigate seed funding stages (pre-seed, seed, pre-series A) in India. We connect founders with angel investors, seed VCs, and accelerators - and prepare the pitch deck, term sheet, and valuation they require.
- 1ज़रूरत समझना
- 2दस्तावेज़ तैयार करना
- 3फ़ाइलिंग पूरी करना
इस पेज पर AI टूल
इंतज़ार न करें - यहीं तुरंत मदद पाएँ, कोई फ़ॉर्म नहीं भरना।
पात्रता
Who should be raising seed funding - and when
Not every startup should raise at the same time, and some should not raise at all. This section helps you decide whether the timing is right for your specific situation.
- You have a working MVP or early product, not just an idea
- You can show early traction: users, revenue, or a credible pipeline
- You understand your unit economics, or are on a clear path to them
- You have identified a large enough market (TAM) to justify institutional investment
- You are prepared to give up equity and a board seat
- You have a clear plan for what the funding will achieve in 18-24 months
- You are not raising just to pay yourselves a salary
Sectors that attract seed funding in India right now
Technology
- SaaS and vertical SaaS
- AI / ML startups
- Developer tools
- Cybersecurity
- Enterprise software
Consumer and D2C
- D2C brands with differentiated positioning
- Consumer tech with 10k+ MAUs
- Marketplace models with supply-side traction
Healthcare and life sciences
- Healthtech platforms
- Med devices with IP
- Diagnostics and telemedicine
Sustainability
- Cleantech and EV infrastructure
- Agritech with on-ground pilots
- Carbon management platforms
Fintech
- Embedded finance
- SME lending tech (NBFC partnerships)
- Regtech
कौन पात्र नहीं है
- Pure service businesses with no technology moat
- Small local market plays with no national or global ambition
- Regulated businesses without a clear compliance path
- Businesses dependent on a single government contract
Is your startup ready for a seed round?
Answer seven questions. This is about readiness, not eligibility - there is no formal eligibility for seed funding, only whether investors will write the check.
7 में से 0 सवालों के जवाब दिए
Do you have a working MVP or a live product?
Can you show at least 2-3 months of consistent traction (users, revenue, or pipeline)?
Do you understand your unit economics, even if they are not yet positive?
Is your addressable market large enough (TAM above ₹1,000 crore) for a VC-style return?
Are you comfortable giving up 15-25% equity and a board seat?
Can you clearly explain what this capital will achieve in 18-24 months?
Have you considered non-dilutive alternatives like grants, SISFS, or revenue-based financing?
अपनी पात्रता का नतीजा देखने के लिए सभी सवालों के जवाब दें।
सबमिट करके आप Bizeneed से अनुरोध करते हैं कि वह इस पूछताछ के बारे में आपसे संपर्क करे। ज़्यादा जानकारी के लिए हमारी प्राइवेसी पॉलिसी देखें।
दस्तावेज़
Documents investors will ask for
6 ज़रूरी · 3 लागू हो तो
चेकलिस्ट मुझे ईमेल करेंसभी एंटिटी के लिए एक जैसे
- Pitch deck (10-15 slides)ज़रूरी
- Detailed financial model (3-year projections)ज़रूरी
- Cap tableज़रूरी
- Certificate of Incorporationज़रूरी
- Founder identification and address proofज़रूरी
- Current bank statement (6 months)ज़रूरी
- Existing shareholder agreements (if any)लागू हो तो
- IP assignment or licence agreementsलागू हो तो
- Customer contracts or LOIs (if applicable)लागू हो तो
Get the fundraising readiness checklist
A one-page checklist of every document, metric, and narrative you will need at seed stage.
प्रक्रिया
How the fundraising process actually works
Raising a seed round in India typically takes 15 to 45 working days from deck freeze to a signed term sheet. Here is what happens at each stage and what we do for you.
Discovery call and readiness assessment
We understand your business, traction, and goals. We assess whether you are ready to raise and at what stage - pre-seed, seed, or pre-series A.
Your lead advisor
Pitch deck creation
We write and design a 10-15 slide deck: problem, solution, traction, market, business model, competition, team, financials, and the ask. Most founders underestimate how much the deck determines the outcome.
Our content team + your input
Financial model
A three-year projection model with revenue, cost, headcount, and cash-burn assumptions. The model is not about accuracy - it is about whether the assumptions are defensible.
Our finops analyst
Valuation and dilution planning
We benchmark your valuation against comparable rounds in your sector and stage. We also plan the option pool, ESOP pool, and dilution for this round and the next.
Your lead advisor
Investor introductions
We curate a target list of 20-30 investors from our network of angel investors and seed VCs. We do not blast; we introduce selectively based on sector and stage fit.
Our BD team
Q&A and follow-up
Investors will ask the same questions repeatedly. We prepare you for the 20 most common ones, run a mock Q&A session, and handle follow-up emails on your behalf.
Your lead advisor
Term sheet negotiation
When you get an Indicative Term Sheet, we walk you through every clause - valuation, liquidation preference, anti-dilution, board seat, pro-rata rights, drag-along, and vesting - before you sign anything.
Your lead advisor + legal counsel we connect
Due diligence support
After the term sheet is signed, investors run DD. We prepare your data room, organise documents, and handle queries so the process stays on schedule.
Your lead advisor
Closing and ESOP setup
We coordinate with the investor's legal team on SHA drafting, ESOP pool creation, and board formation. We do not stop at the term sheet.
Your lead advisor + legal counsel
We do not guarantee funding. No advisor can. What we guarantee is a professional process: a deck that opens doors rather than closing them, introductions to investors who are a real fit, and terms that protect your position. Many founders raise without help, but almost every founder who raised successfully will tell you the right advisor shortened the timeline by months.
समय-सीमा
Typical timeline from first call to term sheet
Fundraising timelines vary enormously; the range below is indicative.
| चरण | समय |
|---|---|
| Deck freeze | 3-5 working days |
| Investor introductions and first meetings | 5-10 working days |
| Follow-up meetings and Q&A | 5-10 working days |
| Term sheet negotiation | 3-5 working days |
| Due diligence and closing | 5-10 working days |
These stages often overlap. A strong founder with a clear story and a warm introduction can compress the entire timeline to under three weeks. A cold outreach to a busy fund can take two months for a single reply. The difference is preparation and connections.
फ़ीस
What it costs
Seed funding advisory is typically engagement-based. We charge a success fee on the amount raised, plus optional fixed-fee components for deck creation and investor outreach. We do not charge upfront for introductions.
Deck Only
Pitch deck + financial model, one round
₹29,999 + GST
- 10-15 slide pitch deck design
- 3-year financial model
- Cap table and dilution planning
- One round of investor feedback incorporated
- Delivery in 5 working days
सबसे लोकप्रिय
Full Advisory
End-to-end fundraising advisory
5% of amount raised
- Everything in Deck Only
- Investor targeting and introductions
- Q&A preparation and mock sessions
- Term sheet review and negotiation support
- DD data room preparation
- Closing coordination
Executive Search
For startups raising ₹10Cr+ who need a co-founder, CFO, or VP Sales
Custom
- Role definition and JD
- Headhunting from curated network
- Interview rounds coordination
- Offer negotiation support
- 30-day integration check-in
फ़ीस का पूरा ब्योरा
| विवरण | सरकारी फ़ीस | प्रोफ़ेशनल फ़ीस |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch deck + financial model (one-time) | - | From ₹29,999 + GST |
| Full advisory (success fee, seed round) | - | 5% of amount raised (capped at ₹5 lakh per round) |
| Term sheet review (standalone) | - | ₹19,999 + GST |
| Valuation report | - | ₹14,999 + GST |
| ESOP pool design | - | ₹9,999 + GST |
कीमतों में GST शामिल नहीं है। लागू दर से GST आपके इनवॉइस में जोड़ा जाएगा।
किसी भी प्लान में शामिल नहीं:
- Legal fees for SHA drafting (we connect you to vetted counsel)
- CA / auditor fees for financial statements
- Government registration fees (if any new entity is formed)
Not sure which advisory plan fits? Ask the AI
Answer three quick questions and get a personalised recommendation with reasoning, not just a guess.
Term sheet clauses that matter - and what to watch for
- Liquidation preference A 1x non-participating liquidation preference is market standard at seed in India. A 1.5x or participating preference means investors get paid before you do in a down-round or sale - and it makes your next raise harder.
- Anti-dilution Broad-based weighted average is standard. Full ratchet is founder-hostile and should be a hard no at seed stage. It punishes you for raising at a lower valuation later.
- Board seat A single board seat for the lead investor at seed is normal in India. More than one seat, or a board seat for every investor, is unusual and creates governance problems. Ask why they need it.
- Pro-rata rights Investors typically get the right to maintain their ownership percentage in future rounds. This is standard. What is not standard is giving all investors pro-rata - cap it to the lead and a few strategic angels.
- Vesting on founder shares Investors will almost always require your existing shares to vest over 4 years with a 1-year cliff. This protects them if you leave early. It is standard, but negotiate the cliff and the acceleration clause.
- Drag-along and tag-along Drag-along lets a majority force a sale; tag-along lets minority shareholders join. Both are standard. What to watch: whether the drag-along threshold is 50%+1 or two-thirds, and whether it requires all shareholders.
अक्सर होने वाली गलतियाँ
Why founders fail to close a seed round
Pitching a product instead of a problem
Investors fund problems, not features. Lead with the customer pain, not the technology.
No evidence of traction
Even 10 paying customers or a 20% month-on-month growth rate is more convincing than a polished deck with zero real-world validation.
Weak competitive positioning
Name your actual competitors, explain why you win, and show that you understand their strategy better than they do.
Over-optimistic financials
Projecting ₹100 crore revenue in year three with 10 customers in month one destroys credibility. Base assumptions on comparable companies in your sector.
Ignoring unit economics
If your CAC is higher than your LTV, no amount of pitch deck polish will close a quality seed round.
Pitching to the wrong investors
A consumer angel will not fund a B2B SaaS startup, no matter how compelling. Target investors with a track record in your sector.
Asking for too little or too much
Asking for ₹20 lakh at seed signals you do not understand the round. Asking for ₹50 crore when you have ₹50k MRR signals the same thing.
Not having a clear use of funds
Investors want to know what milestones their money buys. '18 months of runway' is not a use of funds; 'hire 5 engineers, launch 3 integrations, reach 1,000 paid seats' is.
ऊपर बताई गई हर गलती का हल है - और ज़्यादातर गलतियाँ पहली बार में ही सही जानकारी देकर टाली जा सकती हैं। बाद में सुधारने से आसान है कि पहली बार में ही सही किया जाए।
अगर कुछ पहले ही गलत हो चुका है, या आप पक्का करना चाहते हैं कि ऐसा न हो, तो नीचे दी गई 15 मिनट की कॉल सबसे तेज़ रास्ता है।
Bizeneed क्यों
What changes when we lead the fundraising
- Our advisors have personally raised seed rounds and sat on the other side of the table - we know what a good term sheet looks like from experience
- Every deck is reviewed by a founder who has raised, not a copywriter
- We do not take success fees on grants and government schemes - those introductions are free
- Term sheet explained line by line before you sign, with the consequences of each clause modelled
- Post-close support: ESOP setup, board governance, and Series A preparation included for 6 months
A B2B SaaS startup in Bengaluru had been in conversations with five funds for four months without a term sheet. Their deck was technically accurate but investor-focused: it described the product, not the problem it solved. We rewrote the narrative around a single customer cohort, added unit economics that showed payback under 8 months, and introduced them to two funds we had worked with before. One term sheet in 12 days, at a 2x higher valuation than their initial target.
सवाल-जवाब
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
Seed funding is the first significant round of institutional capital a startup raises, typically after bootstrapping or friends-and-family money. In India, it usually ranges from ₹1 crore to ₹15 crore and is used to build the product, hire the founding team, and prove product-market fit before Series A.
The typical sequence is: bootstrapping / friends-and-family, pre-seed (₹25 lakh - ₹1 crore), seed (₹1 crore - ₹15 crore), Series A (₹10 crore - ₹50 crore), Series B and beyond. Pre-seed is for building the MVP; seed is for proving traction; Series A is for scaling proven unit economics.
It depends on your burn rate and milestones. Most Indian startups raise enough for 18-24 months of runway at seed. A simple rule: divide your monthly burn by 0.03 (you want to spend less than 3% of the round per month on runway alone, with the rest going to growth).
Pre-money valuations at seed in India typically range from ₹8 crore to ₹30 crore for SaaS and tech startups, ₹5 crore to ₹15 crore for consumer and marketplace, and ₹10 crore to ₹40 crore for deep-tech and IP-driven businesses. The range is wide because it depends on traction, team, and sector comparables.
At pre-seed, 10-15% is typical. At seed, 15-25% is the market range. At pre-series A, 15-20%. The total dilution across pre-seed, seed, and Series A usually lands between 30% and 45% - plan for it, do not let it surprise you.
Investors will ask for: a pitch deck, a 3-year financial model, a cap table, incorporation certificate, founder KYC, bank statements, and any existing shareholder agreements. If there is IP involved, assignment agreements. Customer LOIs or revenue data strengthen the pitch significantly.
Typically 15 to 45 working days from deck freeze to a signed term sheet, assuming warm introductions and a prepared founder. Cold outreach can extend this to 2-3 months for the same outcome. Preparation before the first meeting is what determines the speed.
A term sheet is a non-binding summary of the key terms of an investment: valuation, amount, liquidation preference, board seat, pro-rata rights, and other rights. It is the first formal document an investor sends after deciding they want to invest. It is followed by definitive agreements (SHA, SPA) that are legally binding.
Equity dilution is the percentage of your company you give away when you raise funding. If you own 100% before a seed round and sell 20% to investors, your ownership drops to 80%. Subsequent rounds dilute further. Plan for dilution from the start with an ESOP pool and cap table management.
Yes. Even the most casual angel investor expects a pitch deck. It is not just a presentation - it is the document that determines whether you get a first meeting. A deck that opens doors is specific, metric-driven, and tells a story, not a feature list.
Angel investors are high-net-worth individuals investing their own money, typically writing cheques of ₹25 lakh to ₹2 crore. Seed VCs are professional funds managing pooled capital, typically writing ₹2 crore to ₹15 crore. Angels decide faster and may mentor more; seed VCs have a fund mandate, a partnership decision process, and follow-on capital for Series A.
Yes, but it is harder and the pool of investors is smaller. Pre-seed and seed rounds without revenue depend on the strength of the team, the problem size, the technology moat, and early traction metrics (users, engagement, pipeline). A working MVP with early users is far more fundable than an idea with no execution.
SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) and convertible notes are instruments used in pre-seed and seed rounds where the valuation is not yet set. They convert into equity at the next priced round (typically Series A). SAFEs are simpler and founder-friendly; convertible notes have an interest rate and a maturity date, which can create pressure if not managed.
An ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) pool is a reserve of shares set aside for future employees. Investors typically require a 10-15% ESOP pool to be created before or during the seed round. It dilutes founders and existing shareholders. If you create it after the round, it dilutes only the founders.
Yes. The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) provides up to ₹2 crore non-dilutive funding to eligible DPIIT-recognised startups. It is designed for exactly this stage. We recommend applying for SISFS in parallel with investor outreach - it is free money that does not dilute you.
Revenue-based financing (RBF) provides capital in exchange for a percentage of monthly revenue until a cap is reached. It does not dilute equity. It suits SaaS startups with recurring revenue and is gaining traction in India through platforms like Velocity, ClearTax, and GetVantage. Typical terms: 1.5-3x cap over 12-36 months.
लेखक: Bizeneed Research Team, Service information
आख़िरी अपडेट: 5 September 2026
स्रोत
Funding amounts, valuations, and dilution figures are indicative based on publicly reported rounds and our own advisory experience. Actual terms vary by deal, sector, and market conditions. This page does not constitute financial advice.
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