Raise money

How is raising a seed round in India different from the US?

The short answer

The instruments and paperwork differ: India commonly uses the iSAFE (a CCPS-based cousin of the US SAFE) and CCPS-heavy term sheets to fit Indian company law. Angel networks, micro-VCs like 100X.VC, and DPIIT recognition shape the early game. Learn the local structures before you sign, because a US SAFE won't map cleanly onto an Indian Pvt Ltd.

Go deeper, your way

3 hand-picked resources, 3 link-checked. Pick how you want to dig in.

🎧 Podcast
✓ Link checked India Free Intermediate

Why we picked it A leading early-stage Indian VC firm answering the questions founders wish they could ask a VC face-to-face, including how they pick startups and why pitch decks fail. Direct from the people writing the cheques in India.

Prime Venture Partners Podcast: Fundraising Masterclass for Founders

On Prime Venture Partners Podcast by Prime Venture Partners 30-50 min per episode

  • Learn how an Indian early-stage fund actually filters and selects the few startups it backs
  • Understand common pitch mistakes from the investor's side of the table
  • Get realistic expectations on the Indian seed process and what earns conviction
Listen on Spotify open.spotify.com →
📄 Article
✓ Link checked India Free Advanced

Why we picked it A practical India-specific guide to term sheets and iSAFEs, written by working Indian VCs and startup lawyers (3one4 Capital, Burgeon Law, 100X.VC). It maps global concepts onto Indian legal structures like CCPS.

Decoding Term Sheets for Early-Stage Startups

From Inc42 by Siddarth Pai, Roma Priya, Yagnesh Sanghrajka 30 min read (guide)

  • Covers valuation, investor rights, restrictive covenants, and exit terms in the Indian context
  • Explains the iSAFE / CCPS structure and how it differs from a plain US SAFE
  • Helps founders prepare for common Indian term-sheet negotiation points
Open inc42.com →
🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked India Free Intermediate

Why we picked it 100X.VC pioneered the iSAFE, India's answer to the US SAFE, and offers the standardized document plus a plain explanation. Indispensable for any Indian founder raising their first cheques the local way.

iSAFE: The Founder-Friendly Fundraising Instrument for Early-Stage Founders

From 100X.VC by 100X.VC template + explainer

  • iSAFE is the India-adapted SAFE, structured as compulsorily convertible preference shares to fit Indian law
  • It avoids an immediate valuation and expensive negotiation, using a short standardized document
  • Understand the conversion mechanics before issuing iSAFEs to multiple investors
Open 100x.vc →

Terms in this answer

DPIIT Recognition Venture Capital Angel Investor Seed Round

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