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Legal Support for Startups — Contracts, Fundraising, IP, ESOP | The Startup Gig
Legal Support for Startups

The documents that got you here weren't built for where you're going.

For over a decade, we've advised founders, funds, and investors navigating transactions that demand more than a template. We bring transactional fluency, commercial instinct, and cross-border reach to every mandate.

₹800Cr+

Deal Value Advised

2000+

Startups Served

180+

Investors Served

11 Yrs

At the Table

4.9/5

Client Rating

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    Home/Services/Legal Support
    The Challenge

    Why most startup legal work falls apart at scale.

    ⚠ The Gap

    As businesses scale, their legal surface area expands — quietly at first, then all at once. Contracts drafted in haste, cap tables built on informal agreements, and ownership structures never designed to survive a fundraise become the friction that slows everything down.

    The result: confusion around ownership, gaps in investor rights, and deals that stall — not because the business isn't ready, but because the legal foundation wasn't built to carry the weight.

    ✓ Our Approach

    We work with founders and investors to establish legal frameworks that are coherent, enforceable, and designed for what comes next — not just what's happening now.

    Every engagement draws on a decade of transactional experience. We don't hand you a template and call it counsel. We understand your structure, your stakeholders, and your trajectory — and we build documentation that reflects all three.

    Legal Advisory Services

    Eight practice areas.
    One integrated team.

    We replace the patchwork of templates and one-off fixes with a legal foundation you can actually rely on.

    • 01

      Contracts & Agreements

      The Gap: Vague terms become expensive liabilities at scale.

      We structure agreements that protect your commercial position — co-founder arrangements, enterprise SaaS contracts, vendor terms, and cross-border service agreements. Enforceable, future-proof, investor-scrutiny ready.

      Co-FounderShareholdersVendorNDAEmploymentJVLicensingSaaS
      Explore Contracts
    • 02

      Fundraising Advisory

      The Gap: Founders navigate term sheets without independent counsel.

      We advise on the full legal arc — structuring, documentation, investor negotiations, and closing. We represent both founders and investors, bringing balanced insight to the table.

      Term SheetSHA/SSAValuationRBI ComplianceMCA Filings
      Explore Fundraising
    • 03

      M&A Support

      The Gap: Poor legal hygiene derails deals at the term sheet stage.

      We support both acquirers and targets through the full lifecycle — structuring, diligence coordination, definitive agreement drafting, and regulatory filings. Transactions close on schedule.

      Term SheetLOISPADisclosure LetterNon-CompeteDue Diligence
      Explore M&A
    • 04

      Website Legal Content

      The Gap: Generic policies expose you to regulatory action.

      Tailored, jurisdiction-specific legal documents — privacy policies, terms of service, cookie policies, disclaimers — aligned with GDPR, India's DPDPA, and applicable frameworks.

      T&CPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyRefund PolicyDisclaimersFAQ
      Explore Website Legal
    • 05

      IP Registrations

      The Gap: Unregistered IP becomes a critical vulnerability.

      End-to-end IP strategy and registration — trademarks, patents, copyrights — across Indian and international jurisdictions, with proactive portfolio management.

      TrademarkPatentCopyrightDesignInternational Filings
      Explore IP
    • 06

      Legal Due Diligence

      The Gap: Incomplete disclosures kill deals or reduce valuations.

      Structured legal DD for investors and company-side preparation — corporate structure, contracts, compliance, IP ownership, litigation exposure — with institutional-grade rigour.

      Company PrepDD ReportCorporate HygieneCompliance ReviewRisk Memos
      Explore Legal DD
    • 07

      Employee Handbooks & Policies

      The Gap: Informal norms become legally untenable at scale.

      Comprehensive, jurisdiction-compliant handbooks, POSH policies, leave frameworks, and performance documentation — built for multi-state, multi-geography operations.

      HandbookPOSHOffer LettersEmployment AgreementPolicies
      Explore HR Legal
    • 08

      ESOP Planning & Advisory

      The Gap: Poor ESOP structures create tax and cap table complications.

      ESOP design that balances employee incentive with investor expectations — pool sizing, vesting schedules, exercise mechanisms, and regulatory compliance under Indian law.

      StructuringPolicy DraftingGrant LettersExercise LettersCompliance
      Explore ESOP
    How We Work

    Deliberate by design.

    We are not structured for volume. We are structured for outcomes.

    Confidential Discussion

    We listen to the context — stage, parties, pressure points. No pitch. If we're not the right fit, we say so.

    Strategic Scoping

    Map the legal layers. Identify vulnerabilities. Define what moves before documents do.

    Incentive Alignment

    Before a clause is drafted, expectations are aligned. Negotiation at the structural level.

    Execution & Close

    Documents, diligence, filings — one coordinated push. No loose ends. Clean close.

    TESTIMONIALS

    Clients Perspective

    Mr. Vatsa Vakil

    Mr. Vatsa Vakil

    Managing Partner at Helix Capital

    I’ve worked with The Startup Gig across multiple investments now, and they’ve become my go-to legal team. They understand exactly how I evaluate deals, anticipate issues before I even raise them, and handle negotiations with a great balance of firmness and practicality. Having that consistency across deals is incredibly valuable.

    Harish Menon

    Harish Menon

    Co-Founder - House of Alpha

    The more deals we’ve done together, the smoother the process has become. They understand my risk appetite, my negotiation style, and what I care about in a deal. That familiarity makes every new transaction significantly easier.

    Nimesh Kampani

    Nimesh Kampani

    Founding Partner- 108 Capital

    Having known Pooja for a while and having seen her work up close, I can say they operate with a high degree of professionalism and consistency.

    Their ability to navigate transactions, simplify complex issues, and support founders effectively reflects the kind of legal partner startups truly need.

    Mr. Dhiraj Gambhire

    Mr. Dhiraj Gambhire

    Pharma Physician-Scientist

    Setting up and scaling in India meant dealing with multiple layers of legal work, especially around contracts and compliance. The Startup Gig supported us across a wide spectrum of agreements, ensuring everything was structured, consistent, and aligned with our global standards.

    What stood out was their responsiveness and ability to keep up with our pace as a growing company. For an overseas founder, that kind of reliable execution is invaluable.

    Mr. Gokul Prakash

    Mr. Gokul Prakash

    Chief Executive Officer at Lamberton Power

    We engaged The Startup Gig to help structure a joint venture in the sustainable energy space, and their approach went far beyond standard legal support.

    They brought a strong understanding of both the commercial objectives and the regulatory landscape, helping us design a structure that was not only compliant but also aligned with our long-term goals. Their ability to anticipate issues and navigate negotiations made them a valuable partner in the process.

    Mr. Dushyant Kothari

    Mr. Dushyant Kothari

    Founder & CEO, Hyurja Fuel Systems Private Limited

    We engaged The Startup Gig during a critical phase of our funding round, and their support made a tangible difference in getting the transaction closed.

    From handling documentation to actively supporting negotiations, they were hands-on, responsive, and solution-oriented throughout. Their ability to balance investor expectations with our interests helped move the deal forward smoothly.

    Mr. Faizan Ayubi

    Mr. Faizan Ayubi

    Co-Founder and CEO at Trackier

    What impressed us was their ability to deliver a full set of agreements within strict timelines while maintaining attention to detail.

    It’s rare to find a team that combines speed with precision so effectively.

    Mr. Nimeet Dhokai

    Mr. Nimeet Dhokai

    Co-Founder @ Happi Planet

    In the FMCG space, trademarks are not just legal assets—they are the foundation of the brand. There is absolutely no room for error.

    The Startup Gig handled 30+ trademark applications for us with remarkable precision and consistency. Their process was structured, efficient, and gave us complete confidence that every filing was done right.

    Mr. Omkar Magar

    Mr. Omkar Magar

    Sr. Software Developer

    As a first-time founder raising a substantial round, the process felt overwhelming at times. What truly stood out was how personally involved Pooja ma’am was throughout.

    No matter how many questions I had—even repetitive ones—she took the time to explain every detail with patience and clarity. That level of handholding gave me immense confidence.

    The Startup Gig didn’t just help us close the round—they made the entire journey smooth and far less stressful.

    Mr. Aum Deshpande

    Mr. Aum Deshpande

    Founder, Armor

    We onboarded The Startup Gig compliance team after a frustrating experience with our previous partners, and the difference was evident from day one.

    The handover was incredibly smooth, despite the volume and complexity of our transactions as a consumer electronics brand. Given the scale we operate at, even small errors can lead to serious GST and TDS implications—and we had already faced that earlier.

    With The Startup Gig, everything feels structured, accurate, and finally under control. We’re now on the right track.

    Mr. Ninad Saraf

    Mr. Ninad Saraf

    Founder @ Ultramotiv

    We had initially onboarded another firm for our funding compliance, but the experience was disappointing—they were expensive and assigned extremely junior associates to critical parts of our transaction, which made us feel like we weren’t a priority.

    With The Startup Gig, the difference was immediate. The founder herself was actively involved, which gave us confidence that there was real oversight and no scope for error. Their secretarial team handled the compliance aspects efficiently and seamlessly.

    For a startup, having an integrated legal and compliance team like this is invaluable.

    Mr. Tanmay

    Mr. Tanmay

    Co-Founder & CEO @ BAAS Technologies

    In a sector like aerospace, where transactions are complex and stakes are high, speed usually comes at the cost of precision. The Startup Gig proved otherwise.

    They helped us close our term sheet at lightning speed while ensuring every detail was thoroughly thought through. Their ability to move fast without compromising on quality made a real difference in maintaining deal momentum.

    Mr. Arvind Venkat

    Mr. Arvind Venkat

    Insuretech and Reinsurance

    We’ve been working with The Startup Gig for over three years now, and the experience has been consistently seamless.

    As an insurtech company based out of Dubai, we needed a team that could understand our evolving requirements and support us reliably over time—and they’ve done exactly that.

    At this point, we genuinely cannot think of working with any other law firm.

    Prachi Diwakar

    Prachi Diwakar

    Angel Investor

    Negotiating with founders can be tricky—you want protection without derailing the relationship. The Startup Gig handled this balance exceptionally well. They pushed for the right safeguards while keeping the conversation constructive. That’s a rare skill.

    Mr. Arvind Venkat

    Disha Shah

    AVP @ Alphatron Capital

    As we began evaluating opportunities in India, we were looking for legal counsel that could combine local expertise with global standards—and TheStartupGig delivered exactly that.

    Their diligence was thorough, structured, and highly actionable, whether we were assessing direct startup investments or commitments into other funds. What stood out was their ability to contextualize legal risks within the Indian regulatory landscape while keeping our global investment framework intact.

    They’ve become a trusted partner as we expand our footprint in India.

    Suma Monde Kapital Partners

    Suma Monde Kapital Partners

    As a fund evaluating and executing investments in India, we needed legal partners who could operate at institutional standards while navigating local complexities. TheStartupGig delivered exactly that.

    Their diligence was comprehensive, their advice commercially grounded, and their ability to support both direct investments and fund-level commitments was particularly valuable. They’ve become a reliable extension of our team for India.

    Mr. Arvind Venkat

    Mr. prateek Gupta

    Founder THW-The Healthy World | Founder Desi Farms | Founder Laxmi Industries

    Operating in the agritech space means working with a diverse set of stakeholders—core team, on-ground operators, and long-term partners. Designing an ESOP that fairly aligned everyone was critical for us.

    TheStartupGig helped us structure and implement our ESOP in a way that was both practical and scalable. They simplified a complex process, ensured compliance, and helped us create a plan that truly incentivizes long-term value creation.

    Ms. Kareena Singh

    Ms. Kareena Singh

    Co-Founder at Bnwwear

    As a first-time founder raising my first round in the fashion space, I had a lot of questions and uncertainties. TheStartupGig didn’t just handle the legal work—they guided me through the entire process with patience and clarity.

    From explaining terms to negotiating with investors and closing the documentation, they made what felt overwhelming much more manageable. I genuinely felt supported at every step.

    "We are the precision counsel for companies who can't afford ambiguity."

    — The Startup Gig

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Things Worth Knowing

    What legal services do startups need during fundraising?
    Startups raising capital need term sheet drafting and review, SHA/SSA negotiation, cap table modelling, FEMA/RBI compliance for foreign investors, MCA filings, and valuation reports. We handle all of these as one integrated advisory — not separate engagements with separate firms.
    When should a startup hire a legal advisor?
    The right time is before the term sheet arrives — before the structure is set, before the leverage shifts. Early involvement prevents structural mistakes that become expensive to fix in later rounds. If a significant decision is on the horizon, that is the right time to have this conversation.
    What is the difference between a startup lawyer and a deal advisor?
    A startup lawyer drafts documents. A deal advisor architects the structure — aligning legal, financial, tax, and governance layers before a single clause is written. We operate as deal architects, not document drafters. That's why our engagements span fundraising, governance, cap table design, and compliance — not just contract drafting.
    Do you represent both founders and investors?
    Yes. We advise both sides of the venture table. Understanding how the other side thinks is what makes our counsel genuinely useful. However, we never represent both sides in the same transaction — that would create a conflict of interest.
    How is The Startup Gig different from compliance platforms?
    We are not a compliance platform. We are a venture deal advisory firm with partner-level involvement in every engagement. Our work focuses on deal structuring, negotiation, and governance — not template-based document generation. The founder is personally involved in every high-stakes engagement.
    Do you handle cross-border transactions?
    Yes. Cross-border advisory is core to our practice — not an add-on. We advise on FEMA/FDI compliance, foreign investor structuring, convertible note frameworks for international investors, and multi-jurisdiction governance across India, Singapore, Dubai, US, and UK.
    What stages of companies do you work with?
    We primarily work with funded startups (Seed to Series B), institutional investors, family offices, and global businesses entering India. We are best suited for companies past the "just get it done cheap" stage and into the "get it done right" stage.

    The right moment to talk is before the pressure is on.

    Our best work happens when we are involved early — before the term sheet arrives, before the structure is set.

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