How can I get funding for a startup in India?

Indian startups raise funding across stages — bootstrapping, pre-seed and seed funding from friends, family and angel investors, Series A and later rounds from venture capital firms in India, venture debt for non-dilutive growth capital, and government grants such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme and SIDBI Fund of Funds. ZOZO Venture's fundraising consultants prepare your pitch deck, valuation and data room, and run investor matchmaking with angels and VCs across India.

What is DPIIT recognition and how do I register under Startup India?

DPIIT recognition is the Government of India's official certification of an entity as a startup under the Startup India scheme. Eligible Private Limited Companies, LLPs and registered Partnership Firms can apply on the Startup India portal. Benefits include access to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, 80-IAC tax exemption for three years, self-certification under labour and environment laws, faster patent processing and government tender benefits.

How do I create a pitch deck and value my startup?

A pitch deck should cover problem, solution, market size, business model, traction, team, financials and the ask. Startup valuation at pre-seed and seed stage is usually based on team strength, traction, market size and comparable deals; at later stages it shifts to revenue, growth and unit economics. ZOZO Venture's pitch deck consultants and fundraising advisors help Indian founders prepare an investor-ready deck and a defensible startup valuation.

What is the difference between seed funding, angel investment and venture capital?

Seed funding is the first institutional cheque to validate the idea, usually ₹50L–₹5 Cr. Angel investment comes from individual high-net-worth investors at pre-seed and seed stages. Venture capital funding comes from VC firms across Series A, B and beyond — larger cheques in exchange for equity. ZOZO Venture helps startups identify the right stage, investor type and structure (equity, convertible note or venture debt).

What government funding and loan schemes are available for Indian startups?

Indian startups can access the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (up to ₹50L for proof of concept and ₹5 Cr through incubators), SIDBI Fund of Funds for Startups, MSME loans, the Mudra loan, the CGTMSE collateral-free credit guarantee and state-level startup grants. ZOZO Venture helps founders identify eligibility, prepare applications and secure these schemes.

How do I register a Private Limited Company in India?

Private Limited Company Registration in India is done online through the MCA portal — obtain DSC and DIN for directors, reserve the name via RUN, and file SPICe+ with the MOA and AOA. The Certificate of Incorporation issues PAN and TAN together. ZOZO Venture completes Pvt Ltd Registration in 7–10 working days for a clean application.

What is the difference between Private Limited Company, OPC, LLP, Partnership Firm and Sole Proprietorship in India?

A Sole Proprietorship is the simplest but carries unlimited liability. A Partnership Firm (Indian Partnership Act, 1932) adds shared capital but still has unlimited, joint-and-several liability. An LLP (LLP Act, 2008) gives partnership flexibility with limited liability. An OPC suits a single founder who wants limited liability with corporate identity. A Private Limited Company is the gold standard for startups planning to raise external funding.

How do I register an LLP in India?

LLP Registration in India is done on the MCA portal — obtain DSC and DPIN for designated partners, reserve the LLP name via RUN-LLP, file FiLLiP, and then file the LLP agreement within 30 days of incorporation. ZOZO Venture handles end-to-end LLP Registration including LLP agreement drafting.

How do I register a sole proprietorship in India?

There is no single proprietorship registration in India — you legitimise a Sole Proprietorship through one or more operational registrations: GST Registration, Udyam (MSME) Registration, and/or Shop & Establishment Act Registration. ZOZO Venture handles all three for new proprietors in 3–5 working days.

How long does Company Registration take in India?

Private Limited Company Registration takes 7–10 working days from document submission. LLP Registration takes 10–14 days. OPC Registration usually wraps up within a week.

How do I check Company Name Availability on MCA?

ZOZO Venture checks MCA Name Availability using RUN (Reserve Unique Name), cross-verifies matching .com/.in domains and Indian trademark registry — analysis within 24 hours.

Is GST Registration mandatory for a new company?

GST Registration is mandatory if services turnover crosses ₹20L, goods turnover crosses ₹40L, you sell inter-state, or sell via e-commerce. ZOZO Venture handles GST Registration end-to-end within 3–5 working days.

What information do I need to register a company in India?

Just a rough idea of your business plus basic identity documents (PAN, Aadhaar, address proof) of directors. We guide you through Company Name Availability, MCA filings, DIN, DSC, PAN, TAN, GST and more on a single call.

Do you charge for the initial consultation?

No. Your first consultation with a ZOZO specialist is completely free. You only pay once you choose to move forward with a service.

Can you help only with specific services — not the whole bundle?

Absolutely. Pick any combination — just Company Registration, just GST Registration, just banking, just the website. Bundles save money but are never mandatory.

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Business Banking28 Mar 20265 min

Current Account Comparison — HDFC vs ICICI vs Kotak For Indian Startups

Which bank should your Startup open its current account with? A side-by-side look at HDFC, ICICI, and Kotak on onboarding speed, zero-balance terms, digital tooling and Startup perks.

Your business bank account is the plumbing of your Startup — get it wrong and every vendor payment, investor remittance, and payroll run becomes a support ticket. Here's how India's three most founder-friendly banks compare.

HDFC — fastest onboarding, cleanest app

Still the benchmark for founder-friendly onboarding — 3–5 working days post KYC, assuming paperwork is clean. SmartUp current account targets early-stage Startups with zero-balance for the first year. Net banking is stable but feels legacy; the mobile app is better. Best for founders who value speed over relationship banking.

ICICI — most digital-native, best APIs

ICICI iBizz account is the most API-forward — they expose payment, collection, and reconciliation APIs that most tech Startups love. Onboarding is video-KYC-driven and can close in 48 hours if all documents are ready. Relationship manager response time is the weakest of the three, but tech founders often don't need one.

Kotak — most flexible RM, Startup-focused

Kotak 811 Business account has a dedicated Startup program with strong RM hand-holding. Onboarding is 5–7 days but the RM you get is actually useful — they proactively help with FDI inflows, ESOP trust accounts, and founder advisory. Best for non-technical founders who want a real human in their corner.

Zero balance: read the fine print

All three offer zero-balance in year one but wildly different year-two thresholds: HDFC asks for ₹25k AMB, ICICI ₹50k AMB, Kotak ₹10k AMB. If your runway is tight, Kotak's AMB is the kindest. If you want the widest branch network, HDFC wins by a margin.

The bottom line

There's no objectively best bank — there's a best bank for your specific situation. Tech-heavy and API-driven? ICICI. Fast onboarding and wide network? HDFC. Real human RM for non-tech founders? Kotak. If you want us to set up a priority account opening (usually 2–3 days faster than walking into a branch), reach out.

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