Free Resource
The Tamvada Brief · Free Edition 2026.1
The Startup
The Startup
Legal Toolkit
A plain-English foundation for Indian founders. The legal vocabulary, the foundational structures, and the practical checklists every founder needs in their first 90 days.
What's Inside
The legal foundation, in 10 chapters
Built from the advice we give every founder who walks in with a problem — before they need it. Plain English. No jargon. Real examples.
1
Why This Toolkit Exists
The legal gaps founders discover at the worst possible moment — and how to prevent them.
2
The Incorporation Decision
Private Limited, LLP, OPC, partnership — which structure fits, and when to choose what.
3
Founders' Agreement Essentials
The single document that decides what happens if a co-founder leaves. Skip it at your peril.
4
Equity Vesting and ESOPs
Structuring ownership and team incentives — the 4-year cliff, allocation, exercise mechanics.
5
IP Assignment and NDAs
Who owns what your team builds. When NDAs matter, when they don't, and how to write one that holds.
6
Employment Contract Must-Haves
What every hire needs in writing. Confidentiality, notice, termination, IP — the non-negotiables.
7
DPDP for Startups — The Primer
India's privacy law in plain terms. Whether it applies to you, and what your first 90 days of compliance look like.
8
Compliance Calendar
MCA, GST, FEMA — what to file, when, and how to avoid the small mistakes that turn into big penalties.
9
When to Call a Lawyer
The signals that mean you've outgrown DIY. The questions to ask before engaging counsel.
10
The Founder Legal Foundation Checklist
One page. Every legal item every founder needs in their first 90 days. Print it. Tick it off.
Get the toolkit
Free. No credit card. 32 pages delivered to your inbox in under a minute.
By downloading, you join The Tamvada Brief — fortnightly Indian legal insights for business. Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently Asked
Questions before you download
Everything we get asked about the toolkit.
Is it really free?
Yes. No credit card, no trial. The toolkit is free because the cost of not having this information — the founders who lose months in diligence, end up with broken cap tables, get caught in DPDP fines — is too high. We built this for the founders who most need it.
Will you spam me?
No. You'll be added to The Tamvada Brief — our fortnightly newsletter with one substantive legal insight per edition. Unsubscribe with one click anytime, no questions asked.
Is this legal advice?
No. The toolkit is informational and educational. Every business is fact-specific. For matters specific to your situation, please consult qualified counsel — including us, if relevant. Book a free consultation here.
Can I share it with my co-founder or team?
Absolutely — please do. The toolkit is yours to keep, print, and forward freely within your organisation, with co-founders, advisors, and team members. The PDF is unmodified-share friendly.
What format and size is the file?
A 32-page PDF, approximately 267 KB. Reads cleanly on desktop, tablet, mobile, and Kindle.
When was it last updated?
Edition 2026.1 — May 2026. We push updated editions when Indian law moves significantly (DPDP rollout, Labour Codes commencement, regulatory changes). Existing subscribers get the update automatically.
Is there a deeper version?
Yes — the Startup Legal Toolkit Pro (₹1,499) is the practitioner edition with 80 pages, full templates (Founders' Agreement, ESOP scheme, IP Assignment, Employment Contract, MSAs), and the VC due-diligence checklist.
Need legal advice for your specific situation?
The toolkit is the foundation. For matters specific to your business — incorporation, fundraising, IP, employment, compliance — book a free consultation with Sirish.