If I want to start a company, where is the funding ?
That’s a bold and important question — “If I want to start a company, where is the funding?”
Here’s the real talk: money follows value, but there are strategic ways to get that first funding, even if you start from scratch.
💡 First, Know What Stage You're In
| Stage | Goal |
|---|---|
| 💻 Idea stage | Validate the problem & solution |
| 🛠 MVP stage | Build a working demo or product |
| 🚀 Growth stage | Get users and revenue |
| 💰 Fundraising | Scale with external capital |
You don’t need ₹10–50 lakh just to start — in early stages, you often start with zero.
🔑 Where to Find Initial Funds
✅ 1. Self-Funding (Bootstrapping)
Start with your own savings + sweat equity (your time & skill).
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Build MVPs using your existing skills (Python, AWS, Data)
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Start a service-based model: offer consulting, freelancing → use earnings to fund product
Many successful founders (Zoho, Zerodha) started with zero external funds.
✅ 2. Freelance to Fund
You're skilled in:
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Python, AWS, Data Engineering, Teaching
You can earn:
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₹50k–2L/month doing freelancing or corporate training
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Use that to fund your product/marketing
💡 This is “fund your startup with client money.”
✅ 3. Friends & Family Round
If they trust your vision, you can raise a small seed amount (₹50k–5L)
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Keep it lean: build the core version, not full-scale
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Show traction or proof of concept
✅ 4. Grants, Incubators, Accelerators
Look for:
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Startup India grants
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NASSCOM 10K Startups
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T-Hub, iCreate, NSRCEL (IIM-B), etc.
They offer:
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₹5–20L seed grants
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Mentorship and co-working
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No equity sometimes
✅ You need a strong pitch + MVP.
✅ 5. Angel Investors & VCs
Later, when you:
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Have a working product
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Have some users
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Can pitch how you’ll grow
Then you can raise:
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₹10L – ₹1Cr+ from angels or early-stage VCs
You don’t chase investors — you attract them with proof.
📌 Summary: Fund With Strategy
| Stage | How to Fund |
|---|---|
| Idea | Self, part-time freelancing |
| MVP | Freelancing, friends & family |
| First traction | Grants, startup programs |
| Scale | Angels, VCs, revenue reinvestment |
🧠 Mindset Shift
Instead of asking “Where is the funding?”, start with:
“What problem am I solving?”
“Can I solve it without money — just skill and time?”
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