Empowering Startups: Insights on Raising Capital and Navigating Legalities

The MBA Department of the School of Business and Management at St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, organized workshops on “Raising Capital for Startups” and “Legal & Ethical Steps in Setting Up a Startup” on 20th March 2025 at the AIMIT campus, Beeri.The sessions were conducted by CA Prasanna Shenoy, a renowned Chartered Accountant, and Adv. Nikesh Shetty,a well-known legal expert in the field. They provided valuable insights into raising capital for startups and the legal framework for starting a business. The workshop, held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., was organized as part of the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) activities.

CA Prasanna Shenoy highlighted the critical aspects of financial management, emphasizing the significance of proper budgeting, planning, and accessing various sources of capital. He explained the role of government schemes like Mudra, MSME, and SIDBI, along with exploring funding options such as bootstrapping, angel investments, venture capital, and crowdfunding. Through real-life examples like Zerodha by Nikhil Kamath, he showcased the journey of startups that have effectively managed their finances to achieve success. The need for financial discipline, calculating burnout rates, and planning a financial runway were discussed in depth.

Advocate K Nikesh Shetty provided valuable insights into the legal and ethical considerations crucial for startups. He stressed the importance of legal compliance, digital documentation, and understanding company registration processes, including obtaining a Director Identification Number (DIN), Digital Signature Certification, and incorporation certification. The session also covered potential risks like breach of contract and loss of trust, underscoring the need for startups to adhere to ethical standards and legal protocols.

The session proved to be an enriching experience, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of financial planning and legalities vital for sustaining and scaling a startup.

Dr Rajani Suresh, Dean School of Business and Management graced the occasion.

The event was successfully coordinated by Dr. Swapna Rose and Dr. Poulami Saha, with the support of student coordinators Mr. Avin and Ms. Ancy from the first-year MBA. A total of 81 MBA students who have taken entrepreneurship as a subject in their second semester participated in the workshop.