Raising money
Seed round data room checklist for Indian startups
A seed round data room checklist for Indian startups: the six folders investors expect, what to leave out at seed, and the order they open things.
29 posts, every one read aloud
Raising, hiring and the books, in plain English.
Guides, checklists and notes from the build, by the team behind Galley, Masthead and Margin. A new post every Tuesday.
Start here.
8 posts
Raising money
Data rooms, term sheets, diligence, and the papers a lender asks for.
8 posts
Hiring and running a team
Offers and CTC, PF and ESI, leave, reviews, ESOPs and exits.
10 posts
Money, GST and compliance
GST and TDS dates, the month-end close, runway and the board pack.
3 posts
Notes from the build
Why 1936, how we use AI, and what we learnt running on our own tools.
Every post.
Raising money
Seed round data room checklist for Indian startups
A seed round data room checklist for Indian startups: the six folders investors expect, what to leave out at seed, and the order they open things.
Raising money
What investors look at in a data room, and in what order
What do investors look at in a data room? The three documents everyone opens, where they slow down, what gets skipped, and what it means for your deck.
Raising money
Term sheet terms explained in plain English (India)
Term sheet terms explained for Indian founders: valuation and option pool, liquidation preference, anti-dilution, pro-rata, board seats and what's negotiable.
Raising money
NDA for investors: when to ask and what to put in it
Should you ask investors to sign an NDA? Why most VCs won't, when it's fair to ask, the five clauses that matter, and a lighter alternative for your startup.
Raising money
Series A due diligence checklist for Indian startups
A Series A due diligence checklist for Indian startups: legal, financial, tax and compliance, people, product and customers, and how to keep it moving.
Raising money
Investor update template: write one people actually read
A seven-part investor update template for founders. What to include each month, which metrics to show, and how to ask your investors for help that arrives.
Raising money
CCPS vs CCD vs iSAFE: how Indian startups raise early money
CCPS vs CCD vs iSAFE explained in plain English: what each instrument is, how it converts, what founders give up, and the filings after the round.
Raising money
Documents required for a startup loan in India: the full list
Documents required for a startup loan in India: what banks, NBFCs and venture debt funds ask for, what changes after sanction, and why applications get declined.
Hiring and running a team
CTC vs In-Hand Salary: How to Explain an Offer in India
CTC vs in-hand salary explained with worked examples at ₹12 lakh and ₹18 lakh, the new labour codes' 50% wage rule, and how to show it in an offer letter.
Hiring and running a team
When Is PF Mandatory? PF and ESI Rules for Startups
When is PF mandatory for a startup, and when does ESI apply? Headcount rules, wage limits, contribution rates, monthly due dates and the cost of filing late.
Hiring and running a team
How to Screen CVs Faster: 500 Applications, One Founder
How to screen CVs faster without reading every line: a scorecard, five skills, a 15-minute first call and fair use of AI, with a person deciding.
Hiring and running a team
Leave Policy Template for Startups in India (2026)
A leave policy template for Indian startups: earned, casual and sick leave, maternity, carry-forward, encashment, approvals and holidays, under the new labour codes.
Hiring and running a team
Performance Reviews for a Small Team, Without the Jargon
A simple performance review for a small team of 10 to 50: a twice-a-year cycle, four questions, fair links to pay, and the mistakes to avoid.
Hiring and running a team
ESOPs in India Explained: A Guide for Founders and Teams
ESOPs in India explained: pool, grant, vesting and exercise, how ESOPs are taxed at exercise and sale, the startup tax deferral, and how to show them in an offer.
Hiring and running a team
Full and Final Settlement Checklist for Indian Startups
A full and final settlement checklist for India under the new labour codes: the two-day pay rule, gratuity, leave encashment, deductions, documents and exit steps.
Hiring and running a team
Hybrid Attendance Policy: Leave and Office Rules That Work
A hybrid attendance policy that works: what to track, check-in without a register, office days, leave on work-from-home days, and a sample policy to copy.
Money, GST and compliance
GST and TDS due dates for 2026-27, in one calendar
Every GST and TDS due date for 2026-27 in one place: GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, QRMP, TDS deposits, the new TDS return forms, advance tax and annual returns.
Money, GST and compliance
TDS on freelancers and agencies: 194C or 194J, and the new rules
194C or 194J? How TDS works on freelancers, agencies and consultants under the Income-tax Act, 2025, with rates, limits and five real cases from startups.
Money, GST and compliance
Month-end close checklist: close your books by the 5th
A month-end close checklist for Indian startups: a day-by-day plan to close your books by the 5th, with bank, sales, payroll, TDS, accruals and review.
Money, GST and compliance
GSTR-2B mismatch: why you're losing input tax credit
A GSTR-2B mismatch means input tax credit you can't claim. The common causes, how IMS changed things, a monthly routine and an email to send vendors.
Money, GST and compliance
How to calculate runway, and when to start worrying
How to calculate runway for a startup: gross vs net burn, the formula with a worked rupee example, planned hires, and what 6, 12 and 18 months mean.
Money, GST and compliance
Tally vs Zoho Books: accounting software at 20 people
Tally vs Zoho Books for a 20-person Indian startup: what each costs, what each does well, and how to switch without losing your history. Prices checked Oct 2026.
Money, GST and compliance
Board pack template for startups: what to include each month
A monthly board pack template for startups: the one-page summary, P&L, cash and runway, hiring, risks and asks. What to include and how long it should take.
Money, GST and compliance
Bank reconciliation for startups, in plain English
Bank reconciliation for startups explained simply: what it is, the three kinds of difference, a worked rupee example, how often to do it and rules that save hours.
Money, GST and compliance
Startup annual compliance in India: the year-end timeline
Startup annual compliance in India in one timeline: closing the books, statutory audit, AGM, ROC filings and income tax, month by month from April to December.
Money, GST and compliance
Expense reimbursement policy for startups: a simple template
A simple expense reimbursement policy for Indian startups: petty cash, receipts, GST input credit, approvals and booking claims right. Free template included.
Notes from the build
Why we named the company 1936
Why 1936 AI is named after a year: the Progressive Writers' conference in Lucknow in April 1936, and what plain, useful work means for the software we build.
Notes from the build
How we use AI in our products, and where a person decides
How 1936 AI uses AI in Galley, Masthead and Margin: what it reads, ranks and drafts, what it never does on its own, and why a person approves anything that matters.
Notes from the build
The startup back office stack at seed, Series A and Series B
The startup back office stack, stage by stage: what you need for raising, people, money and legal at seed, Series A and Series B, and what can safely wait.
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The 1936 AI Back Office
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28 checklists, templates and calculators.
Each comes with its post: leave your name and work email, and it opens straight away.
Raising this quarter? Start today.
14 days free, no card needed. Then from ₹2,999 a month, with a GST invoice.
Hiring this month? Let Masthead read the CVs.
14 days free, no card needed. Then from ₹2,499$49 a month.
Close this month's books by the 5th.
14 days free, no card needed. Then from ₹1,999 a month, plus GST.