Fundraising,founder-side clarity.

It depends on your investors, customers, team and exit path. ADGM and DIFC offer common-law frameworks, investor familiarity and efficient holding structures for GCC-centred businesses; Delaware remains the default for US-led rounds and US exits. Many companies use a UAE holding company with a Delaware subsidiary or vice versa. We model the options against your funding plan and tax advice before you incorporate.

A SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is an instrument that converts into shares at a future priced round, usually with a valuation cap or discount. It works well for ADGM, DIFC and Delaware companies. For Indian companies, SAFEs must be adapted to FEMA's rules on convertible instruments and pricing; we use compliant convertible notes or CCPS structures instead.

Beyond valuation: the size and timing of the option pool (which affects effective valuation), liquidation preference (1x non-participating is standard), anti-dilution (broad-based weighted average, not full ratchet), board composition, protective provisions, founder vesting and the exclusivity period. We give founders a plain-language markup of every term and model the outcomes.

Foreign investment must comply with sectoral caps and routes, be priced at or above fair value under RBI pricing guidelines, use permitted instruments (equity, CCPS, CCDs) and be reported through the FIRMS portal within prescribed timelines. Non-compliance can be compounded but delays closings and diligence. We handle the structuring and filings alongside the deal documents.

A flip moves the holding of an operating company to a new parent in another jurisdiction, typically from India to the UAE, Singapore or the US, usually to access investors or exits there. It involves share swaps, overseas-investment approvals, tax analysis and IP migration. Flips are cheapest before the first priced round and progressively more expensive after; the decision should be made with tax advisers before you raise.

One plan can serve all three with jurisdiction-specific sub-plans or award letters. Indian employees have specific tax and reporting rules; UAE free-zone companies need plans compatible with their companies regulations; US employees require 409A valuations for options. We draft the plan and the grant documentation so that equity is a retention tool rather than a compliance headache.

Yes. We act for angels, syndicates, family offices and venture funds on due diligence, term sheets, investment documents and closings in the UAE, India and cross-border deals, subject to conflict checks. Understanding both sides makes us more effective on each.

Fixed fees, scoped by round type and complexity: SAFE and convertible rounds, seed rounds and Series A onwards each have a standard package, with cross-border FEMA or flip work priced separately. We quote before we start and we do not bill for reading the term sheet.