The Indian Budget 2024 introduces significant reforms that could boost the startup and investment landscape. Experts from the venture capital and startup sectors have praised recent Indian budget reforms, highlighting their positive impact on the ecosystem.
Here are some expert insights on the recent budget announcements, focusing on their potential impacts on India’s startup ecosystem and deeptech economy:
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Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures
This is recognition of the growing need for a deeptech economy. However, alongside the R&D Fund, the government should look at the Intellectual Property regime. The much overdue Patent Policy needs to come out soonest to enable maximisation of R&D Fund.
Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures
The 1000 Cr fund of funds for space tech is testimonial to India’s capability in coming up with breakthrough solutions at low cost. This will certainly help space tech companies to look for much needed early stage capital to get started. This will certainly help mobilise over Rs 4000 Cr, great move. Angel Tax abolishment was long pending, glad that Hon. FM has heard industry voices and has finally abolished it. This will certainly help in expansion of angel investment in India and will take away a lot of burden from the minds of everyone on tax notice for tax paid investment. This will also free up a lot of domestic capital and improve the funding sentiment in a strong way.
Mayuresh Raut, Managing Partner, Seafund
This was an albatross that hindered much needed capital to be deployed to deserving founders. Removal of this dreaded tax will give a huge fillip to startups in the country and free up investors to focus on the investments without having anxiety on how to deal with their implications. A few other things that work well for deep tech focused funds like us. The rooftop solar policy, the pumped storage policy and research and development for small & modular nuclear reactors, Bharat small reactors, R&D for small modular reactors, R&D for new technology in nuclear form a neat troika to alter the energy map of India. Specially on the nuclear side, it positions India to replicate the renaissance that nuclear is experiencing in the US.
Anirudh A Damani -Managing Partner – Artha Venture Fund
The removal of the angel tax will make it significantly easier for us to complete transactions faster and streamline the investment process. Previously, the requirement for income tax officers to understand and assess valuations led to unnecessary conflicts and delays, involving CAs, valuers, and tax officials. Valuation assessments were never meant to fall within the purview of income tax officers, and this change eliminates those complications. This simplification allows us to focus on our primary job—investing in and supporting innovative startups—without the burden of navigating through cumbersome tax regulations.
As a venture capital fund, we see the Indian Budget 2024’s tax reforms as a major boost for the VC, PE, and startup ecosystem. The increase in LTCG tax rate for financial assets to 12.50% and STCG to 20% may pose challenges for listed investments. Still, it’s a significant advantage for other financial products like startups and Alternative Investment Funds. The reduction in LTCG tax from 20% to 12.50% for these investments will result in substantial savings and increased IRR, fostering growth and innovation. While we await the detailed budget, this move is a long-awaited positive development that will make India an even more attractive destination for global investors and drive further growth in the venture capital and private equity sectors.
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Ratna Mehta – Managing Partner, Fundalogical Ventures
Abolition of angel tax will provide a boost to the budding Indian startup ecosystem. It will encourage the flow of capital without tax leakages, especially relevant at a time when the funding crunch is impacting startup liquidity. It is key to establish India as an innovation hub and leader vs follower for new and breakthrough ideas. Focus of the budget is on sustainable growth with employment generation, of continuity and stability. The changes on the capital gains tax structure was unexpected, especially during a time when the fiscal position of the economy seems to be in check.
The logistics and supply chain is the lifeline of India’s growth story. The budget’s identification of infrastructure, manufacturing, and skilling as key areas for long-term development and subsequent allocation is a step in making India the logistics and manufacturing powerhouse of the world. As a fund focused on investing in supply chain and logistics, we are bullish on backing innovative entrepreneurs building the support ecosystem of India’s supply chain. The government’s move to set up E-commerce export hubs to be set up for enabling MSMEs to export their local products is a huge step in the direction of driving growth through innovation and building on new-age trends to drive MSME growth.
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