Is Budget 2026 ready to address startups' compliance, funding and tech gaps?
India Today
As expectations rise ahead of Budget 2026, startup founders and investors are watching closely to see whether policy announcements will finally ease compliance pressures, unlock domestic capital and strengthen India's technology backbone.
As India prepares for the next Union Budget, startup founders and investors are urging the government to focus on easing compliance, unlocking domestic capital and strengthening critical technology infrastructure. While India’s startup ecosystem has shown resilience and ambition, experts say the next phase of growth will depend on reducing friction and backing long-term innovation.
Despite strong momentum in recent years, founders say day-to-day operational challenges continue to weigh heavily on startups. Complex GST rules, slow refunds and frequent filings often take up time that could otherwise be spent on building products and scaling businesses.
Medhansh Seth, Founder of AceCubing and author of Surrogate Entrepreneur, said simplifying compliance should be a top priority.
“Make it easier to build in India. Startups have stayed resilient, but too much time still goes into GST and compliance instead of innovation,” he said.
Seth pointed out that startup founders already juggle multiple roles, from fundraising and accounting to marketing and logistics. “If GST filings are made simpler, it reduces the burden on founders, improves compliance and makes it easier to run a business,” he added.
Beyond compliance reforms, there is growing demand for initiatives that increase domestic funding for startups.
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