Abstract

India’s startup ecosystem has exploded in recent years, attracting attention from investors and entrepreneurs around the globe. At its core, corporate governance is about balancing the interests of everyone involved founders, shareholders, employees, and customers . It’s built on four key values: accountability, integrity, transparency, and responsibility. India’s Companies Act of 2013, which replaced the older law, is grounded in these principles. Yet, many startups are still struggling with good governance practices, raising concerns about their long-term stability and the protection of stakeholder interests. This paper examines what corporate governance really means and how it is being applied or sometimes overlooked in Indian startups. It highlights both the main challenges startups face in adopting solid governance standards and the potential ways to improve. While some startups have set up strong governance practices, many still lack the basics, like well-defined board structures, effective internal controls, and transparent disclosure practices. By using doctrinal research, this study sheds light on the importance of these core values and practices in achieving good governance. In doing so, it contributes to a deeper understanding of corporate governance in India’s growing startup landscape and lays the groundwork for further research on this topic.

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