Why India is having a share scheme revolution right now

India’s startup story has gone from “promising” to powerhouse in what feels like the blink of an eye. It’s now the third-largest startup ecosystem on Earth and the rocket ride has only just begun.

A record-breaking growth spurt 

• 15x more funding since 2015
• 9x more investors backing fresh ideas
• 7x more incubators nurturing the next big thing
• 112,000+ startups spread across 760 districts

Add deep-tech muscle (top-five globally in AI and biotech) plus three world-class hubs - Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi - and you’ve got a recipe for nonstop innovation.

IPO central 

While global listings cooled, India stole the show in Q1 2025 with 62 IPOs raising $2.8 billion, including Hexaware’s $1 billion debut. In fact, India accounted for 22% of all IPO activity worldwide. Seriously impressive.

The ownership wave 

Share schemes (such as employee stock option plans) used to be rare, but given all the tech and startup activity, this isn’t the case anymore. Check these facts out:

• Flipkart’s 2023 payday: $700 million to 19,000 employees – the country’s biggest ESOP moment.
• ₹12,000 crore (≈ $1.5 billion) in ESOP cash-outs in just four years.
• ESOP programmes growing 16% a year.

The message is clear: talent now expects a stake in the game.

Enter Vestd × Trica: stronger together 

Trica Equity has been India’s original and go-to equity platform since 2019, serving 750+ companies (including 12 unicorns!).

Vestd brings B Corp values, battle-tested UK sharetech, and a single-minded belief that ownership changes everything.

Together, we’re…

…a powerful team! 

What stays is everything people already value about Trica: the same trusted team, deep roots in India’s startup ecosystem, and local support you can actually speak to. 

It’s a blend of the best: local expertise with a global edge.

What gets better is the added muscle - new features like document automation and flexible vesting, governance tools refined through years of experience in the UK, and the added transparency and accountability that comes with Vestd’s B Corp certification.

What this means for founders and teams

1. Equity made easy – intuitive dashboards, zero jargon.
2. Compliance-first – helping you keep on the right side of regulation.
3. Ethics baked in – B Corp standards keep everyone honest.
4. Room to scale – from seed to IPO without switching platforms.
5. People who get you – real humans, in-market, ready to help.

If not now, when?

India is gearing up for $23 billion in IPOs by 2025 and a booming secondary market. The window is wide open for startups that treat employees like co-owners from day one.

Ready to ride the wave?

Let’s give every teammate a piece of the victory - and build the next generation of Indian success stories, together.

Join Vestd