Kya haal chaal, Dilli?
Are you beginning your startup journey in this city? Or, wondering if this city would be able to accommodate all your entrepreneurial aspirations? If yes, then keep reading.
At Plum, we’re constantly interacting with founders like you who are building the best teams & products with passion and ambition. Being a founder is hard. Setting up a business in a new city is even harder. Keeping calm while getting the business registered, building the dream team while navigating the startup ecosystem in a new city can be challenging. Here’s a curated list to help you navigate business and everything beyond work in this city with ease.
Table of contents
- Kya haal chaal, Dilli?
- Table of contents
- Introduction
- Startup events, communities, and programs
- Active VCs and investors
- PR and media in Delhi
- People to follow on X and LinkedIn
- Workspace and setting up your own
- Co-working
- Looking to set-up your office space in tech parks?
- Gurgaon
- Noida
- Cafes to work out of
- Cafes ideal for deep work
- Cafes ideal for networking
- Ideal team outing places
- Setting up the business 101
- Agencies
- Hire your 1st intern
- Getting business registered
- Neighbourhood breakdown for tech
- Life beyond work: What’s in Delhi for you?
- Interest-based groups
- Delhi’s heritage
- A Gedhi playlist
- Miscellaneous 101s
- Closing thoughts
- About Plum
If you have any recommendations, resources, or information you’d like to contribute, please fill this form (it won’t take more than 2 minutes), and we’ll be happy to add.
Whether it's working with founders to create the right business and health insurance policies or building a resource kit to help you communicate with empathy — we help you put your needs first.
But our definition of care doesn't stop there. We built this guide to welcome you to a city that’s rapidly becoming a startup hub. Share this with your new and old team members, and if you have a relocation policy, linking this guide to help others navigate the same boat would be helpful! We built this to help you do just that.
If you'd like to learn more about Plum and what we're up to, follow this link.
Introduction
Ye Dilli hai mere yaar. Bass ishq, mohabbat, pyaar, aur vyapaar.
Delhi is not just another city; it’s a feeling, like coming home after ages. At every chai tapri, this city is buzzing with conversations around dhanda. Now referred to as the IPO capital of India, Delhi has it all - top-tier educational institutes, robust public transportation infrastructure, commercial real estate at competitive rates, and a thriving startup ecosystem.
This city has something for everyone. You don’t have to be a B2B SaaS or Fintech founder to find your feet in business here. Whether you want to start an art house or a small-scale business, Delhi has equally enough opportunities for you to thrive and grow. Here, the ideas transcend district boundaries and spread across Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon and more.
And, as a result, Delhi-NCR has been able to make a dent in the startup ecosystem.
- 1 out of every 3 unicorns in India is from Delhi-NCR.
- 28% funded startups in India are from Delhi-NCR.
- $41Bn+ raised by Delhi-NCR headquartered startups since 2014.
Unfortunately, safety remains a prime concern in Delhi. Additionally, the tech parks are quite far from Delhi, mostly located in Noida and Gurgaon. But all said and done, it still is a great city to live in. A step into this city and Dilwalon ki Dilli will wrap you in its arms and never leave you alone. It’s more than just bricks and buildings, it’s a community, a family. As it’s said, ye sheher nahi mehfil hai.
Startup events, communities, and programs
Delhi is known for its startup programs, communities and regular meet ups. Here’s a curated a list of incubators, event aggregators, startup programs and communities to boost your 0-1 startup journey in this city.
Name | Tags | Text | Website |
TIE Delhi-Chapter | Events | Hosts educational sessions on the nuance of running startups — legal formalities, forming partnerships, software usage, income tax formalities, approaching investors, trade licences, and more. | |
GrowthX | Community | Invite-only community for ambitious founders, marketing, product & business leaders. | |
Founders' Network | Community | Entrepreneurs, investors, and experts meet up to talk about product, growth, raising money, marketing and sales, and anything else relevant to the startup world. | |
NASSCOM Startup Warehouse | Incubator | This program offers extensive network within the Indian IT industry to support startup founders | |
Marketing Community | Community | A 440+ member community started by 2 marketers to have a go-to place in times of doubts around all-things marketing. | |
The Product Folks | Community | Founders and PMs who host meet ups, demo days, and more. | |
TSOW | Community | A community that routinely hosts events on how to shape talent, culture, and policy. | |
Padup Ventures | Incubator | Padup Venture incubator programs provide critical interventions through mentors that help tech start-ups and individuals with management coaching, strategies, support, networking, and more. | |
Leap.club | Community | Leadership talks, VC check-ins for women-only entrepreneurs, meet ups, and more. | |
The Circle | Community | The Circle: Founders Club is a digital first business accelerator to help scale-up startups through focused mentoring, shared business services, funding support, key business connects, and community access. | |
Global Shapers Community | Community | Self-organised meet ups to address local, regional and global startup challenges. Ideal for founders focused in environment tech and social impact. | |
Rebalance | Accelerator | India’s first angel community that is 51% women investors, Rebalance is an accelerator for startups and an angel community that invests up to $100K in women and diverse founders. | |
The Talent Deck | Community | One of Delhi’s most curated community of people leaders. TTD routinely hosts events on talent, policy, culture, leadership, and more. | |
Headstart | Community | A startup community with events to help you grow in the ecosystem. | |
TLabs | Accelerator | Structured program tailored for early-stage startup acceleration. | |
FIIT-IIT Delhi | Incubator | One of the earliest academia-based incubators in the country, FIIT-IIT Delhi aims to convert technology-based innovative ideas into commercially viable products. | |
Inc42 | Program | The media house that has programs like FounderX & D2CX designed to equip founders with the necessary skills and mindset to scale their businesses. | |
Offline | Community | A private members' community of new-age founders. Offline fosters connections, support, and camaraderie with other startup founders. | |
Startup Grind | Community | A global startup community for founders. | |
Pedal Start | Accelerator | A community that works intensively with startups in each phase of their journey. | |
Chai with Titan | Events | An event where early-stage startup founders pitch their innovative ideas to Titan Capital. | |
eChai | Events | Startup meet ups, marketing summits, demo days, and more. |
Active VCs and investors
Find your next investor from a curated list of active VCs and investors, recommended and verified by your fellow-founders.
Name | Principal Investor/ Founder | Stage | Industry | Portfolio Companies |
BFF Initiative, Blume | Sajith Pai (Investment Team) | Pre-Seed, Seed | Agritech, B2B, Consumer, Edtech, Fintech | Subko, Nova Nova, Truly Madly, Airblack, Rocketpay, HuddleUp |
Elevation Capital | Akarsh Shrivastava (Principal) | Seed, Series A, Series C, Pre-Series A, Series B | Sector agnostic | Acko, Bliss Club, BookMyShow, Chaayos, Fampay, MakeMyTrip, Meesho |
GrowX Ventures | Ashita Gupta (Principal) | Early Stage | Sector agnostic | Cosmofeed, 4basecare, Advantage Club, MedPay, Multipl |
Huddle | Sanil Sachar (Founder) | Pre-Seed & Seed | D2C, Retail-Tech, Agri-tech, Consumer Tech | Bold Care, Perfora, Blue Tokai Coffee, Wellversed |
Indian Angel Network | Sanat Mondal (Principal) | Seed & Early Stage | Logistics, FnB, Edtech, D2C, Agritech | Farmart, Sirona, Spinny, WowMomo, WebEngage |
Info Edge Ventures | Rishabh Katiyar (Principal) | Pre-Seed, Seed & Series-A | Sector agnostic | Policy Bazaar, Zomato, Shiprocket, Zingbus, Next Leap |
Leo Capital | Rajul Garg (Founder) | Early Stage | B2B, SaaS, Consumer, Insuretech | Beato, Sheroes, Indietravel, TravClan, Stratzy |
Lightspeed Venture Partners | Anuvrat Jain (Vice President) | Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C | Sector agnostic | Snapchat, Rippling, BetterUp, Rubrik |
Merak Ventures | Pranav Sanghvi (Principal) | Pre-Seed & Seed | Sector agnostic | Farmtheory, Rupyz, Atomgrid |
Padup Ventures | Pankaj Thakar (Founder) | Seed | AI/ML, E-commerce, Healthcare | BookingJini, TruScholar, HireAndBuild, IntelleWings |
Peak XV | Abhishek Mohan (Principal) | Seed, Early-Stage, Growth Stage | Fintech, Healthcare, SaaS, Consumer | Cars24, Chargebee, Cred, Darwinbox, Freshworks, Groww, Mamaearth |
Pedalstart | Aditya Darolia (Founder) | Series-B | Agritech, Insuretech, Cleantech, Healthcare | Newtral.io, BetterSpace, Bull Agritech, OhLocal, and Rupid |
Pravega Ventures | Dhruvin Mehta (Principal) | Pre-Seed, Seed, Early | Fintech, Consumer, SaaS | Algiz Consultancy Services, Chefkart, Citizengage Solutions |
Rebalance | Aishwarya Malhi (Founder) | Pre-Seed, Seed | Sector agnostic | BrightSightAI, Hyperface, Accacia, Vecros, Aeria |
RSPG Capital Ventures | Hersh Gulati (Principal) | Seed, Pre-Series A, Series A | D2C, Consumer Tech | Perfora, Vedix, Eat with better, Bartisans |
Rukam Capital | Archana Jahagirdar (Managing Partner) | Early Stage | Consumer Tech, Healthcare, FnB | Sleepy Owl, Burger Singh, Go Desi, Food Strong |
Sauce VC | Zoed Ali Khan (Vice President) | Seed | D2C, Consumer, SaaS, | Mokobara, The Whole Truth, Supertails, Rockit |
She Capital | Anisha Singh (Founder) | Seed, Pre Series A & Series A | Retail, Consumer | Clovia, Superhire, ReDesyn, Nova Nova |
Titan Capital | Surabhi Purwar (Principal) | Early Stage | Healthtech, Fintech, Consumer, SaaS | Mamaearth, Ola, Razorpay Snapdeal, Urban Company |
Venture Highway | Niraj Arora (Founder) | Seed | Sector agnostic | Betterplace, Fampay, Okcredit, Headout, Meesho |
Waterbridge Ventures | Ashish Jain (Founder) | Seed, Pre-Series A | B2B, Fintech, Consumer, Saas, Edtech, Healthtech | Atlan, Magicpin, Nymble, Unacademy, ZipLoan |
PR and media in Delhi
A curated list of journalists in Delhi-NCR to get your stories covered.
- Jagmeet Singh - Journalist, Tech Crunch
- Jaivardhan - Co-founder & CEO, Entrackr
- Swati Mittal - Assistant Editor, The Economic Times
- Rajiv Singh - Journalist, Forbes
- Raghwendra Shukla - Journalist, ZEE Business
- Richa Mishra - Journalist, The Hindu Business Line
- Satviki Sanjay - Journalist, Bloomberg
- Abhishek Kumar Sahu - Education & HR, Moneycontrol
- Deepsekhar Choudhury - Tech Journalist, Moneycontrol
- Ramarko Sengupta - Senior Editor, Your Story
- Nikhil Pahwa - Founder, MediaNama
- Suneera Tandon - Senior Assistant Editor, HT Mint
- Diksha Madhok - Editor & Writer, CNN Business
- Sandeep Soni - Senior Assistant Editor, Financial Express
- Pooja Malik - Correspondent, Your Story
- Rai Vinaykumar - Journalist, Inc42
- Punita Sabharwal - Managing Editor, Entrepreneur
- Tejaswini Singhal - Journalist, The Economic Times
- Ashna Butani - Reporter, The Hindu
- Navneet Dubey - Associate Editor, Business Today
- Shereen Bhan - Managing Editor, CNBC TV 18
- Asmita Dey - Startup Writer, The Times of India
- Shruthijith KK - Executive Editor, The Economic Times
- Itika Sharma Punit - Deputy Editor, Rest of the World
- Rituparna Chatterjee - Deputy Asia Editor, The Independent
- Gulveen Aulakh - Senior Assistant Editor, Mint
People to follow on X and LinkedIn
X is the founders' favourite platform to keep up with the ongoing trends, doing customer research, hiring the 1% talent and more. Curating the perfect X feed begins with following the right people. Here’s a list of people who’ve been active in the Delhi startup ecosystem.
Name | What they talk about | Follow them here |
Aditi Randev | Director of Nimah Ventures. | |
Aditi Sharma | Startup marketer who talks about marketing, startups, and products. Runs a 400+ strong community of marketers and founders. | |
Aditya Vardhan | COO at Cosmofeed | SuperProfile. Talks about Community, Marketing, Growth. Can help founders with their Product Hunt launch. | |
Akshay Chaturvedi | Founder & CEO of Leverage Edu. Talks about higher education, international finance & foreign policy. | |
Albinder Dhindsa | Co-founder & CEO of Blinkit. | |
Alok Mittal | Talks about entrepeneurship, tech, education and governance. | |
Aloke Bajpai | Managing Director & Group CEO of ixigo. | |
Aman Gupta | Co-founder & CMO of BoAt. | |
Anand Sinha | Co-founder of leap.club, a members-only community for women. | |
Anant Ahuja | Co-founder of Irregular Alliance. | |
Anisha Singh | Founder of She Capital, an early-stage VC fund backing exceptional women founders. | |
Aruna Chawla | Ex-founder of Salad. Talks about digital therapeutics. | |
Arushi Chauhan | Product Designer at Flipkart. Talks about design and cats. | |
Astha Rattan | A marketing leader with experience across growth, marketing, content, and community. | |
Deepinder Goyal | Founder of Zomato. | |
Dr Ritesh Malik | Founder of Innov8cowork. | |
Garima Kaushal | Building Sploot. Talks about dogs, marketing and travel. | |
Ghazal Alagh | Co-Founder of Mamaearth, DermaCo & Aqualogica. | |
Gurman Bhatia | Building RevisualLabs. Chart maker, information designer and developer, data journo, trainer. | |
Heet Tike | Co-founder of Ripen. Previously attempted to gamify adulthood. Built a community of 15k+ members. | |
Himanshu Khanna | Founder of Sparklin & Openvy. Currently writing a fantasy fiction. | |
Ishant Juyal | Founder of Crework - a school for people to learn and build better products in a community. | |
Jahanvi Jain | Used to write HR Brain Pickings. Talks about marketing, startups and life. | |
Kunal Bahl | Co-founder of Titan Capital - a seed-stage VC firm supporting entrepreneurs with capital and mentorship. | |
Mohit Bhatnagar | Managing Director of PeakXV Partners. | |
Mohit Mamoria | CEO of Mailman. | |
Naina | Product Designer at Fountane. Talks about startups, design and running. | |
Nilanjana Bhowmick | Nilanjana is an award-winning author and journalist. She has written 2 best-selling Feminist non-fiction books. | |
Nipun Jain | Co-founder & CEO of Madfire. Making learning fun through our informative reels, trivia games and quizzes. | |
Nona Uppal | Author of Fool Me Twice. Talks about writing, romance and life. | |
Pooja Sanwal | Handles community and content at Fountane; talks about community, growth, and tech. | |
Pragun Dua | Designer & product developer. Talks about tech, products, business & life. | |
Pranav Manie | Writer of hotchips - a newsletter at the intersection of culture and numbers. Talks about media business and hip-hop. | |
Ragini Das | Co-founder of leap.club, a members-only community for women. | |
Ria Chopra | Youth advisor at Google. Writer. Building Stumble by Kommune. Talks about pop-culture. | |
Rishabh Bansal | Talks about community, brand and culture. | |
Ritesh Agarwal | Founder & CEO of OYO Rooms. | |
Ritvik Varghese | Co-founder of Ripen. Previously attempted to gamify adulthood. Built a community of 15k+ members. | |
Sahib Aggarwal | Building India's first shoe brand that designs shoes around the actual shape and function of the foot. | |
Sairee Chahal | Founder of Sheroes, Mahila Money & Appreciate Capital. Talks about investment and entrepreneurship for women. | |
Sajith Pai | VC at Blume Ventures. Talks about startups, PMF and growth. | |
Sandeep Aggarwal | Founder of Droom & ShopClues. The only tech entrepreneur in India to have founded two Unicorns back-to-back. | |
Sanjeev Bikhchandani | Founder of Naukri.com | |
Saurav Kumar | Founder and CEO of Euler Motors, a full-stack OEM based out of New Delhi building electric 3 & 4 wheelers. | |
Shambhavi | Product designer. Talks about hip hop, disability, inclusivity and art. | |
Simran Sachdeva | Talks about consumer brands, tech and life. Ex - CRED, Rephrase.ai, Fampay. | |
Srijan Mahajan | Founder of Attis Health & Pause. Drummer @ Parikrama. Talks about health, startups, and life. | |
Swati Bhargava | Co-Founder of CashKaro. Talks about traveling, fashion and yoga. | |
Tanishka Goel | Talks about startups, marketing and education (especially MBA). | |
Utsav Somani | Founder of Offline, a private members' community for the top 10% of Indian tech founders and CEOs. | |
Vinay Singhal | Co-founder & CEO of STAGE - Netflix for Bharat. | |
Vivek Raju | Helping growth-stage founders articulate investor/sales positioning at Deck Rooster. | |
Vivek Yadav | Co-founder & CEO of Cosmofeed | SuperProfile. Investment Banker turned founder, on a pursuit to solve Creator problems. | |
Anmol | Talks about tech, product and Indian startup ecosystem. |
Workspace and setting up your own
We’ve recently set up our new workspace and we understand that A LOT goes into building one. Here are a couple of options you can consider while building your new workspace.
Co-working
Here’s a list of the top co-working spaces in Delhi-NCR. We filtered this list based on Google reviews and chose the ones rated 4.2 ⭐ and above. Best if you’re a lean team, building up from scratch.
P.S. The following prices are an average and not the exact quote you might receive from vendors. This is a disclaimer that there could be price discrepancies depending on the location you choose and demand vs supply.
Name | Hot desk cost (per seat per month) | Dedicated desk cost (per seat per month) | Private cabin (per seat per month) |
91Springboard - Mohan Estate | ₹480 | ₹9,700 | ₹11,400 |
91Springboard - Nehru Place | ₹560 | ₹13,000 | ₹15,300 |
91Springboard - Sector 44, Gurgaon | ₹480 | ₹11,300 | ₹13,200 |
91Springboard - Sector 63, Noida | ₹480 | ₹8050 | ₹9700 |
ABL - Green Park | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹11,000 |
ABL - Okhla | ₹7,000 | ₹7,500 | ₹8,800 |
Awfis - Ambience Mall | Enquire for pricing. | ₹10,500 | 12,000 |
Awfis - Connaught Place | Enquire for pricing. | ₹14,500 | Rs 15,000 |
Awfis - Vasant Kunj | Enquire for pricing. | ₹10,000 | ₹10,500 |
Co-Offiz - Janakpuri | ₹6,500 | ₹7,500 | ₹8,000 |
CoworkInsta - Phase 4, Gurgaon | ₹6,500 | ₹7,000 | ₹7,500 |
CoWrks - Aerocity | ₹19,000 | ₹27,000 | ₹40,000 |
Desker Coworking - Okhla | ₹11,000 | ₹11,999 | ₹12,999 |
Innov8 - Connaught Place | ₹12,799 | ₹18,599 | ₹18,599 |
MiQB - Noida | ₹5,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 |
My Desk - KG Marg | ₹9,500 | ₹10,000 | ₹18,000 |
Smartworks - Nehru Place | ₹15,000 | ₹15,000 | Enquire for pricing. |
Spacetime Co-work - Greater Kailash | ₹8,000 | ₹13,000 | ₹14,000 |
Urban Hive Spaces - Green park | ₹5,500 | ₹6,100 | ₹6,600 |
WeWork - Gold Course Road | Enquire for pricing. | ₹30,000 | ₹35,000 |
WeWork - MG Road | Enquire for pricing. | ₹26,000 | ₹30,000 |
WeWork Forum - DLF Cyber City | Enquire for pricing. | ₹28,000 | ₹30,000 |
Workingdom - Connaught Place | ₹8,499 | ₹11,499 | ₹17,000 |
WeWork - Sector16B, Noida | ₹13,000 | ₹14,000 | ₹14,000 |
Looking to set-up your office space in tech parks?
Ideal to invest in working out of a tech park if you’ve crossed 300+ employees in scale. It also becomes cost-effective when compared to co-working spaces.
Gurgaon
- Unitech Cyber Park, Sector 39
- DLF Cyberpark, Sector 20
- Atrium Place, Sector 19
- DLF Downtown, Sector 25A
- DLF Horizon Center, Sector 43
- DLF World Tech Park, Sector 30
- DLF Atria, Sector 25
- DLF Gateway Tower, Sector 24
- DLF Center Court, Sector 42
- DLF Square, Sector 25
- DLF Plaza Tower, Sector 26A
Noida
- DLF Tech Park, Sector 143A
- Logix Cyber Park, Sector 62
- Stellar IT Park, Sector 62
- Embassy Galaxy Business Park, Sector 62
- Logix Infotech Park, Sector 59
- IHDP Business Park, Sector 127
Cafes to work out of
Cafes ideal for deep work
These are relevant for all areas. Go to the one nearest to your place.
Name | Cost for 2 people | Must try |
Blue Tokai | 600 | Hot Chocolate, Pistachio & Raspberry Croissant, Parsley & Cheese Garlic Fries, Mocha with Sea Salt, Mango and Peach Smoothie, Butter Croissant with Cappuccino |
Chaayos | ₹450 | Mint Lassi, Pakoda Basket, Samosa Chole Chaat, Bun Bhujia, Bun Samosa, Chocolate Drink |
Chai Point | ₹400 | Masala Tea, Paneer Tikka Sandwich, Cheesecake, Roll |
Third Wave Coffee | 850 | Garlic Bread, Cappuccino, Hummus & Pita Platter, Cinnamon Roll with Cream Cheese, Breakfast Pancakes, Toffee Nut Latte, Vietnamese shakerato |
Starbucks | 900 | Caramel Frappuccino, Iced Vanilla Latte, Java Chip Frappuccino, Vanilla Frappe, Caramel Macchiato |
Break the monotony of working from office or home. Here’s a list of cafes where you can plug in your earphones, get your to-do list, and work on your laptop uninterrupted for hours.
Name | Location | Cost for 2 people | Must try |
Cafe Tesu | Aurobindo Marg | ₹1,200 | Chicken Poutine, Mulled Wine, Truffle Fries, Eggs Benedict, Healthy Breakfast, English Breakfast |
Café Dori | Chattarpur | ₹1,900 | Pumpkin Ravioli, Flatbreads, Garlic Fries, Finger Chips, Gnocchi, Eggs Benedict |
Di Ghent Cafe | Sector 28,Gurgaon | ₹2,000 | Yogurt Smoothie, Lamb Lasagna, Egg Benedict, Chicken Panini, Smoked Salmon, Baguette |
Bistro Petit | Sector 28, Gurgaon | ₹1,200 | Grilled Corn Capsicum & Cheese Sandwich, Pasta Alfredo Con Bacon E Peperone, Linguine Ai Funghi, Pasta Alfredo Con Peperone |
Hamoni Cafe | Sector 23, Gurgaon | ₹1,500 | Sizzler Brownie, Coffee Hazelnut, Peach Ice Tea, Mezze Platter, Hot Chocolate, Sunday Brunch |
The Reader’s Cafe | Sector 18, Noida | ₹1,200 | French Vanilla Coffee, Cappuccino, Chicken Souvlaki, Tex Mex Pizza, Ham Sandwich, Salami Pizza |
Cafe Pathshala | Sector 125, Noida | ₹600 | Garden Salad, Kitkat Shake, Peri Peri Fries, Ice Tea, Mojito, Salads |
Jugmug Thela | Saket | ₹850 | Classic Hot Chocolate, Veg Club Sandwich, Mushroom Sandwich, Paneer Tikka Sandwich, Masala Chai |
Bean Sahab Cafe | Saket | ₹950 | Veggie Bomb Burger, Linguine Aglio e Olio, Crispy Mushroom Tacos, Twice Baked Almond Croissant |
Café Lota | Pragati Maidan | ₹1,200 | Pondicherry Fish Curry, Coconut Rabdi, Sabudana PopCorn, Chicken Pasanda, Bhapa Doi |
Kaffa Cerrado | Siri Fort Road | ₹350 | Cacao Roasted Cashews, Falafel Sandwich, Cortado, Tropical Delight |
The Grammar Room | Mehrauli | ₹3,400 | Mushroom Melt, Spicy Fries, French Toast, Dessert Counter, Cookie, Mocha |
Ama Café | Majnu ka Tila | ₹900 | Pancakes and Maple Syrup, Pancake Breakfast, Choco Walnut Brownie, Banana Muffin, Apple Cinnamon Cake, Coffee Espresso |
Perch Wine & Coffee Bar | Khan Market | ₹1,600 | Double Chocolate Mousse, Coffee Bar, Mango Sorbet, Americano Coffee, Mulled Wine, Chicken Sub |
Colocal | Khan Market | ₹1,200 | Mushroom Toast, Mushroom Sandwich, Hot Chocolate, Risotto, Pie, Cheesecake |
Cafe Fika | Hauz Khas | ₹850 | Museli Bowl, Cafe Latte, Lemon Iced Tea, Avo Toast, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio |
The Cafe Connections | Greater Noida | ₹400 | Chocolate Truffle Cake, Cheese Grill Burgers, Kiwi Mojito |
Another Fine Day | Golf Course Road, Gurgaon | ₹1,200 | Yogurt Pot, Pancake Stack, Raspberry Mojito, Avocado Salad, Eggs Benedict, English Breakfast |
Bruxie Cafe | Defence Colony | ₹950 | Fried Chicken Meal, Dessert Waffle, Chicken Tenders, Waffles, Sides, Burgers |
Cafes ideal for networking
Cafes and restaurants suitable for a catch-up with your co-founder(s), investors, and other external stakeholders/clients.
- Cafe Diggin - Chanakyapuri, Connaught Place
- Big Chill - Connaught Place, Cyber Hub Gurgaon
- All American Dinner - Lodhi Colony
- Blue Door Cafe - Khan Market
- CCD Near Chanakyapuri
- Triveni Terrace Cafe - Mandi House
- Rose Cafe - Saket
- DEL, Roseate House - Aerocity
- Amalfi - Greater Kailash
- Sly Granny - Khan Market
- Plum - Connaught Place
- 1 Oak Cafe & Bar - Defence Colony
- United Coffee House - Connaught Place
- GreenR Cafe - Vasant Vihar
Ideal team outing places
Restaurants to take your team out for a bite or drink or both!
- AMPM Cafe & Bar - Gurgaon
- Social - Gurgaon, Hauz Khas, Saket & more
- Olive Bar & Kitchen - Mehrauli
- The Drunken Botanist - Gurgaon
- The Grammar Room - Mehrauli
- Farzi Cafe - Connaught Place, Gurgaon
- Soho Bistro - Saket
- Nukkad Cafe - Hauz Khas
- Imperfecto - Hauz Khas, Noida
- Bobachee - South Extension
- The Piano Man Jazz Club - Safdarjung Enclave
- Lord of the Drinks - Noida, Connaught Place
- Soda Bottle Opener Wala - Khan Market
- Olly - Cyber Hub
- Raasta - Cyber Hub
Setting up the business 101
Once you have a solid idea, it’s crucial to keep the ball moving till you get your first client. Keeping that in mind, here’s a list of resources you could refer to when you begin.
Agencies
Here are a couple of design, marketing and, web-dev agencies vouched by your fellow founders to help you set the right tone for business.
Name | Expertise | Notable Clients | Email | Website |
Black Coffee | Performance Marketing, Social Media Marketing | Sploot, Viacom, Smoor, Sprinster | brew@blackcoffee.media | |
Finzie | Web-Dev, Pitch Deck, Social Media Management | Fyix, Humour, Narael | aryan@getfinzie.com | |
Groto | Product Design, Web-Dev | Unicourt, TATA AIA, Shipyaari, BlogUp | hello@letsgroto.com | |
Onething Design | Product Design, Web-Dev, User Research, Brand & Copy | HealthKart, BoAt Crest App, Neugo, Lokal, Noise | sayhello@onething.design | |
Parallel | Product Design, User Research | Gullak, Digilocker, Delhivery, Harappa | hello@parallelhq.com | |
Sparklin | Product Design,Brand,Performance Marketing,Tech | Paytm, Airmeet, Chaayos, ICICI Bank, Caratlane | ||
Studio502 | Video Production, Brand Strategy | JioSaavn, Jack Daniel's, Rolling Stone, Vice | venky@studio502.in | |
Think Design | Product Design,User Research,Data Visualisation | SBI Smart Money, Pearl Academy, Reliance Smart Money | ||
Irregular Alliance | Brand Strategy | Lenskart, Facebook, Snapchat, Plum | ||
The Voice Company | Brand & Copy,Advertising | DaMensch, Dot & Key, MG Motors, Limca |
Hire your 1st intern
At the end of the day, all of us are in the business of talent. Delhi attracts some of the most inquisitive and smart minds from across the country. Don’t believe us? Read this blog by Heet, Co-founder of Ripen sharing his experience from Delhi University.
Name | Placement Cell ID | E-cell |
Delhi Technological University | placements@dtu.ac.in | |
Faculty of Management Studies | placement@fms.edu | |
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University | usict.placementcell@ipu.ac.in | |
Hansraj College | placementhansraj@hrc.du.ac.in | |
Hindu College | placements@hinducollege.ac.in | |
IIT Delhi | placement@admin.iitd.ac.in | |
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade | Tel: +91-11-39147200 | ift.ecell@gmail.com or ecell@iift.edu |
IP College for Women | ipcw.placementcell@ip.du.ac.in | |
Jamia Millia Islamia | tpo@jmi.ac.in , placements@jmi.ac.in | |
Jesus and Mary College | placements.jmc@gmail.com | ecelljmc@gmail.com |
Kirori Mal College | placements@kmc.du.ac.in | |
Lady Shri Ram College for Women | placements@lsr.edu.in | |
MDI Gurgaon | placement@mdi.ac.in | |
Miranda House | placement.cell.president@mirandahouse.ac.in | |
National Institute of Fashion Technology | placement@nift.ac.in | |
Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology | placements@nsitonline.in | |
Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies | cbsplacementcell@sscbsdu.ac.in | |
Shri Ram College of Commerce | placementcell@srcc.du.ac.in | |
Sri Venkateswara College | placement@svc.ac.in | |
St Stepehen's College | cpc@ststephens.edu | |
Getting business registered
Getting a business registered is a tedious task. We’re trying to build a curated list of lawyers & accountants to help businesses get started. In this, we need your help. Fill this form if you know any lawyers or accountants who can help with getting businesses registered.
Neighbourhood breakdown for tech
P.S. The following breakdown is a subjective POV. We also advise our readers to conduct their own research before making a final choice.
Name | Type | Notes | Region |
DLF Cyber City | Commercial | A bustling business district filled with multinational companies, renowned for its modern infrastructure and convenient rapid metro access. | Gurgaon |
Golf Course Road | Commercial, Residential | An elite locality featuring luxury apartments and high-end commercial spaces, close to world-class golf courses and fine dining restaurants. | Gurgaon |
Palam Vihar | Residential | A tranquil residential area with well-planned colonies and green spaces, offering a peaceful suburban lifestyle with excellent local amenities. | Gurgaon |
Udyog Vihar | Commercial | An important industrial and business hub, recognized for its extensive array of corporate offices, manufacturing units, and tech companies. | Gurgaon |
Sushant Lok | Residential | A sought-after residential neighbourhood with a mix of houses and apartments, celebrated for its family-friendly environment and proximity to top schools and hospitals. | Gurgaon |
South City | Residential | A well-established residential sector famous for its community-centric living, abundant green areas, and modern amenities. | Gurgaon |
Sohna Road | Commercial, Residential | A rapidly developing area blending residential apartments and commercial complexes, known for its strategic location and diverse lifestyle options. | Gurgaon |
Aerocity | Commercial | Near the IGI Airport, Aerocity is synonymous with luxury for its hotels, corporate offices, restaurants, stores, and even its modern architecture. It has quickly morphed into a hotspot for Delhiites, providing everything from fine dining, glamorous staycation options, to shopping experiences. | Delhi |
Shahpur Jat | Commercial, Residential | Known for designer boutiques, cafes, and creative spaces, Shahpur Jat blends traditional charm with modern trends. Home to artists like potters, painters and designers, Shahpur Jat is also known as the Chandni Chowk of South Delhi. | Delhi |
Saket | Commercial, Residential | Featuring high-end residential areas, major malls, offices, and the bustling Saket District Centre, Saket offers a mixed-use locality. The neighbourhood attracts many people looking to move there permanently, thanks to its great job opportunities and excellent education system. | Delhi |
Rohini | Residential | Built to provide a composite society for all income groups, Rohini is a large residential area, known for well-planned infrastructure, parks, and educational institutions. | Delhi |
Okhla | Commercial | Recognized for its extensive industrial estates and corporate offices, Okhla enjoys the benefits of its excellent amenities, central position, and proximity to prime corporate offices near Noida. | Delhi |
NFC | Residential | Known for its spacious homes, greenery, and vibrant market, New Friend Colony is one of the most prestigious and sought-after residential neighbourhoods of South Delhi. | Delhi |
Nehru Place | Commercial | Renowned for its IT hardware and software markets, Nehru Place houses the headquarters of several Indian firms and rivals with other financial centres in the metropolis like Connaught Place, Bhikaji Cama Place and Rajendra Place. | Delhi |
Kalkaji | Commercial, Residential | Kalkaji is a bustling residential neighbourhood with a mix of apartments and markets, known for the famous Kalkaji Temple and good connectivity via bus and metro. | Delhi |
Jasola | Commercial, Residential | Surrounded by densely populated areas, most of Jasola is built in the form of New Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flats, builder floors and independent houses. It shares proximity with popular shopping complexes and houses corporate offices. | Delhi |
Hauz Khas | Commercial, Residential | Known for its night-life, tattoo parlours and art galleries, Hauz Khas combines residential spaces and a village-like market. It also houses many budding startup offices. | Delhi |
Green Park | Commercial, Residential | Green Park is an upscale residential district, famous for its clothing boutiques, ice cream parlours, and restaurants. It features a peaceful environment and proximity to Deer Park & AIIMS hospital. | Delhi |
Greater Kailash | Residential | Greater Kailash is an upscale residential area in South Delhi, mainly consisting of premium bungalows and several parks. It is known for its famous markets, premium branded retail, restaurants, bakeries, pubs and cafes. | Delhi |
East Delhi Industrial Areas | Commercial, Residential | Primarily industrial zones, these areas are known for manufacturing units and commercial activities. The residential areas here are mostly occupied by families. It also houses multi-cuisine restaurants, multiplexes and shopping malls, unlike its bygone years. | Delhi |
Dwarka | Residential | A well-planned residential area, Dwarka is one of the most preferred places in Delhi due to its extensive road and Metro connectivity to all other places. It is just 10 km away from Indira Gandhi International Airport. | Delhi |
Connaught Place | Commercial | Connaught Place is one of Delhi's main financial, commercial and business hubs with shopping centers, restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. The capital city's colonial heart, CP is lined with swanky cafes, beer bars, and famous restaurants, all of which are interspersed with stores. | Delhi |
Sector 1 | Commercial | Sector 1 features a variety of corporate offices, industrial setups, and business parks. Its strategic location and excellent connectivity make it a preferred choice for many businesses. The area is also home to several restaurants and cafes catering to the working population. | Noida |
Sector 16A | Commercial | This Sector is synonymous with media and entertainment, housing major television and film production companies. Known for its corporate offices and business centers, this sector also features numerous dining options and is well-connected to the rest of Noida and Delhi. | Noida |
Sector 50 | Residential | This neighbourhood is a sought-after residential area in Noida, known for its well-planned infrastructure and modern amenities. It boasts a mix of high-rise apartments and independent houses, along with parks, schools, and shopping complexes, making it ideal for families. | Noida |
Sector 58 | Commercial | Bustling commercial zone and home to numerous IT and manufacturing companies, this sector has modern infrastructure and proximity to key transport links make it an attractive location for businesses. It also offers a variety of dining and shopping options for professionals working in the area. | Noida |
Sector 62 | Commercial, Residential | Sector 62 in Noida is a major IT hub with numerous multinational companies and tech parks, combined with well-planned residential areas featuring high-rise apartments and ample green spaces. Its excellent connectivity and vibrant amenities make it a prime location for both living and working. | Noida |
Sector 63 | Commercial | This is a vibrant commercial sector, dominated by IT and tech companies. With state-of-the-art office spaces and excellent connectivity, it is a hub for businesses. The sector also features various eateries and amenities catering to the corporate crowd. | Noida |
Sector 125 | Commercial | Well-known for its educational institutions and corporate offices, this sector houses several prestigious universities and business schools, along with office spaces for multinational companies. Its academic and corporate environment is complemented by nearby restaurants and cafes. | Noida |
Sector 132 | Commercial | A prime commercial area, home to a number of multinational corporations and business parks, this sector's modern infrastructure and excellent connectivity attracts a range of businesses. It also offers amenities like restaurants and shopping centres for the working population. | Noida |
Sector 137 | Residential | Sector 137 is a popular residential sector, known for its high-rise apartments and gated communities. With ample green spaces, parks, and modern amenities, it provides a comfortable living environment. The sector is well-connected by metro and road, making it convenient for daily commuting. | Noida |
Netaji Subhash Place | Commercial | Netaji Subhash Place is known for its modern office complexes, shopping malls, and a variety of dining options. It serves as a major hub for businesses and the metro connectivity makes travel more convenient for the professionals. | Delhi |
Life beyond work: What’s in Delhi for you?
Delhi has so much more to offer than work, with its cultural relevance, intriguing history and of course, the dilwaale dilli-waale. Here’s a curated list of communities, groups, and places in Delhi where you’re likely to meet people interested in the same things as you.
Interest-based groups
There’s enough space for all your interests in Delhi. There are also enough people who have similar interests.
Communities | Groups and Places | Frequency of Meet ups |
Books on the Delhi Metro | Books on the Delhi Metro or BODM is a not-for-profit venture. The founders, along with the "book fairies", leave books on the Delhi Metro for travellers to pick up and read and then re-drop at any metro station for other commuters to read. After a book has been dropped off, clues on social media using #booksonthedelhimetro are left so that potential readers could locate the book. | Regularly dropping books on the Delhi Metro. Follow them here. |
British Council | Through their network of libraries and cultural centres in India, they offer a range of specialised projects in arts, education and English language to audiences across India. | Regularly host workshops & events. Check it out. |
City Girls who walk Delhi | The club aims to connect women and foster bonding and networking through the shared joy of walking. They combine fitness, exploration, and networking, providing a platform for women to come together, engage in meaningful conversations, and form connections while exploring various sights of Delhi. | Every Saturday around 9 AM. Follow them here. |
WindWord Consult | A silent book club for all the book lovers to sit with fellow book lovers and read in peace. | Monthly meet ups in and around Central Delhi. Follow them here. |
Trek to Aravalli | This 12km trail, spanning almost 4-hours, provides for the perfect getaway from the daily hustle bustle of the city. | October to March is considered to be the preferable time to travel and spend time in Aravalli Hills. |
Sunset Cinema Club | An offline community for movie buffs. | Look up their schedule for the screening here. |
Street Art at Lodhi Art District | Take a stroll around the Lodhi art district. Since 2015, 50 renowned street artists from across the world have been invited by St+Art India Foundation to create the Lodhi Art District. | It's a street you can wander in, so whenever you're up for a good walk or want to take your bicycle out. |
Shri Ram Centre for Performing Art | SRCPA is an independent cultural society committed to promote and preserve arts & culture as well as nurture talents in the field of performing arts. | Look up their calendar for workshops, theatre and events here. |
NGMA | In Lutyens's Delhi, National Gallery is located in Jaipur House, which was the residence in National Capital for Jaipur Royals, post-independence. It houses stunning artwork and some sculptures here and there. | Open 10AM - 6PM everyday except for monday. Take a look. |
Nehru Planetarium | Earlier the official residence of Jawaharlal Nehru and now a museum in his memory, the Nehru Planetarium plays a seminal role in disseminating knowledge about celestial space sciences and promoting education in astronomy. | Open 10:30AM - 5:30PM everyday except for monday. Book tickets from here. |
National School of Drama | National School of Drama is one of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India. They have a training program which is highly intensive and is based on a thorough, comprehensive, carefully planned syllabus. | Check details for their next cohort here. |
National Crafts Museum | Situated on the corner of Pragati Maidan, National Crafts Museum is one of the largest craft museums in India. It's home to various architectural marvels, sculptures, paintings, textiles and you can find several artisans and weavers unravelling more such craft. | Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Check them out. |
Museo Camera Centre for the Photographic Arts | This is India's first center for the photographic arts. It also has exhibitions going all regularly. | Open 11AM - 7PM everyday except for monday. Check them out. |
Misfits Community | Platform for interest-based offline communities in Gurgaon with clubs for board games, hiking, music, books, football and more. | They have weekly meet ups for each club. Follow them here. |
Lodhi Reads | A popular quiet reading club in Delhi functioning out of Lodhi Gardens. | Every Saturday 4-7PM in Lodhi Gardens. Follow them here. |
Lodhi Paints | A popular art & paint club in Delhi functioning out of Lodhi Gardens. | Every Saturday 3-6PM in Lodhi Gardens. Follow them here. |
Lodhi Knits | A popular knitting and crocheting club in Delhi functioning out of Lodhi Gardens. | Every Saturday 4-7PM in Lodhi Gardens. Follow them here. |
Khoj Studios | A not-for-profit contemporary arts organisation, Khoj organises events around various themes like urbanism, design, gender and more. | Look up their calendar for schedule. |
Kamani Auditorium | Kamani Auditorium, a unit of the Bharatiya Kala Kendra Trust, is the most prestigious Theatre Hall of Delhi. The 632 seater Auditorium has been a host to some of the best National and International Theatrical, Dance and Musical Performances. | Look up their calendar for events. |
India Habitat Centre | The India Habitat Centre provides a physical environment to serve as a catalyst to the culture and art Delhi has to offer. It often organises various film, food, culture, theatre events. | Look up their calendar for events. |
Guftagu Comedy Club | One of the most happening comedy clubs of Delhi NCR, Guftagu Club organises late night comedy shows with various artists. | Look up their calendar for schedule. |
Girl Up Communities | Girl Up is a women-centered leadership development initiative, launched by UN Foundations, focusing on equity for girls and women in spaces where they are unheard or underrepresented. Delhi is home to many Girl Up clubs. | Look up the specific clubs to learn more. |
Fillum | A platform organising regular film screenings across genres of cinema. | Look up their calendar for schedule. |
Delhi Reads | A popular reading club, located in the heart of the capital, Delhi Reads regularly hosts sessions where they discuss literature, pop-culture, books, and celebrate Delhi. | Bi-monthly sessions in Central Delhi or around. Follow them here. |
Delhi Quiz Club | Delhi Quiz Club organises regular quizzes centered around a pre-decided theme, mostly in Colleges. | Weekly/ Monthly sessions hosted at various locations. Follow them here. |
Delhi by Cycle | Delhi By Cycle is making people explore the soul of real India on a bicycle with innovative tours, new itineraries, and a passionate team. | Every day tour options are available. Check it out. |
City Tales | City Tales is Rameen Khan's passion project to document the valuable cultural heritage of historic cities of India from cuisine to architecture to art and craft. It includes heritage walks, baithaks, tours and exploration across Delhi NCR and more. | Heritage walks every Sunday morning. Heritage tours every 3-4 months. Follow them here. |
Delhi’s heritage
Delhi, a city built, destroyed, and rebuilt several times, is the perfect example of what the inside of the startup ecosystem looks like. Here’s a list of various popular and lesser-known heritage sites for you to explore on an unconventional off-site or a day-out with family.
Name | Historic Context |
Abdul Rahim Khan e Khana's Tomb | Situated near Humanyun's Tomb is Rahim's tomb, who was one of Akbar's navratnas. Rahim built this tomb for his wife and was placed in it in 1627. |
Adham Khan Tomb | Adham Khan's Tomb was built as a tribute to Emperor Akbar's General, Adham Khan and his mother, Maham Anga. It features an octagonal domed chamber surrounded by arched verandahs - a design not seen in any Mughal building of that period. |
Zeenat ul Masjid | The Zeenat-ul-Masajid was built in the beginning of the 18th century by Zeenat-un-Nissa, Aurangzeb's daughter. Its construction was part of an increased patronage of mosques by the Mughal elite during the 18th century. |
Tughlaqabad Fort | A massive fortress built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, featuring strong ramparts and bastions, and serving as a testament to the architectural and military prowess of the Tughlaq dynasty. |
Tomb of Imam Zamin | A medieval tomb dedicated to Imam Zamin, a saint revered by both Hindus and Muslims, showcasing exquisite architectural details and serving as a site of religious reverence and cultural harmony. |
Sundar Nursery | A historic garden complex undergoing restoration, featuring Mughal-era structures and diverse flora, and serving as a green lung amidst Delhi's urban landscape. |
Siri Fort | Constructed during the reign of Alauddin Khalji, Siri Fort was part of a series of 7 cities built to fortify the capital. It played a crucial role in guarding the city from invasions and was witness to significant historical events. |
Safdarjung Tomb | The Safdarjung Tomb was built in 1753-54 in the memory of Safdarjung, a Viceroy of Awadh under the rule of the Mughal emperor Mohammed Shah. |
Red Fort | A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of India's rich past, built by Shah Jahan, serving as the seat of Mughal power and witnessing key events in Indian history, including the Independence Day celebrations. |
Qutub Minar | Qutbu'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Minar for the use of the mu'azzin to give calls for prayer and raised the first storey, to which were added three more storeys by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish. |
Qudsia Bagh | A royal garden built by Qudsia Begum, wife of Emperor Muhammad Shah, featuring lush greenery and Mughal-style pavilions, reflecting the opulence and grandeur of Mughal gardens. |
Purana Qila | Purana Qila, one of the oldest forts of Delhi, is built on the banks of river Yamuna. It is believed that the fort was previously built by the Pandavas for their kingdom Indraprastha as some grey ware of that period was found during excavations. |
Mehrauli Archaeological Park | A vast archaeological complex housing remnants of various dynasties, including the Rajputs, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Mughals, offering insights into Delhi's rich historical and cultural heritage. |
Lotus Temple | A Bahá'í House of Worship known for its distinctive lotus-shaped architecture, promoting the ideals of unity, peace, and equality among all religions and humanity. |
Lodi Garden | It contains Mohammed Shah's Tomb, the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi, the Shisha Gumbad and the Bara Gumbad - architectural works of the 15th century by Lodis - who ruled parts of northern India and Punjab. |
Kashmiri Gate | Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, it is the northern gate to the historic walled city of Old Delhi, and was at the start of a road that led to Kashmir. |
Kalkaji Mandir | According to popular belief, Pandavas and Kauravas came to offer their prayers to Goddess Kali at this Kalkaji during the Mahabharat period. |
Jantar Mantar | An astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, featuring large-scale astronomical instruments, and serving as a center for scientific observation and study. |
Jama Masjid | One of the largest mosques in India, built by Shah Jahan, featuring stunning architecture and serving as a symbol of religious harmony and cultural richness in Delhi. |
Isa Khan's Tomb | The tomb of Isa Khan Niazi, an Afghan noble in Sher Shah Suri's court, features remarkable architectural elements and is surrounded by a lush garden, reflecting the Indo-Islamic architectural style. |
India Gate | A war memorial commemorating the Indian soldiers who died in World War I, representing the sacrifice and valour of the Indian Army, and serving as a symbol of national pride. |
Humanyun's Tomb | Humanyun's Tomb was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, close to the Dina-panah Citadel, also known as Purana Qila, that Humayun found in 1538. |
Hazrat Nizzamuddin Dargah | A Sufi shrine dedicated to Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, a revered Sufi saint, attracting devotees and seekers from diverse religious backgrounds, embodying the syncretic tradition of Delhi. |
Hauz Khas Madarsa | Established in the 13th century of Khilji Dynasty reign, the Madrasa was one of the leading institutions of Islamic learning in the Delhi Sultanate. It was also considered the largest and best equipped Islamic seminary anywhere in the world. |
Gurudwara Sis Ganj | Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib was first constructed in 1783 as a small shrine by Baghel Singh to commemorate the martyrdom site of the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur and was expanded after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. |
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib | In 1664, when Guru Har Krishan extended his helping hand for the affected people, during a cholera outbreak, by offering water from the well located within the bungalow complex. |
Ghalib ki Haveli | The former residence of Mirza Ghalib, one of the most celebrated Urdu poets, reflecting his life and literary contributions during the tumultuous period of the Mughal decline. |
Feroz Shah Kotla | Feroz Shah Kotla Fort was built by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 1354. One of the oldest structures of Delhi, this fort was built when the ruler decided to shift his capital from Tughlaqabad to Firozabad due to the scarcity of water. |
Fatehpuri Masjid | Fatehpuri Masjid was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of emperor Shah Jahan's wives who was from Fatehpur Sikri, and the mosque at Taj Mahal is also named after her. |
Diwan-i-Aam | The Hall of Public Audience in the Red Fort, where Mughal emperors would hold court and address the grievances of the common people, symbolizing the authority and accessibility of the royal administration. |
Digambar Jain Lal Mandir | When Jahangir was the emperor, he gifted land to the Jains in Chandni Chowk, to settle within the city of Shahjahanabad and allowed them to construct small temples within the walled city. |
Chotte Batashewaala | A historic site associated with the bustling markets and trade activities of Old Delhi, embodying the vibrant commercial heritage of the city. |
Chor Minar | In the 'tower of beheading', the severed heads of thieves were displayed on spears through its 225 holes, to act as a deterrent to thieves. In case the heads exceeded the number of holes, the less important heads were piled in a pyramid outside the tower. |
Alai Darwaza | Part of the Qutub Minar complex, built by Ala-ud-din Khilji, featuring intricate Islamic geometric patterns and calligraphy, symbolizing the architectural grandeur of the Delhi Sultanate. |
Akshardham | A modern Hindu temple complex known for its intricate architecture and spiritual significance, dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and showcasing various aspects of Indian culture and spirituality. |
Ajmeri Gate | One of the historic gates of Delhi, named after the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan, serving as a prominent entry point into the walled city of Old Delhi. |
A Gedhi playlist
A gedhi encapsulates this city’s spontaneity, excitement, and camaraderie perfectly. It begins with a simple question - “gedhi maarne chalein?” and who knows how the night would end. Here’s a playlist for you to understand and assimilate the music & culture of the city.
Miscellaneous 101s
- Travelling in this city is easy. However, most of the tech parks are located far from Delhi, in Noida & Gurgaon. To ease out the commute, there are buses (called Shuttle) that picks people from Delhi in the morning and drops back in Delhi from Gurgaon and Noida. Here are a couple of shuttle service providers:
- Want to learn more about this city? Check out these book recommendations by LBB.
- If you’re looking to volunteer with NGOs, check out iVolunteer where they bring volunteers and organisations together. All you have to do is select a volunteering opportunity and connect with their Volunteer Relationship Manager.
- Delhi and chaat go hand in hand. If you’re also a street food lover, then check out Spicy Dabeli - a newsletter covering some of the most scrumptious street food spots in Delhi and more.
- Emergency Numbers:
- Police: 100
- Women’s Safety: 1091
- Child Helpline: 1098
- Ambulance: 102 or 108
- Traffic Police Control Room: 1095, 25844444
Closing thoughts
We hope this guide is full of information that has been useful in your Delhi startup journey. Consider this a WIP list and if you have any recommendations, resources, or information you’d like to contribute, please fill this form, and we’ll be happy to add.
About Plum
Plum is a modern-day insurtech, providing benefits and insurance for companies that care.
Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of health insurance in India by making employee health insurance and benefits accessible, affordable, and usable for employees. We also provide exclusive business insurance plans to help startups mitigate risk, enabling founders to go forth with courageous and ambitious bets.
If you’re a founder who wants to cover your team and business with the best care and benefits, visit our website.
PS: We extend our gratitude to Srijan, Astha, Himanshu and Rameen for helping us build this guide.