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Cost of a startup
Building a startup is not free. Play with the numbers below to estimate what your first year will really cost — and where the money goes.
Runway calculator
Model your first 12 months
Adjust the sliders to see how team size, salaries and growth spend change your capital need.
3 people
1 people10 people
12 months
6 months24 months
₹50K / month
₹20K / month₹200K / month
₹30K / month
₹0K / month₹500K / month
These are averages we've seen across VJ Hub cohorts. Your numbers will vary based on sector and geography.
Estimated capital needed
₹23.8 L
across 12 months for a team of 3
Team & salaries₹18.0 L · 76%
Growth & marketing₹3.6 L · 15%
Legal & compliance₹1.2 L · 5%
Tools & subscriptions₹96,000 · 4%
Cost categories
Where the money actually goes
Program fee
Covers mentorship, space, workshops and demo-day access.
Team & living
Salaries, accommodation, travel for the founding team.
Growth spend
Customer acquisition, product development, ops.
Hidden costs
Legal, accounting, compliance and software subscriptions.
Typical VJ cohort budget
The allocation founders actually use
Every startup is different, but this is the pattern we see across our cohort. Use it as a sanity check, not a rulebook.
- Product & engineering: 30–40%
- Team salaries & benefits: 30–35%
- Sales & marketing: 15–25%
- Legal, admin & compliance: 5–10%
Model the runway
FAQ
Common questions on startup costs
Not always. Bootstrapped teams with revenue can operate on much less. This calculator gives you an upper bound to plan for.
Ready to plan your build?
Submit your idea and our team will help you refine your budget.
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