Contract Drafting for Startups

NDAs, service agreements & custom contracts — AI-generated, lawyer-reviewed.

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What's Included

✓NDA and confidentiality agreements
✓Service and consulting agreements
✓Employment and offer letters
✓Shareholder agreements
✓AI-generated first draft in minutes
✓Lawyer review and customization

How it works

Describe what you need

Tell us the type of contract and key terms you want included.

AI generates draft

First draft ready in minutes, tailored to your requirements.

Lawyer reviews

A qualified lawyer reviews and refines the contract.

You review and sign

Make any final changes and execute via digital signature.

The contracts a startup actually needs

In roughly the order they become urgent: a founders' agreement with vesting, so a co-founder who leaves in month seven does not keep a third of the company; employment agreements with an IP assignment clause; a contractor or consultant agreement with the same clause; a mutual NDA; a master services agreement with statements of work, or SaaS terms of service and a privacy policy if you sell software; vendor agreements; and, when you raise, a term sheet followed by a share subscription agreement and a shareholders' agreement. The single most expensive gap we see is IP assignment. Code written by a founder before the company existed, or by a contractor with no written assignment, does not belong to the company by default. Nobody notices until the first diligence, and by then the person who wrote it may be hard to reach and has every reason to negotiate.

What makes a contract enforceable in India

The basics come from the Indian Contract Act, 1872: offer, acceptance, lawful consideration, capacity, free consent and a lawful object. Two practical points catch founders out. Stamp duty. An agreement that is unstamped or under-stamped can be inadmissible in evidence until the duty and a penalty are paid. Rates are set state by state, so the same contract can attract different duty depending on where it is executed — which matters the day you need to rely on it. Electronic signature. The Information Technology Act, 2000 recognises electronic records and electronic signatures, and Aadhaar eSign or a DSC works for most commercial contracts. But the Act's First Schedule carves out certain instruments, including negotiable instruments other than cheques, powers of attorney, trusts, wills, and contracts for the sale or conveyance of immovable property. Those still need wet ink. One more worth knowing: a post-employment non-compete is generally void under Section 27 of the Contract Act. Confidentiality, non-solicitation and garden leave are the clauses that actually do the work.

How we draft

You answer a short set of questions about the deal — parties, commercials, term, what happens when it ends. Our AI produces the first draft against a template built for Indian law, not a US form with the state names swapped out. A lawyer then reviews it, tailors the commercial terms to your facts, and flags anything in your instructions that will cause trouble later. You get two rounds of revisions.

What you get

An editable document plus a clean PDF ready for e-signature, a short note in plain English explaining the clauses that matter and why, and — where the contract needs stamping — guidance on the duty applicable in your state.

How long does it take to get a contract drafted?+

After an intro call with you, we typically share your first draft within 24 hours and the final deliverable within 48 hours. Urgent requests can be expedited. The exact timeline is communicated by our lawyers.

Are the contracts legally enforceable?+

Yes. All contracts are drafted under Indian Contract Act, 1872 and relevant laws. They are reviewed by a qualified lawyer before delivery. Contracts include proper jurisdiction clauses, dispute resolution mechanisms, and are formatted for execution.

Can I get a contract customized for my specific needs?+

Absolutely. While AI generates the initial draft based on your inputs, the lawyer review stage includes customization for your specific business context, industry requirements, and any special clauses you need. You can request unlimited revisions.

What types of contracts can Bentham draft?+

We handle NDAs, service agreements, consulting agreements, employment contracts, offer letters, shareholder agreements, founder agreements, vendor contracts, SaaS terms of service, privacy policies, and more. If you need a contract type not listed, reach out and we will accommodate it.

Can you review a contract someone else sent me?+

Yes. We review third-party contracts, flag risky or one-sided clauses, and suggest changes so you know exactly what you're signing before you sign it. Our turnaround time depends on the complexity of the contract, ranging from 24 hours to 3 days.

Do you help with negotiation or just drafting?+

We primarily draft and review, but our team can advise you on which terms matter and where you have room to push. For active negotiations or fundraising documents, we offer dedicated support.

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