Investment strategy
Position sizing, sector concentration, liquidity planning, and exit strategies for unlisted equity.
31 articles
Seven Costly Mistakes People Make Selling ESOPs
Most ESOP value is lost to process errors, not market moves: exercise windows that lapse at resignation, perquisite tax nobody budgeted for, skipped ROFR processes, informal deals with no agreement, and blocks dumped in one go. The seven mistakes, with fixes.
How to Value Startup Shares When You Want to Sell
The headline valuation from the last funding round is where seller expectations start — and where most disappointment begins. What actually sets your price: recent secondary transactions, illiquidity and block-size discounts, and the preference-vs-equity gap.
Unlisted Shares vs SIP — One Illiquid Bet or Steady Liquid Investing?
Unlisted shares are a lump-sum, illiquid bet on a single company. A SIP is systematic, liquid, rupee-cost-averaged investing into funds. Can you even 'SIP' into unlisted? Here's the honest comparison.
Unlisted Shares vs IPO Investing: Buy Early or Wait?
You can buy a company's shares before it goes public, or apply in the IPO and hope for an allotment. One trades certainty for early entry; the other adds allotment uncertainty and a price band. Here's how to choose.
Unlisted Shares vs AIF — Buy Directly or Invest Through a Pooled Fund?
Unlisted shares give you direct ownership of one company. An AIF pools investor money into a managed fund with a ~₹1 crore minimum across Categories I, II and III. Here's how to choose.
Unlisted Shares vs PMS — Direct Ownership or a Managed Portfolio?
Unlisted shares give you direct ownership of one pre-IPO company. A PMS gives a professional manager discretion over a ~₹50 lakh portfolio. Different access, control, and risk — here's how to choose.
Unlisted Shares vs Fixed Deposits
Fixed deposits offer near-certainty and modest returns; unlisted shares offer growth potential and real risk. They sit at opposite ends of the risk spectrum. Here's an honest comparison.
Unlisted Shares vs Gold
Gold is a hedge; unlisted shares are a growth bet. They play opposite roles in a portfolio. Here's an honest comparison of volatility, liquidity, returns, and who each suits.
Unlisted Shares vs Real Estate
Real estate and unlisted shares are both long-term plays, but they differ enormously in ticket size, effort, liquidity, and risk. Here's an honest comparison for Indian investors.
Unlisted Shares vs Bonds in India
Unlisted shares and bonds sit at opposite ends of the risk spectrum. One offers growth and uncertainty; the other offers predictable income. Here's an honest, side-by-side comparison for Indian investors.
How Much of Your Portfolio Should Be in Unlisted Shares?
There is no single right percentage for unlisted shares in a portfolio. This article offers a position-sizing framework — small satellite allocation, risk capacity, and liquidity — to help you think it through, illustratively rather than prescriptively.
Should You Invest in Unlisted Shares? Pros & Cons
Should you invest in unlisted shares? This balanced breakdown lays out the real pros and cons side by side, then helps you judge whether they fit your situation — without a hard buy or sell call.
Are Unlisted Shares Worth It for Retail Investors?
Unlisted shares offer the chance to invest before an IPO — but they come with illiquidity, valuation uncertainty, and real risk. Here is an honest, balanced look at whether they are worth it for retail investors.
Pre-IPO Investing for Beginners in India
A plain-language introduction to pre-IPO investing in India — what it means, the honest risk-reward, how to actually start, and the common beginner mistakes worth avoiding.
What Happens to an Unlisted Share's Price When It Lists?
Follow an unlisted share from your entry price, through the IPO price band, to the listing-day open. Lock-in rules and why the listing price can land above OR below what you paid.
Upcoming IPOs From the Unlisted Space (How to Track Them)
Instead of chasing rumours, learn the public signals — DRHP filings, banker mandates, SEBI observations — that reliably flag which unlisted companies are moving toward an IPO.
Book Value vs Unlisted Share Price: What's the Difference?
Book value is a company's net worth on paper; the share price is what investors pay. The two rarely match — and the price-to-book ratio explains why.
Where to Check Unlisted Share Price History & Trends
Unlisted shares have no public price chart. To track trends, use platform quote history, last-funding-round data, peer movements, and dealer commentary — and understand why no live chart exists.
Fair Value vs Market Price of Unlisted Shares
Fair value is what an unlisted share is intrinsically worth; market price is what you pay today. The gap between them is driven by illiquidity, scarcity, and sentiment.
How Are Unlisted Share Prices Determined in India?
Unlisted shares have no live exchange price. Their quotes are built from the last funding round, comparable listed peers, real-time demand and supply, and the dealer's spread.
How to Read a DRHP as a Retail Investor — The 8 Sections That Actually Matter
Every IPO company must file a DRHP (Draft Red Herring Prospectus) with SEBI before listing. Most retail investors never read it. Here are the 8 sections that matter most and the red flags that reveal whether an IPO is worth applying to.
Angel Investing vs Buying Unlisted Shares — What's the Difference?
Angel investing and buying unlisted shares both involve private company equity, but they are very different activities. Here's how they compare on risk, return, minimum investment, and what kind of investor suits each.
Unlisted Shares vs Mutual Funds — Which Is Right for Your Portfolio?
Unlisted shares and mutual funds both grow wealth over time — but through very different mechanisms. This comparison covers liquidity, returns, risk, tax, and when each belongs in your portfolio.
Indian SaaS Unlisted Shares — How to Invest in India's Software Boom Before the IPO
India has produced several world-class SaaS companies selling globally. Many of these are still unlisted. Here's how to evaluate and invest in Indian SaaS companies before they IPO.
Healthcare and Pharma Unlisted Shares in India — What Investors Should Know
India's healthcare sector is growing at double digits, driven by insurance penetration, diagnostics expansion, and digital health. Several high-quality healthcare companies remain unlisted and accessible to pre-IPO investors.
Defence Sector Unlisted Shares in India — A Beginner's Guide
India's defence budget and indigenisation mandate are driving a wave of private sector defence companies. Many of these companies are unlisted and accessible to retail investors. Here's how the sector works and what to look for.
Quick Commerce Unlisted Shares in India — Swiggy, Zepto, Blinkit and Beyond
India's quick commerce sector — Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, and Blinkit — is one of the fastest-growing in the world. Here's how investors can access these companies through unlisted shares and what to consider before buying.
IPO Allotment vs Buying Unlisted Shares — Which Gives Better Returns?
Applying for an IPO and buying unlisted shares before the IPO are two very different strategies. Here's how they compare on returns, risk, capital required, and lock-in.
IPO-Bound Companies: Top Unlisted Shares to Watch in 2025–2026
India's IPO market is booming. We break down which unlisted companies are IPO-bound in 2025–2026, what signals to watch, and how investors can position before listing.
Liquidity risk in unlisted shares: a practical guide
Why you can't always sell when you want to, how to estimate exit windows, and the names that trade often enough to be considered liquid.
How to calculate the valuation of an unlisted company
Five methods — DCF, comparables, revenue multiples, scorecard, and last-round — with when each one is the right tool.