You’ve worked across gaming and venture capital finance functions. What are some of the unique regulatory or compliance challenges you’ve encountered in these sectors?
I’ve seen firsthand how fast-growing sectors can fall behind if compliance doesn’t keep up.
Having worked across gaming and venture capital, I’ve seen how complex compliance can become. In gaming, regulations around real-money games, age restrictions, and data privacy are constantly evolving.
What is legal in one state or country may be restricted in another, making scaling complex. On the venture capital side, compliance is primarily focused on regulatory filings—such as those mandated by FEMA, SEBI, or RBI norms, especially for cross-border deals.
Ensuring proper KYC, AML, and investor reporting also adds layers of responsibility. Across both sectors, staying updated with laws and maintaining clean, transparent documentation is key.
How has your approach to financial controls evolved as you’ve moved between early-stage startups and more mature investment environments?
Controls grow with the company- start small, scale smart.
My approach to financial controls has evolved with the stage of the company:
At early-stage startups, financial controls are about building the basics—simple processes for expense tracking, cash flow management, and timely statutory filings. The approach is lean, but it’s crucial to stay disciplined.
As companies mature, especially in the venture capital space, controls become more structured. There’s a greater emphasis on detailed reporting, risk controls, compliance with tax and foreign investment laws, and robust governance. The shift is from just managing the books to building systems that can withstand scrutiny and scale with the business.
With finance roles becoming increasingly intertwined with compliance, how do you see regulatory scrutiny shaping the priorities of finance teams in tech and venture capital?
"You can grow fast without compliance, but not far."
Over the years, I’ve seen compliance become a central part of the finance role. There’s a bigger push for audit readiness, clear documentation, and transparent financial systems that can withstand thorough due diligence.
As scrutiny increases, finance teams are becoming more strategic, ensuring clean structures, managing risks early, and integrating compliance into decision-making processes , rather than just focusing on the paperwork.
What trends do you see in how Indian startups are approaching statutory compliance and financial reporting as they scale?
As Indian startups grow, their approach to compliance is maturing. I’ve worked with founders who prioritise clean structures and timely filings, even at early stages, knowing that it helps build trust with investors.
Compliance is no longer reactive; it’s part of the growth journey. Instead of reacting to issues, many are implementing proper systems, hiring finance and legal experts, and utilising automation tools for tasks such as GST, TDS, and ROC compliance.
A company’s future is only as strong as the systems it builds today.
In your opinion, what role does data visibility play in enabling better compliance and faster decision-making in the finance function?
In my experience, data visibility plays a crucial role in enhancing both compliance and making informed business decisions. When finance teams have real-time access to accurate financial data, they can quickly detect and fix issues, whether it’s a tax mismatch, unusual spend, or a compliance gap.
It also facilitates smoother regulatory reporting and audits , thereby reducing last-minute errors. Having clear financial dashboards allows leaders to make faster, better-informed decisions while understanding the compliance impact.
Good data visibility enables finance to transition from a reactive function to a strategic partner for the business. When you see the numbers clearly, you act with confidence.
As compliance expectations evolve, how do you envision the finance function adapting to balance innovation and risk management in venture-backed companies?
In fast-scaling, venture-backed setups, I’ve learned how to embed compliance without slowing growth. Finance teams are finding smarter ways to balance innovation with compliance. They’re building flexible controls that support launching new products and entering new markets, while staying within regulatory boundaries. Finance is now working closely with legal and product teams to ensure everything is set up correctly from the start.
Behind every bold move is a finance team that made it possible and safe.
About Nidhi Dureja:
Nidhi Dureja is a Chartered Accountant with rich experience across venture capital, startups, and public sector finance. She has led core finance functions , ranging from investor reporting and audits to compliance and cost optimization, at high-growth startups like FanClash and Superset.
She began her journey at Bharat Petroleum and later contributed to major government initiatives like ODOP and NIFTEM, advising new age entrepreneurs on project finance and policy schemes.
Her pivot into the startup world began at Superset, followed by a high-impact stint at FanClash, where she led finance operations, audits, investor reporting, and cost optimization. She also worked closely with tech and product teams to ensure regulatory compliance for gaming platforms, a rare blend of strategic finance and cross-functional collaboration.
Currently, as Senior Finance Manager at Lumis Partners. Nidhi drives financial strategy, reporting, and compliance, bringing her experience full circle, from executing financial operations to enabling growth in high-potential startups.
