A startup operating system for India, with rupee pricing and WhatsApp in Hindi

WhatsApp in Hindi and Hinglish, and one important check

WhatsApp isn't on every workspace yet. Nautis switches it on per workspace. Open Chief of Staff, Settings and look for the WhatsApp tab. If it isn't there, it's not available for you yet, and you should ask Nautis support. Don't buy a plan for this feature until you've seen the tab, or had it confirmed.

Where it is on, you can message your Chief of Staff in English, Hindi or Hinglish, and it answers from your workspace data. Each person connects their own number and sees only what their role allows. Here's what that might look like for you.

• Approve in your own words. When only one action is waiting, you can type haan or nahi as well as yes or no. Or tap Approve or Reject.
• Send a voice note. You get a transcript first, marked with a microphone, so a mis-hearing gets caught before anything happens. Set the languages you speak under Settings, Voice for better results.
• Photograph a bill. A receipt becomes an expense, and a visiting card becomes a contact, with an offer to add a lead. You approve before anything is saved.
• Forward a document. Send a PDF up to 15 MB and get a short summary, then say what you want done.

Limits you should know: group chats aren't supported, so it's one-to-one. Actions in connected apps such as Gmail or Slack aren't available on WhatsApp yet, so use the app for those. Deleting only works in the app. Messages and voice notes use AI credits. And your messages travel through WhatsApp, so keep very sensitive details such as salary files or Aadhaar and bank details inside the app, in line with the guide's own advice.

What does it cost in rupees?

India pays in rupees, and these are the monthly prices as of October 2026. Yearly plans give you 2 months free. The pricing page has the current numbers and the yearly amounts.

Compare this with what your budget is really spent on. ₹3,999 is noticeable for an early Indian startup, and it isn't the cheapest option. If you only need invoices or a simple CRM, a local single-purpose tool will likely cost less. There's a 14-day trial with no card, and no permanent unpaid version after that.

What stays with your CA and company secretary

Nautis isn't an accounting system and doesn't do tax filing. That line matters more in India, where GST returns, TDS, ROC filings and PF and ESI are recurring obligations. Expect to keep your accountant and your accounting software, and treat Nautis as the operational layer.

The guide to custom advisors uses "GST & Compliance Advisor" as an example role. You could build one if your plan includes custom advisors, give it your policies as knowledge files, and add a rule under Never do such as "never give final tax advice". It's useful for preparing questions for your CA. It's not a replacement for one, and tax rules change often enough that you should check anything it says.

DPIIT recognition: worth doing, and not automatic

This has nothing to do with Nautis, but it's worth your time. Startup India's recognition page says an entity counts as a startup for up to 10 years from incorporation (20 for deep tech). Turnover must stay under ₹200 crore in any previous financial year (₹300 crore for deep tech). It must be a private limited company, partnership firm, LLP or cooperative society, and it can't come from splitting or reconstructing an existing business. There's no fee, and you apply through the National Single Window System.

The benefits listed on the scheme page include self-certification under certain labour and environmental laws, faster patent examination and an 80% rebate on patent filing compared with other companies. Eligible private limited companies and LLPs incorporated after 1 April 2016 can also seek a Section 80IAC income tax exemption for 3 consecutive financial years within their first 10. Have your CA check your case before you rely on any of this, since thresholds and conditions can change.

To make it stick, put the application on a Task Board with an owner and a date. Otherwise it's one more thing you meant to do.

Raising from India: three things to watch

• Investor search. In Find investors, filter by Operating Countries to find firms active in India, and set Ticket Size to your round. Check each firm's current site before you write to them.
• Instruments. Don't copy a US SAFE. Y Combinator's SAFE documents cover US companies and separately Canada, the Cayman Islands and Singapore, with no version for India. Ask an Indian startup lawyer which instrument fits, then record it in the Cap table, which is on Voyage and Fleet only.
• Currency in reports. You can set currencies per deal and per lead, but Fundraising CRM round totals and Leads CRM pipeline values roll up in USD. If your investors think in crores, you'll need to convert for your updates. The Financial Planner lets you choose your own currency.

When Nautis isn't right for an Indian startup

• You need GST-first software. If your main need is invoicing and returns in one place, a tool built for Indian compliance fits better.
• You need statutory payroll. Use a provider that handles PF, ESI and TDS.
• You were counting on WhatsApp and don't have the tab. Wait, or ask support before paying. Hindi and Hinglish are described for WhatsApp, so if your team needs them, this matters.
• Your team is mostly on the shop floor or in the field. Team members are capped, each with their own number, and WhatsApp groups aren't supported. It's built for a small management team, not for broadcasting to staff.
• You need Indian customer references. Nautis launched publicly in July 2026 and there are few independent reviews so far. Judge it on your own trial.

FAQ

Sources

• Startup India: startup recognition eligibility (checked Oct 31, 2026)
• Startup India: scheme benefits and eligibility (checked Oct 31, 2026)
• Y Combinator: the SAFE financing documents (checked Oct 31, 2026)