The Startup HR Playbook Doesn’t Exist | Webinar - 30th Oct '26 | Rethinking People, Culture & HR

Does a startup need an HR function from day one? Should it adopt traditional HR practices or build its own approach to people, culture and organisational growth? Startups operate in a constantly evolving environment where business priorities shift, teams grow, and resources are often limited. In such an environment, replicating the HR frameworks of established organisations may not always deliver the desired results. In this insightful virtual panel discussion hosted by Vachi HR on 30th October 2026, experienced HR leaders and industry professionals explore how startups can build effective people practices, establish the right workplace culture, and scale their HR functions without compromising agility. Moving beyond conventional HR frameworks, the discussion brings together diverse perspectives, real-world experiences and practical insights into what it takes to build sustainable organisations. 🎙️ Panel Discussion: The Startup HR Playbook Doesn’t Exist. So Why Are We Still Following One? Rethinking How Startups Build People, Culture & HR Meet the Panellists: 🔹 Ashwini Kankariya – Director, India Operations & Delivery, FTC IT Implementation Services Pvt. Ltd. 🔹 Harista Jakhar – Associate Director – Talent Management HR, Sigmoid 🔹 Madhu Karunakaran – Contemporary HR Leader 🔹 Harini Krishnan – Head of Human Resources, Avani Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Moderated by Neha Mishra, Business Leader. 💡 Key Topics Discussed: 1. When Should Startups Introduce HR? Exploring whether HR should be part of a startup from day one, when founders should seek dedicated HR support, and the role of fractional CHROs and HR consultants. 2. Building the Right People Practices Understanding the importance of deliberate hiring, learning agility, employee onboarding, operational hygiene, continuous feedback and early manager development. 3. Rethinking Traditional HR Frameworks Identifying which established HR practices startups should adopt, adapt or reconsider based on their business needs and growth stage. 4. Balancing Structure with Agility Exploring how startups can establish clarity, governance and accountability without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy. 5. Performance Management, Culture & Employee Experience Rethinking conventional performance management, compensation, employee recognition, career growth and engagement to suit the startup environment. 6. The Founder's Role in Building Culture Understanding why founders must retain ownership of organisational vision, values, leadership hiring, difficult conversations and employee trust, even when HR functions are delegated. 7. Retaining Talent Beyond Compensation Discussing the importance of meaningful work, learning opportunities, flexibility, employee ownership, ESOPs and purpose in retaining talent. 8. Practical Steps to Strengthen People Practices Exploring how employee feedback, anonymous surveys, pulse checks and open communication can help startups identify areas for improvement. 🎯 Key Takeaway: Building HR in a startup is not about replicating what established organisations do. It is about understanding the business, recognising what employees need, and introducing the right people practices at the right time. HR should not become another layer of complexity. It should enable better business decisions, strengthen workplace culture, support employees and help organisations grow sustainably. About Vachi HR and Multi Recruit: This session is brought to you by Vachi HR, the parent company of Multi Recruit. Vachi HR provides fractional HR services across HR strategy, compliance, culture and execution, while Multi Recruit focuses on talent acquisition and hiring. Together, they support growing businesses in establishing effective people practices and building the teams they need to scale. Subscribe to the channel for more conversations and insights on HR leadership, talent management, organisational development and the future of work. #VachiHR #StartupHR #HRPlaybook #PeopleAndCulture #HRLeadership #StartupCulture #PeopleStrategy #TalentManagement #HumanResources #EmployeeExperience #PerformanceManagement #FutureOfWork #StartupIndia #MultiRecruit