A startup is a young company established by one or more entrepreneurs to create unique and irreplaceable products or services. It aims at bringing innovation and building ideas quickly.
Iran is home of many local startups such as Digikala, the Iranian version of Amazon and ZarinPal, the Paypal Iranian version. Nevertheless, startup has turned into a slogan of our era and lately governments all around the world look at it as a protagonist to defeat unemployment and economic inoperativeness and boost economic prosperity. They encourage creative young graduates to start their own business instead of looking for a 9-5 job by easing the legal environment of startups.
In fact, legal matters are the most important challenges any start-up can face during the dawn of their business. Particularly when there is an international element involved in the general process due to the possible contradiction of laws.
Iran can be introduced as an emerging market of Startups. Government of Iran has started to make the life easier for startup pioneers by enacting laws to protect innovative ideas specifically in the digital world.
In one big step for regulating the environment of e-commerce, Iran E-commerce Development Center has established E-Namad which is considered as a certificate to sell goods and services to the public via the net. This Centre monitor merchants and has discretion to suspend activity of non-complying merchants or even ask prosecution of the website owners in a case of fraud or selling forbidden services and goods.
In another step toward commercialization of technology-based startups, the law of “Protecting Technology Based Enterprises” was enacted by the Parliament in 2010. Although receiving a certificate to be known as a Tech-based enterprise for starting activity in Technology parks is not easy as many requirements shall be meet by the founders and shareholder but at the moment 3555 technology-based companies are registered.
Seemingly, Iran has many potentials to for High-tech startups and E-commerce development and it has received good capital and technology share from foreign investors and still it has ambitious programs to become the number one pioneer in the MENA region.
For now, knowledge-based companies in Iran are the most respected enterprise in terms of facilities and financial helps. If you are interested to invest in a field in Iran, first make sure you have no way to incorporate your enterprise in the form of a knowledge-based company. Of course, this is not a way to escape taxes, because the key element: “high tech” is vital. But any chance you could export the technology to Iran, you will experience commercial and fiscal benefits regarding your business. However, there are certificates required in this process, which should be obtained under the supervision of an experienced lawyer.
Bayan Emrooz Law Firm renders services to foreign and Iranian natural and legal persons in the field of corporate and financial law, including consulting and registration of a company, branch and representative office. Having an experienced and specialized legal staff, Bayan Emrooz is ready to provide the needed legal services in respect to financial matters in Iran.
