Contributor Guidelines | Unlisted Key

1.Our aim

Unlisted Key wants India’s unlisted and pre-IPO market to be as well researched as the listed one. Our contributors bring sector knowledge, analytical rigour and on-the-ground insight to companies that mainstream coverage overlooks, and give every serious investor the kind of analysis that used to be reserved for institutional desks. Every article adds another company, another sector and another data point to that coverage.

2.Submission limits and quality

Up to 3 articles a month per contributor.
Each article needs at least 300 words; most good research runs well past that.
Show depth of research and your own insight. A summary or repackaged information will not be published.

3.Originality and integrity

Plagiarism and AI-generated content

Rule	What it means
Original work only	Every article must be original and written by you (or, if co-written, disclosed as such).
No AI-written text	AI-generated text, or an AI-written draft presented as your own work, is not allowed.
No copying	Do not reproduce another author's text, tables or charts without attribution and the right to use them.

If the rules are broken

Offence	Consequence
First	The article is removed and you receive a formal warning.
Second	The article is removed and contributor access may be suspended.
Third	Contributor access is withdrawn permanently.

You are personally responsible for any copyright claim or takedown notice caused by material you submit.

4.Article structure

A recommended flow for a company article. Adapt it to the company and sector; the point is quality and consistency, not a template to fill in.

Section	What to cover
Industry research	Market size and growth potential Industry trends Competitive landscape
Company overview	A short introduction History and key milestones
Business model	Business segments Geographic presence Revenue streams
Leadership	Promoters' background Key management Leadership strategy
Shareholding	Ownership breakdown PE / VC involvement Recent funding rounds
Financial analysis	Financial performance Key ratios Revenue and profit trends Growth outlook
Valuation	Current valuation metrics The unlisted price against listed and unlisted peers Scenarios and what the price implies
Strategic initiatives	Current and planned projects Expansion and innovation plans Sustainability
Risks and opportunities	Key risks Opportunities What could mitigate the risks
Peer comparison	Comparison with the closest competitors Strengths and differentiators
Conclusion	Your analytical takeaway Your overall view, framed as research opinion

5.Formatting

Use clear, professional language.
Keep a logical flow, following the section order above where it fits.
Use headings, subheadings and bullet points.
Include charts, graphs and tables where they help.
Use an analysis framework where it strengthens a section (for example SWOT for risks and opportunities, or Porter's Five Forces for industry research), presented visually rather than as plain paragraphs.
Proofread for grammar and factual accuracy before you submit.

6.Disclosures

Every article states three things, which you answer when you submit it. They are shown to readers at the end of the article.

Disclosure	What you declare
Your positions	I (and anyone I write with) hold no position in the companies mentioned and don't plan to open one in the next 72 hours. I hold no position in the companies mentioned, but may open one in the next 72 hours. I already hold a position in one or more of the companies mentioned.
Business relationships	I wrote this myself and it is my own opinion. I am not paid for it by anyone other than Unlisted Key, and I have no business relationship with any company mentioned. Someone else wrote part of this, or I am paid by, or have a business relationship with, a company mentioned.
Registration	I am registered with SEBI as an Investment Adviser, Research Analyst or stock broker, and this article may be read as investment advice. I am not registered with SEBI. This article is for education only and is not investment or trading advice.

Exclusive or not

Type	What it means
Exclusive to Unlisted Key	Reviewed by our editors before it is published. Published only on Unlisted Key — please don't post it elsewhere. Featured to readers following the companies you cover.
Not exclusive	Reviewed by our editors before it is published. You may also publish it on your own blog or other sites. Listed with other community articles.

Whatever you choose, frame your conclusion as research opinion. Unless you are registered with SEBI and say so, an article is education only and must not read as advice to buy or sell.

7.Data, sources and images

Data	Images
Prefer the financials and prices on Unlisted Key company pages.	Upload images in the article editor rather than linking to images hosted elsewhere.
Name the source of any external data, chart or table, inline where it is used.	Use only images you made or have the right to use, and credit third-party images.
Use credible, recent sources.	Charts you build from data should cite that data.
Link to the source material wherever you can.	No logos or photos of people without the right to publish them.

Share published articles on LinkedIn, X and with your professional network. Link to the article on Unlisted Key rather than copying it out (for exclusive articles, copying it out is not allowed).
Write a headline and summary that would make an investor stop scrolling, without overstating what the article shows.

9.Review and approval

How we review	What happens next
Every submission is read by our editors before it is published.	You can see where it stands in your account: In review, Changes requested, Published, Not accepted.
We judge originality, depth of research, clarity and how well it follows these guidelines.	If something needs work, we send it back with notes, and you can edit and resubmit.
Review is collaborative: the aim is a better article, not a rejection.	The final decision to publish rests with the editorial team.

Ready to write?

Apply from the contributor page. It takes three steps.

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