Accel has launched the fourth edition of its pre-seed scaling program πππππ₯ πππ¨π¦π¬ π.π offering up to USD 1 million in funding.
To know more about this program, eChai Ventures and Accel is hosting this session with - *Vishal Virani*, founder of DhiWise (backed by Accel) - *Sarthak Singh* from Accel Partners
Last Saturday, I had the privilege of moderating a stellar panel on Bootstrapping at Draper Startup House in collaboration with eChai Ventures β and it was truly a session to remember.
I was thrilled to host some of the most inspiring and talented founders:
Amal Mishra, Co-founder of Urban Vault, who shared his remarkable journey of bootstrapping to 57 managed workspaces in Bangalore. His story of overcoming asset-heavy challenges by leveraging his furnishing business showed us the power of strategic thinking.
Vikas Bardia, CFA, Co-founder of Shoffr, captivated the audience with how he led one of Indiaβs first customer-led funding rounds, raising $1.1M from 110 customers! He bootstrapped to 57 cars, and post-funding, has now scaled to 110 cars. His insights on maintaining a bootstrapped mentality while growing were incredibly valuable. As he put it, βThe service inside the car is broken, not the app.β
Jeevan Gnanam, from Sri Lankaβs Hatch Works β one of Asiaβs top coworking spaces β and co-founder of SpectrifyAI, shared key insights on scaling businesses while managing multiple ventures. His focus on hiring champions who help you grow was a game changer.
Rishav Agarwal, founder of Picxeleβ’ and angel investor in 60 startups (including Zypp electric & Crib), gave a masterclass on what angel investors look for in founders and the red flags to avoid.
Despite the rain, we had a full house with 82+ attendees β a testament to the energy and passion of the startup community.
Don't miss out! This Saturday, weβre back with an amazing VC panel to dive into fundraising strategies and expert insights from the best in the game.
The Climate Tech Startups Meetup that we organised through Pro Zero Carbon in association with eChai Ventures and Draper Startup House India was an amazing gathering where founders shared insights, challenges, and solutions, sparking conversations on how innovation can combat climate change. Conversations flowed freely, from groundbreaking tech innovations to collaborative opportunities aimed at creating a sustainable future.
Many thanks to Dr. Disha Ahuja (Ph.D.), Kiran Kumar Alla, Vyshali Sagar and Nazim Sharif for joining in and giving their valuable insights on biogas, hydrogen, solar power and corporate climate responsibility and making this memorable.
Leading the Charge in ClimateTech Β Whatβs Shaping the Future of Sustainability?
Real-world solutions driving impactful change through technology and collaboration.
On September 27th, I had the opportunity to speak at the ClimateTech Startups Meetup, hosted by eChai Ventures at AIC GUSEC - Atal Incubation Center, Gujarat University. This event brought together some of the most innovative minds in sustainability, including @Ashit Chandaria (Belgrey Waters) and Dr. ANSHU KUMAR (AirX Purifier), to tackle pressing environmental challenges with cutting-edge solutions.
It was an exciting moment to showcase how Oizom is transforming air quality monitoring across 70+ countries. The discussions were not just insightful but action-oriented, highlighting the power of partnerships in driving meaningful, lasting change.
A big thank you to eChai Ventures and GUSEC for creating this platform. Together, weβre not just talking about the futureβweβre building it.
Success Story: Celebrating Partnerships with eChai
Over the years, we have had the privilege of meeting some truly remarkable people, thanks to the various programs and events organized by Jatin and the team at eChai. The eChai community has been instrumental in helping us (IndiaBizForSale) build valuable relationships with founders and entrepreneurs, and this ecosystem has played a significant role in our growth. Our journey with eChai began in early 2014 when we first met Jatin at CIIE (now IIM A Ventures).
I still remember how, without hesitation, he recommended that we meet six individuals who could help us. That kind of easy access, with no expectations, really highlighted the essence of eChai: the power of paying it forward. Fast-forward to 2024, and Iβm glad to share that we (IndiaBizForSale and now also IBGrid) have closed several successful transactions through connections made in the eChai community.
One standout example is the recent funding secured for DevX, facilitated by investors from the IndiaBiz network. Our initial introduction to the founders of DevX came through Jatin, and over the years, we strengthened this relationship through multiple interactions at eChai events. That trust and camaraderie eventually led to their successful fundraising roundβand yes, we happily earned our fees from it π.
In recognition of the immense value that eChai has brought to us and the wider ecosystem, Iβm happpppy to announce that weβve partnered with eChai as they transition to their new business model, becoming growth partners for brands.
As far as I know, weβre the first to pay affiliate fees for the outcomes weβve achieved through eChai, and it feels great to be part of this next chapter.
A huge thank you to Jatin, Kunal, and the entire eChai team for their unwavering support throughout our journey. Weβre incredibly grateful and look forward to many more successful collaborations in the future.
"Natillu evedya?" β Where are you from? In Kerala, this is more than just a question; itβs a way of greeting, an instant bridge between people.
This week was particularly special for us, as we had the pleasure of hosting a wonderful mother-son duo from Kannur, who recently moved to Bangalore. The mother, Hafsa MTP founder of Hafz Products, is deeply passionate about community health and wellness, while her son, Sijhah Sadique, co-founder of Atom & Echo, is driving their vision forward in the startup space. They joined us at Draper Startup House for a startup event, and by the end of it, they werenβt just participantsβthey won the best pitch among five incredible startups! π
This is why we do what we do. A big thank you to eChai Ventures and Draper Startup House for allowing me to moderate this event and giving entrepreneurs the platform to showcase their ideas and build meaningful, valuable connections.
eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner, helping them expand market reach, drive revenue growth, amplify brand visibility, and strengthen hiring efforts.
eChai Ventures is a global startup network connecting entrepreneurs through local meetups in 20+ cities worldwide, enabling cross-border collaborations via startup panels, demo days, cricket, and pickleball leagues.
