Going forward apna will be the official partner of AICTE to help all Engineering and Management graduates find a job and help them in career discovery. Honoured to exchange an MoU with AICTE, led by esteemed Prof. Sitharam T.G, Chairman of AICTE.

“There is no dearth of jobs, we just need to connect students with opportunities. We are thrilled to announce that Apna and AICTE will make this happen for all India’s Engineering and Management College students.”

The ceremony was graced by the august presence of Union Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan-ji, Secretary Higher Education Shri K Sanjay Murthy, UGC Chairperson MAMIDALA JAGADESH KUMAR, NCVET Chairperson Dr. Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi IAS (retd), and other dignitaries whose guidance and blessings make this journey even more meaningful.

Inspired by Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi-ji's words, “The energy of the youth and their passion for development are what drive a nation forward.” It is a privilege to work alongside such visionary leaders and dedicated institutions in our shared mission to nurture and equip India's youth for the opportunities of tomorrow.

The collaboration envisions to unlock job and career discovery, provide AI-powered support for building resumes & interview preparation and set up a community platform for all-round professional development of students, ensuring they step into the professional world with confidence and the right opportunities at their doorstep. All Engineering and Management students graduating from AICTE-affiliated colleges will be benefitted by this initiative.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in making this a reality. Karna Chokshi Shuvajyoti Ghosh Kathak Mehta, PhD and the entire team at apna, and Hiranmay Mahanta. 
Together, we will be nurturing a skilled, competent and confident generation ready to lead India's growth.

Photo courtesy: AICTE

People ask about weekends,

Your weekends can be worthy too if you are surrounded by the right folks, and for me, they are eChai Ventures and this is what echai friends do.

The day started with chit-chat about the business and was followed by an amazing lunch at Karnawati Club.

Attended an amazing echai demo day, where one friend pitched his new venture on the stage and another shared his success story.

58 Miles Rocks and AllEvents.in has been always inspiring.

Crazy fun weekend with craziness and productivity. Hope to have these keep coming in.

Jatin Chaudhary Pankaj Bhimani Amit Panchal Umesh Uttamchandani Himani Kankaria Kumar Manish Koumal Kalantry Shrijay Sheth Leena Parikh Syed Nadeem Jafri Gaurav Barot

“Prateek, let’s travel across India to know more about the stories of India SaaS”

4 months ago, my co-founder Sri reached out to me with this crazy text and bag full of even crazier ideas. Without a second thought, I knew I was in.

And that's how from Day 0, both of us went all in.

And here we are today—I’m extremely excited to introduce to you, The Bharat SaaS Yatra!

Our vision? To celebrate the Rise of India SaaS, and cover hundreds of stories of SaaS Founders—The wins, the losses, the challenges and everything in between ❤️

Stories not just from the Tier 1 cities, but also the gritty tales from Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities.

Hitting the road for the next 4 months to travel across 20 cities and capture the Fan-SaaStic stories out there.

Wondering, where we’ll meet? In one of the finest immersive SaaS exhibitions that we’re setting up across all the 20 cities. I bet, you’re going to love it!

Hop in with us in the Yatra 🙂

Link to register for the exhibitions

 

How did I find my Co-Founder?

In 2020, I decided to relaunch an IT company with a focus on a specialized field as opposed to continuing our 2014-founded freelance business. Even though since 2014 we have completed over 300 fixed-cost jobs and about 100,000 hours of freelancing, I was not happy. It's so simple to be a so-called "CEO" in the IT business these days—all you need is a laptop and various accounts on freelance platforms, which you may even open under family names 😂.

But, I've always wanted to start an IT company rather than a freelancing agency. To get knowledge and explore more from other like-minded entrepreneurs across various sectors, I joined BNI Global Surat Region.

There I met Dhaval Vansadia at a chapter meeting a few weeks later. He had a technical background, came from the textile industry, and had expertise in D2C brand consulting.

He is very enthusiastic about networking and enjoys building new connections. We met at our office and after an hour-long discussion, he hired us for a project, and we created an ERP system for his business. that's how he became our first client out of a freelancing portal.

After a year of collaboration, he made the difficult decision to leave his company, which he had invested both money and heart in for eight years. Despite this, we remained close friends and nurtured our relationship.

He spoke to me over the phone one day, "Jatin, what are you doing? This Friday, if you have time, let's get together at your workplace. I miss having coffee from you."

Well, then, why not?

We had coffee together on Friday and during a conversation, he asked "Jatin, Why do most IT companies in Surat fail to become multimillion-dollar companies?"

After an hour-long conversation, I asked him, "If you think you are ready again, let's build Sarvadhi a multimillion-dollar company that would run for years and years, with or without us!"

And he responded, "YES!"

That's how I met my co-founder Dhaval, who serves as Director of Sales and has been in charge of sales since January 2024.

It proved that huge dreams, trust, and a cooperative mindset of mutual growth can all lead to the creation of a great company.

Dhaval Vansadia, welcome to the team. I'm looking forward to working with you after working for you.

If someone asks me if BNI has been helpful, my response is: Indeed, it's worth exploring if you're willing to be flexible and know how to make the most of your network—both for business and for making new friends in different fields.

Had an enriching experience at the eChai Startup Demo Day in Pune last Saturday!

Attended a captivating showcase of startups, and two in particular stood out for their innovative offerings:

#ElektrikExpress : Their focus on the EV space, specifically building electric scooters for gig workers, is truly commendable. What caught my attention was their ability to identify a niche market and offer affordable solutions despite stiff competition. It was inspiring to learn that the founders are still in college, showcasing incredible entrepreneurship at such a young age.

#Phynart : Revolutionizing our homes with smart technology, Phynart impressed with their seamless integration of various smart products through a single app. Their strong revenue generation reflects the effectiveness of their solutions.

Kudos to #eChai Ventures for curating yet another impactful demo day! Looking forward to witnessing more innovation and entrepreneurship in the future.

Startup Learning Series: Understanding ROFR vs. ROFO

ROFR (Right of First Refusal)

➡️ What is ROFR?
The holder has the privilege to match any offer the seller receives before finalizing a deal with a third party. Essentially, they have the right to refuse an initial offer and step in with the same terms.

➡️ Example:
Startup A grants an investor a ROFR. If the startup receives a funding/ acquisition offer from Company X, the investor has the first shot at matching that offer before the startup can proceed with Company X.


ROFO (Right of First Offer)

➡️ What is ROFO?
Unlike ROFR, this gives the holder the first chance to make an offer before the seller approaches others. The seller is obligated to consider this initial offer before entertaining offers from third parties.

➡️ Example:
Startup B gives an investor a ROFO. If the startup decides to sell a portion of its shares, the investor gets the opportunity to present an offer first before the startup explores other options.


Which is more beneficial for Startups?

➡️ ROFO: This can be advantageous for startups aiming to maintain control and nurture strategic partnerships. It provides a structured process for selling shares and ensures that existing stakeholders are considered first.

➡️ ROFR: Startups looking for flexibility might prefer ROFR. It allows them to explore various offers and potentially secure a better deal.


Which is more beneficial for Investors?

➡️ ROFR: Investors seeking security and the ability to protect their investment may lean towards ROFR.

➡️ ROFO: Investors looking for proactive involvement and a first-mover advantage may find ROFO more appealing. It allows them to set the initial terms and potentially secure a deal before others come into play.


Considerations for both Parties

➡️ Negotiation Power: ROFO gives negotiating power to the holder by allowing them to set the initial terms.

➡️ Flexibility: ROFR provides flexibility for sellers to explore various offers before committing.

➡️ Relationship Dynamics: Both agreements impact the dynamics between startups and investors, requiring a careful understanding of the long-term vision and goals.


Conclusion

➡️ The choice between ROFR and ROFO depends on the specific needs and goals of the startup and the investor involved.

➡️ It's not a one-size-fits-all scenario, and understanding the nuances is crucial for creating mutually beneficial agreements.


Other posts in the Startup Learning Series:

🔗 Pre-emptive Rights: https://lnkd.in/dQKcThft

🔗 Liquidation Preference: https://lnkd.in/dRb2Eetc

🔗 Anti-dilution Clause: https://lnkd.in/dFSWs2xH

🔗 Understanding ROFR: https://lnkd.in/dxuVBxge

At STIR Advisors, we help startups and investors with our expertise to navigate through such intricacies.

Gained invaluable Insights and Inspiration from the latest eChai Startup Demo Day at IIMA Ventures in Ahmedabad.

On this Saturday I had attend Echai meet up for Start up enthusiasts, and it was awesome experience with innovation ,collaboration and potentials, from dynamic pitches to engaging discussion ,the event was full of entrepreneurial spirit.

There are many founders who represent their product and ideas. one founder introduced FMCG product app for fastest delivery service and highlights the emergence needs of online delivery services. on the other side the founder focusing on the travel bag product.

In Addition the founders of Smytten also shared invaluable insights into strategic approach and their journey to success. Overall, the eChai meetup served as a phenomenal platform where investors, start-up founders, and industry professionals meet to discuss emerging business opportunities and exchange knowledge.

This event helped me in fuelling my passion for innovation and Entrepreneurship.

I'm thrilled to share the incredible experience I had at recent Demo Day eChai Ventures IIMA Ventures at Ahmedabad curtesy of Jatin Chaudhary.

What made the day truly special was connecting with so many passionate entrepreneurs who share the drive for innovation. From insightful conversations to valuable feedback, meeting amazing people like you reminded us of the power of community in propelling us forward.

Jatin Chaudhary team keep up the good work really appreciate it on behalf the community and 1 Loyalty.

Collaborating with

Mihir Joshi

 & GVFL to host eChai Socials at their new Venus Stratum office every week evening starting next week. 

I met my co-founder, Deepak Bhuvneshwari Uniyal, in the year 2019. They had been working on this idea for more than a year and after testing waters and solving a few cases operationally they were looking for someone who could build the technology for this. After meeting more than 35 candidates from the network and job portals, they got my reference through a common connection. 

I had failed in my first start-up but once an entrepreneur always remain an entrepreneur. The conversation happened and we sort of clicked and the rest is history.
 
The discussion was very simple. My CEO just explained to me the concept and what they were looking for from the candidate. The idea looked challenging and I just bought into it. 

As my role (CTO) was the only one for which they were looking for an individual so it was pretty clear from day one.

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of participating in an engaging panel in Hyderabad organized by eChai Ventures in collaboration with Draper Startup House, where we discussed #MarketingStrategies for #Startups.

It was truly an honour to share insights and experiences with a diverse group of entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey, each with their own innovative ideas.

During the session, I had the opportunity to delve into B2B marketing strategies, while my fellow panellist, Shreyes Manyam from inflooo, expertly addressed B2C queries. The discussion was skillfully moderated by

Lakshman Rupanagunta

, ensuring a fruitful exchange of ideas and experiences among all participants.

I want to express my gratitude for being a part of such enriching sessions where I could share my knowledge and experiences with fellow entrepreneurs. It's always a pleasure to give back to the #community and contribute to the collective growth of startups and aspiring business owners. Thank you Jatin!

Together, as a community, we are stronger, and I look forward to more opportunities to collaborate and learn from each other in the future.

This is 🔥 #startup #community in Pune @eChaiVentures Demo Day Dated Feb’24.

Spot me!! I am the guy with ✌️ in there It is not easy to get 225 people in one single pic! Demo Day where budding startup’s pitch, feel proud to say I am the part of such a vibrant start up community  @eChaiVentures which lead by @malavwarke and myself and fellow founders in Pune.

Eashita Maheshwary

, a Business Growth Strategist based out of Bangalore, is in Jaipur today.

We are organizing a small gathering for startup folks in Jaipur this evening at DevX Anand Fort, Malviya Nagar, starting from 6:30 pm onwards.

If you’re in Jaipur and would like to join us, please let me know.

Thank you for the honour to be a #speaker at eChai's marketing event at Urban Vault in Bengaluru to talk about right market strategies for startups, smbs.

Thanks to eChai Ventures Jatin Chaudhary and my fellow speakers from Simplilearn, Affle, and Tars. T

he room was quite full with close to 50 budding entrepreneurs from various age groups, states of india, and countries..majority being in their 20s to 30s.

The session was for 2 hours but went for 3.5 hours with 1.5 hours for questions and answers. These were the various questions asked:

Here are the list of questions in the meantime for each of us to answer:

1) What do you see are the new paradigm strategies of marketing
2) How has <your company> experienced the shift over the last few years or in 2024 and beyond.
3) What are the changes you have been experiencing and how are you responding to those changes?
4) What is the preferred future you see for entrepreneurs
5) What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs and experienced entrepreneurs
6) What is a non negotiable for you moving forward?
Plus there were around 20 plus questions from 1 to 1 discussion with entrepreneurs during the Q&A session.

Loved it thoroughly that echai is giving the #platform to entrepreneurs to come forward and learn through communities...good to see 4 #womeninbusiness #womenentrepreneurs there.

Many people asked me if I can mentor them or help them with marketing strategies. The answer is yes, of course.

I do #startupconsulting and overall #endtoend #marketing #consulting
for businesses from industries not competing with my current company's industry.

People who expressed interests for follow up sessions, or for mentoring please book as you need it. Sharing the link based on popular requests: https://lnkd.in/gnkmHQcN

Eventful saturday, hosted the panel discussion and eChai Startup Demo Day in Mumbai for eChai Ventures (Jatin Chaudhary) in collaboration with DevX 💪.

Pawan Lakhwani (Dream Incubator) & Anuvrat Pandey (Prath Ventures) have graced the panel & shared the VC perspective on how startups should approach fund raising & building a cap table. 🚀

Demoday encompassed pitches from:

1. Vaibhav Shenoy (Genius Search): A conversational search engine trying to revolutionize search experience but making it move interactive & converstational. 🔎

2. Hartaj Trehan (OptimX Sports): Helping sports team build & manage their website, online store, event roster and ticketing within 30 minutes. 🏉

3. Samar Raj (Way2Cure): Serving as a one stop solution for healthcare services and compassionate care, pre & post hospitalization. 🏥

4. Vijay Chouhan (Costan): Building a next generation tool for content creators and influencers. 🌎

5. Sneha Thakkar (Woople Foods): Pioneering in woodapple jam by combining traditional flavors with modern culinary techniques.

Being a startup entrepreneur is far from easy, as I've realized from my experience at Biziverse.

You must excel at making the product, managing finances, ensuring compliance, motivating your team, what not. One mistake and you face a disproportionately large punishment.

You cannot even expect support from the society. Some may look at you as a fool despite your multi role excellence everyday, or as an entitled "seth" even as you face nightmares of how to manage your next payroll. To them and to others, you must maintain the facade of "sab theek thaak hai" (everything's great).

This is where I realize the value of these three kinds of people: (1) Co-founders, as they share and lighten the challenges; (2) Investors, as they truly wish you well and help solve the critical challenge of finances, and (3) Startup communities like eChai Ventures, as you gain inspiration and wisdom from fellow entrepreneurs and their similar experiences.

We must realize and appreciate the roles of these three support sources, and even give back and give forward as much as we can! 😊