We plan to bring eChai across 100 cities in India. The next eChai Startup Demo Day is on 29 August in Bengaluru and Pune. The next after that is on 26 September, all in person, with 12 cities confirmed and 516 founders registered. See your city
Find your idea & build the brand

Choosing what to sell

Pick a category you can win and want to live in.

Level All Beginner Intermediate
Market All India Global
Category All Beauty & Personal Care Food & Beverage Wellness & Nutraceuticals Category-agnostic
Who's asking Everyone Aspiring Brand Builder Bootstrapped Side-Hustler Product Person Creator-Led Founder
I want to build a D2C brand but I haven't picked a product yet. How do I actually decide what to sell? Don't start from 'what's trending', start from the overlap of a real, repeat problem you understand, a customer you can reach affordably, and margi... Beginner 3 resources → Which product categories are actually good for a new D2C brand in India right now? In India the money has consistently clustered in food & beverage, beauty & personal care, and wellness/nutraceuticals, high-frequency, premiumisabl... Beginner 4 resources → Should I chase a high-margin niche product or a high-volume everyday product? As a bootstrapped first-timer, bias toward gross margin, in India, gross margin is the single strongest predictor of which D2C brands ever reach pr... Intermediate 3 resources → I have a product idea. How do I evaluate whether it's actually worth building a brand around? Screen every idea on three things before you source a single unit: can you acquire customers at a cost the product can support, does the buyer 'get... Intermediate 3 resources → The category I like is already crowded with brands. Can I still differentiate and win? A crowded category is a good sign, it means demand is proven; the opportunity is a full market with a fixable flaw (bad reviews, confusing choices,... Intermediate 3 resources → Should I follow a trend, follow my passion, or just dropship something safe? Trends give you a fast demand signal but a short runway and no defensibility once they cool; passion gives you the stamina to survive the boring ye... Beginner 3 resources → Should I launch with one hero product or a full range, and how much does repeat-purchase matter? Launch with one hero SKU. It concentrates your cash, your story, and your reviews, makes the brand instantly legible ('the ___ people'), and one pr... Intermediate 3 resources →

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Every founder hits these, so they sit in the wider founder hub.

Family, social pressure and the quit-your-job decision
Making the leap →
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