We plan to bring eChai across 100 cities in India. It starts with eChai Startup Demo Day on 26 September, all in person. 11 cities confirmed, 178 founders registered. Any city that reaches 20 interested founders is on too. See your city

The Trader Going Own-Brand

I trade or resell, I want my own label.

Founder-category fit

Do I actually need real experience in this industry, or can a smart outsider still win? Plenty of category-defining D2C brands were built by outsiders - Typology founder Ning Li had no beauty-industry background and used that as an ass... Beginner 3 resources →

Finding manufacturers in India

How do I actually find a manufacturer to make my product in India? Start with a one-page spec sheet so every factory quotes the same thing, then work three channels in parallel: B2B directories like IndiaMART and T... Beginner 5 resources → Should I go private label or contract (custom) manufacturing? If you want to test the market fast and cheap, start private label: pick a proven formulation off the factory's catalogue, put your brand on it, an... Intermediate 4 resources → How do I vet a factory before I trust them with a real order? Never place a production order off a chat screenshot and a website. Order paid samples from at least three vendors, compare them blind, check GST/r... Intermediate 4 resources → How do I avoid getting scammed by a supplier? Treat three things as hard red flags: prices dramatically below market, a demand for 100% advance with no escrow or milestones, and pressure to mov... Beginner 3 resources → Where in India is my product category actually made? India's manufacturing is clustered by category, and sourcing from the right hub gets you better prices, faster turnaround, and lower MOQs: Tirupur ... Beginner 4 resources →

Importing & global sourcing

How do I actually import a product from China as a small D2C brand with no existing supply chain? Start on Alibaba to benchmark price and MOQ, but don't place a real order there blind, get 3+ quotes, order paid samples, and use Trade Assurance f... Beginner 2 resources → What's actually different between working direct with a factory, buying off Alibaba, and hiring a sourcing agent? Alibaba is fastest to start but you're often talking to a trading company, not the factory floor, fine for standard products, riskier for anything ... Intermediate 2 resources → What are the classic ways first-time importers get scammed or burned? Watch for prices that undercut the whole market, demands for 100% advance payment off-platform, and 'golden sample' switches where a great sample i... Beginner 3 resources →

Private label vs white label vs own mfg

What's actually the difference between private label, white label and full contract manufacturing? White label is the same generic product sold to many brands with just your logo added, cheapest, fastest, zero differentiation. Private label is a ... Beginner 3 resources → Where do I find private label manufacturers in India for cosmetics, food or supplements? Category-specific private-label manufacturers, not general B2B directories, are the fastest route, most Indian nutraceutical and cosmetics private ... Beginner 3 resources →

Product licenses & certifications

I import or sell gadgets/electronics, what's this BIS CRS mark I keep hearing about? The BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme covers roughly 74 categories of electronic and IT products (power banks, chargers, certain audio devices, et... Intermediate 3 resources →

Inventory & demand planning

How do I stop drowning in dead and slow-moving SKUs? Dead stock is a cash problem wearing an inventory costume, every rupee sitting in a slow SKU is a rupee you can't spend on your next winning produc... Intermediate 4 resources →

Selling internationally: start here

What paperwork and licenses do I actually need to export from India? The non-negotiable base is an IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) from DGFT, GST registration, and an AD Code registered with your bank at the port/courie... Beginner 4 resources →

Funding a D2C brand

How do I finance inventory without giving up equity? Inventory financing, purchase-order financing and RBF are the three non-dilutive routes - lenders advance cash against stock or confirmed orders an... Intermediate 3 resources →
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