At eChai Ventures, our Unforgettable Lessons series brings forward stories that remind us what really sustains entrepreneurs, not just strategy or scale, but the personal truths they hold on to when doubts and pressures rise.
For Krishna Tamalia Vora, Founder of Mom’s Therapy, that truth was tested from the very beginning. Coming from a legal background as a lawyer, she faced skepticism when she decided to build a wellness brand rooted in Ayurveda. What stayed with her were the doubts, the remarks, and the inner strength it took to turn them into determination.
Here’s how she recalls it:
“There have been many moments that tested me in my journey with Mom’s Therapy. Coming from a legal background as a lawyer, when I first decided to start this brand, people around me questioned my choice. I still remember a relative saying, ‘From being a lawyer, now you want to sell oil bottles? Tel bechne jayegi kya?’ I simply smiled and kept quiet — but those remarks only made me stronger and more determined to move forward.
I began from home, never imagining that one day I would run my own factory, with people working alongside me. The one piece of advice that has stayed with me came from my husband: ‘Never compromise on quality over quantity.’ That belief gave me the courage to begin, and that commitment to quality is what has allowed Mom’s Therapy to endure and grow with trust.
I am not in a hurry to prove how much turnover or profit I make. For me, this journey is about growing steadily, staying true to myself, and continuously learning.
Of course, there are always people who feel jealous or try to pull you down. But in the end, it is only your inner strength, your determination, and your belief in yourself that make or break you.
Otherwise, a girl like me, born in a small town like Surendranagar and educated in a Gujarati-medium government school, would never have imagined meeting people in South Bombay, sharing a stage with big names, walking the ramp at 42, meeting Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, seeing myself on television, and receiving recognitions I never even dreamed of.”
At eChai Ventures, our Unforgettable Lessons series shares the stories founders carry with them, the turning points that test not just their strategies, but their resilience, their values, and their ability to keep moving through uncertainty.
For Maithili Shah, Founder of Syntelligence Fintech, that moment came during one of the most difficult chapters of her entrepreneurial journey.
Here’s how she tells it:
I still remember those months as if they stretched into years, when I had just welcomed my second baby, life and business collided in unexpected ways.
Within weeks, we lost a large client, perhaps because I trusted too much and wasn’t “commercial” enough. Soon after, 40% of our team left, some to get married, some moving abroad, others for better opportunities.
It was one of those moments when I kept asking myself: Am I building a business my way, with heart, or should I become more commercial? Can I afford to be vulnerable and still be a leader? I don’t think I have a clear answer even today.
What I did know is that in that period, survival depended on showing up in the smallest possible steps. To survive, we broke everything into micro-pieces: over-communicating, moving from a virtual setup into a physical office, and creating an environment where we could look each other in the eye and rebuild trust.
Our work became intense and fragmented, sometimes measured in two-hour stretches instead of full days. It was exhausting and overwhelming, but also built with grit and togetherness. And slowly, we climbed out. Not because of strategy alone, but because every team member extended themselves with open arms and open hearts.
The question shifted from What can I do in a day? to What can I do in these two hours?
And while today’s challenges are different, scaling, finding clients who align with our DNA, hiring for both likability and capability, the lesson remains clear: when everything falls apart, it’s not your plans that hold you up, it’s your people, your grit, and the decision to keep going even when you want to stop.
At eChai Ventures, our Unforgettable Lessons series shares the defining truths founders discover in their journeys, not in moments of ease, but in the storms, doubts, and disruptions that demand courage and clarity.
For Rashmi Kashyap, Founder of Soul n Spirit, that test arrived with her very first event.
Here’s how she tells it:
When I launched Soul n Spirit, my vision was clear, to create soulful spaces of creativity and connection. But nothing prepares you for the test that comes with your very first event.
Our latest association was a Full Moon Sound Healing Session, a practice close to my heart. Everything was planned down to the last detail. But as the day approached, the universe had its own plans.
News channels flashed alerts of a Lunar Eclipse, and suddenly superstition took over. Many believed stepping out would be inauspicious. To top it all, the city was under an orange alert for heavy rains, and it had been raining relentlessly since morning. One cancellation followed another.
I had two choices: cancel and wait for a “better time,” or go ahead and trust the journey. I chose the latter.
With a quick shift indoors, we created an intimate, cocoon-like setting. Yes, the turnout was 30% less, but those who came experienced something magical. The resonance of the bowls, the rhythm of the breath, and the collective energy turned the evening into something truly powerful.
And here’s the best part, those who attended returned for the very next session, without hesitation.
Lesson learned: Dreams are not tested in perfect conditions. They are tested in storms, eclipses, and moments of doubt. If you believe in your purpose, show up no matter what. The right people will always find their way to you.
What happens when well-funded startups enter a market? Sometimes they grow the pie for everyone. Sometimes they change customer expectations so quickly that early players are forced to adapt. For founders, it can mean rethinking the entire business.
In 2014, Yash Shah started eSwashthya, one of the earliest e-pharmacy ventures in India. At that time, ordering medicines online was still a new idea. The company grew steadily by working within the margins available in pharma. As Yash recalls, "Margins in pharma are 10 to 15 percent, maybe 20 percent at best, so we worked within those limits."
A few years later, larger, well-funded startups entered the space with significant capital. Their approach relied on aggressive customer acquisition strategies, including steep discounts that went far beyond the traditional margins in the industry. “They began offering 30 to 35 percent discounts on medicines,” Yash said. “But in pharma, the business does not allow that. It was far beyond the real margins.”
The impact was immediate. Customers moved toward those offers, and the market changed almost overnight. Early players found it difficult to compete, and even the bigger companies later went through valuation cuts and consolidation as the industry adjusted to new realities. “It disrupted the way the category worked,” Yash noted.
For eSwashthya, this turning point became the start of something larger. “We used our base of eSwashthya customers who needed more health services apart from medicine delivery,” Yash explained. “We took that opportunity to give them pathology and other services by building ES Healthcare Centre.”
That same thinking opened up international opportunities. “We got a chance to expand those services in Dubai, where there is a huge market in home healthcare. So we started giving last-mile health services there. And in Tanzania, we began with doctors at the doorstep, which led us into doctor tourism. It was again a home healthcare service, but this time for African people.”
What happens when well-funded startups enter a market does not have one outcome. Sometimes it drives growth and validation. Sometimes it creates pricing pressures that are difficult to sustain. And sometimes it forces founders to look beyond their first idea and discover bigger opportunities. Markets shift, customer behavior changes, and the rules rarely stay the same.
The bigger question is not only what happens to companies, but what happens to founders when the ground shifts beneath them. Do they collapse under the pressure, or do they turn disruption into their next chapter?
At eChai Ventures, our Unforgettable Lessons series shares the defining stories founders carry with them, not the polished wins, but the raw moments of exhaustion, doubt, and resilience that end up shaping their journey.
For Koumal Kalantry, Founder of BigNano Ventures, one such moment came during a grassroots activation in rural Gujarat, where a simple logistical snag turned into a long night that revealed the value of quick decisions and unshakable commitment.
Here’s how she tells it:
Entrepreneurial journey is a true rollercoaster, full of challenges, adventure, and unexpected moments that shape us. Sometimes there’s joy and laughter, sometimes exhaustion and frustration, and sometimes an overwhelming sense of losing control. Yet, in those blurred moments of doubt, clarity hides, pushing us to keep moving.
Recently, during a routine grassroots on-ground activation in rural villages, we faced regular operational problems, from logistics to last-mile challenges. But the real test came late one night, when our booked accommodation turned out to be a frighteningly isolated hotel. Dead tired from a hectic day, our trio tried huddling in one room; when that proved too unnerving, we decided to spend the night in our car, parked in a busy market area for safety. We twisted and turned but managed to get a bit of sleep, then, without missing a beat, went straight back to work the next morning.
What this taught us is the immense value of momentary decisions. Even with all plans in place, the unexpected demands quick thinking and adaptability. Rural activations are dynamic, plans can go haywire, and it’s only the ability to decide in the moment that sees us through. Each grassroots experience reinforces our resolve; far from deterring us, these challenges double our excitement and motivation about the work.
As a team at BigNano, we cherish these stories, they become the memories we hold onto, reminding us why we continue the journey with confidence and pride. The only lesson: be active, keep responding, and never let obstacles halt progress.
"If there’s one phrase that sums up my journey, it’s truly ‘The eChai Effect.’ Six years ago, I simply walked into my first eChai event, not knowing what to expect. The honest conversations, energy, and inspiration from founders and entrepreneurs struck a chord within me. That eChai spark became the catalyst for everything to follow. I proudly say: my entrepreneurship journey started—and keeps evolving—because of eChai. Redicine Medsol’s story is integrally linked to this community. I’ve gained so much, not just as a founder but as a forever volunteer and grateful member of the eChai family. With all my heart, thank you Jatin Bhai and everyone at eChai for shaping, guiding, and supporting my dreams. The eChai Effect will always be a part of my story."
Kush Prajapati
Founder, Redicine Medsol
“eChai has been that turning point in my journey. It gave me a platform when I wasn’t looking for visibility but needed direction. Over the years, it became more than just a network. It became my tribe; a place where conversations sparked collaborations, and strangers became trusted sounding boards. What I value most is how effortlessly eChai brings people together - no airs, no filters, just genuine people with shared dreams. I owe a lot to this community and to Jatin, whose consistency and belief in people have shaped journeys like mine. Forever grateful to be part of something so real.”
Rushabh Shah
Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
"I attended my first eChai event 3 yrs back, and no one knew me in the market. Over the next three years, eChai didn’t only help me with knowledge or networking, but it gave me an identity from being unknown to now being recognized by a group of inspirational entrepreneurs connected with eChai, who have been gracious enough to acknowledge me and Digipple."
Viraj Rajani
Co-Founder, Digipple
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