Agenda:
eChai Demo Days are held every month in Ahmedabad.
It is a platform for promising startups from the community to present their ventures, get early feedback and engage with investors, enablers & the community.
eChai Startup Demo Day in Ahmedabad with GVFL
Meet the Speaker:
Meet the Speaker:
Meet the Host:
Top-rated questions will be asked live by the host during the event.
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Do you remember a pitch that completely surprised you—either in a good or bad way? What made it unforgettable?
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What’s a subtle red flag in founders that most investors miss, but you pay close attention to?
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What trends are you watching in deep tech or infra startups that most early-stage founders are still missing?
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What’s been your biggest lesson from a startup that didn’t work out despite initial promise?
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Can you walk us through a time you said ‘no’ to a startup and later regretted it?
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GVFL has been backing Indian startups for decades. What shift have you seen in the type of founders coming out of Gujarat specifically?
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How do you view bridge rounds and SAFE notes today? Are they being overused or misunderstood in India?
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You’ve also angel-invested outside of GVFL - how does your thinking change when it’s your personal money on the line?
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When you see a very early startup with just an idea and deck — what are your three non-negotiables before saying yes?
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With GVFL’s deep portfolio, how do you balance conviction in a founder versus market signals or data that might contradict your gut?
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What’s a founder you angel-backed who’s doing something truly unexpected with your capital?
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What’s one piece of fundraising advice you used to give, but don’t anymore?
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How do you see the current fundraising environment in 2025 shaping founder behaviors—especially when it comes to valuations?
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What’s the one thing you wish more founders understood about cap tables before coming into a meeting?
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Has there been a founder you backed who completely changed your thinking about a market or business model?
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What’s something about the Indian startup ecosystem that global investors still underestimate?
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At what point does a startup’s traction start to override market-size concerns in your investment thesis?
-
If you had 2 minutes to coach your younger self just before your first investment pitch meeting, what would you say?
-
Have you ever had to deal with founder fallout in a funded company? How do you navigate the emotional and business sides of that?
-
When a founder is raising their first institutional round - what do most of them get wrong in how they approach VCs?
Do you remember a pitch that completely surprised you—either in a good or bad way? What made it unforgettable?
What’s a subtle red flag in founders that most investors miss, but you pay close attention to?
What trends are you watching in deep tech or infra startups that most early-stage founders are still missing?
What’s been your biggest lesson from a startup that didn’t work out despite initial promise?
Can you walk us through a time you said ‘no’ to a startup and later regretted it?
GVFL has been backing Indian startups for decades. What shift have you seen in the type of founders coming out of Gujarat specifically?
How do you view bridge rounds and SAFE notes today? Are they being overused or misunderstood in India?
You’ve also angel-invested outside of GVFL - how does your thinking change when it’s your personal money on the line?
When you see a very early startup with just an idea and deck — what are your three non-negotiables before saying yes?
With GVFL’s deep portfolio, how do you balance conviction in a founder versus market signals or data that might contradict your gut?
What’s a founder you angel-backed who’s doing something truly unexpected with your capital?
What’s one piece of fundraising advice you used to give, but don’t anymore?
How do you see the current fundraising environment in 2025 shaping founder behaviors—especially when it comes to valuations?
What’s the one thing you wish more founders understood about cap tables before coming into a meeting?
Has there been a founder you backed who completely changed your thinking about a market or business model?
What’s something about the Indian startup ecosystem that global investors still underestimate?
At what point does a startup’s traction start to override market-size concerns in your investment thesis?
If you had 2 minutes to coach your younger self just before your first investment pitch meeting, what would you say?
Have you ever had to deal with founder fallout in a funded company? How do you navigate the emotional and business sides of that?
When a founder is raising their first institutional round - what do most of them get wrong in how they approach VCs?
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The eChai Effect - In Their Words
"eChai isn’t just a startup community … it’s a mindset . eChai has been one of the most impactful communities in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s been a turning point . In a world where building something can often feel isolating, eChai gave me a sense of belonging. I’ve found mentors, collaborators, and friends here — people who genuinely want to see you succeed. It’s a space where ideas are challenged, actions are celebrated, and founders grow not just in scale, but in clarity and confidence. From late-night ideas to early-morning pitches, this community has quietly but powerfully shaped the way I build, think, and dream. I’ll always be grateful for the way eChai creates spaces where founders don’t just grow businesses — they grow together."
Koumal Kalantry
Founder, Bignano Ventures
"For me, eChai is a second home. I've been associated with it since the early days, when it was already setting a different tone for how startup communities could work. As a traditional business owner entering the new-age D2C space, eChai supported me in every direction. Over the years, it became my window to the startup world — and also gave me lifelong friends who continue to show up, for business and beyond."
Pankaj Bhimani
Founder, 58miles
"After moving back from the USA, eChai became my go-to space to learn how the Indian startup ecosystem works. It offered direct exposure to startup thinking and a community that openly shares business insights. What stood out was how easy it was to connect, learn, and grow through real conversations. As we built our IT hardware rentals business, eChai helped us find our niche and refine our path. Proud and grateful to be part of this amazing community."
Heet Sheth
Growth and Tech, Sheth Info
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