Chennai

Unconvention Chennai - Social Enterprise Conference

Happened on January 18, Wednesday, 2017
2:30pm — 05:30pm (GMT+05:30)
Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park132
Event Details:

Villgro and TiE Chennai present Unconvention Chennai - Social Enterprise Conference

An Unconvention event is an annual social enterprise conference, where you get to hear the inspiring stories of fellow social entrepreneurs and understand their journey, learn from experts on various topics that will help build your business, and connect with a network of opportunities, resources and people.

AGENDA - http://villgro.org/events/

9:00 am: Registration

9:30 am: Introduction

9:40 am: Welcome Address

9:45 am: Keynote Address: Shaheen Mistri, CEO of Teach For India

10:15 am: Impactapreneur Quest 2016 - Winner announcement and valedictory

10:30 am: Networking break & finalists showcase

11:00 am: My entrrpreneurial journey: Dr. Dhananjaya, CEO, Achira Labs

11:30 am: Experiences Raising Capital - Entrepreneur and Investor Perspective
PR Ganapathy, Villgro and Menterra
Kannan Bharadwaj, Founder & CEO, MathBuddy
Moderated by Kavita Rajagopalan, Villgro

12:10 pm: Panel Discussion on Entrepreneurs Support Ecosystem
Sabarinath, CEO, Skillveri,
Venky Natrajan, Lok Capital
Moderated by R. Ramaraj, Senior Advisor, Elevar Equity

1:00 pm: Closing remarks followed by networking lunch

Partners: Tie Chennai, Menterra Venture Advisors The Chennai Angels Entrepreneurship Development Institute,Tamil Nadu

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The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"eChai has played a truly pivotal role in HummingBird’s journey — even before Day Zero. From ideation to establishment and into growth, it’s been a constant source of support. It connected me with incredible people who’ve become more than just friends. One of the biggest reasons I chose to stay in Ahmedabad is because of the eChai community. It has shaped my growth — both personally and professionally — in ways that are hard to articulate. Honestly, words fall short when I try to express what eChai means to me. I’m deeply thankful and forever grateful to eChai for being such an integral part of my journey."
Harsha Bhurani - CEO, Hummingbird, An eChai Company
Harsha Bhurani
CEO, Hummingbird, An eChai Company
“You don’t plan to build a company via eChai. You just keep showing up … and one day, you realize you did.” I’ve known Jatin since 2012, when I was still deciding what kind of second innings I wanted to play as an entrepreneur. Over the years, through events, chai breaks, intros, and seemingly small conversations, eChai helped shape not just Upsquare but also refined the lens through which we see collaboration. At Upsquare, we’ve hired talent, met partners, discovered co-investors, and built lifelong friendships. One of our joint ventures exists today only because a casual eChai memory sparked a deeper trust. Now, as we build House of Starts — our venture builder — eChai continues to fuel our mission: co-creating a shared future. eChai isn’t just a startup network. It’s a trust network. And for business builders like me, that makes all the difference."
Utpal Vaishnav - Founder @ Polynxt (EightQor Capital, Upsquare, House of Starts) • Architect & Capital Allocator
Utpal Vaishnav
Founder @ Polynxt (EightQor Capital, Upsquare, House of Starts) • Architect & Capital Allocator
"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
Koumal Kalantry
Founder, Bignano Ventures

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