More about Nihal Rustgi
apna - India's largest professional networking & job opportunities platform for the rising workforce. Hire on apna.co today!
While growing up in the busy streets of Old Delhi, I often used to greet everyone from cobbler to the person who used to cut my hair or the uncle who used to serve us hot samosas.
I learned the art of greeting from my father as he used to tell me, “There are only two things in life that nobody can steal from you – "Skills and Knowledge” which leads to the path of respect.
I have witnessed hardship, determination, and also, real happiness. Those experiences have made me what I am today – determined, hardworking, ambitious with overtones of creativity, and a tad bit of sense of humor.
From co-founding an education start-up, “Brainwiz’ in my early 20s to now heading the marketing and outreach program for IndiaSkills – India’s National Skill Competition under Skill India Program launched by Hon. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
I have always believed that if you want to create an impact in the ecosystem and actually, transform people’s lives for the better, you should know how to be heard.
Having been a part of the industry for the last 7 years, I have weaved stories, interacted and learned from people from all walks of life, made mistakes, experienced success, and failures both, but more than anything else, I have listened to and then, been heard.
I have experience across Strategic Partnerships, Brand Management, Outreach, Campaign Management, and Community Development. As a consultant with NSDC, I have closely worked with multiple stakeholders involving Central and States Government, Academic Institutions and Corporates.
Currently, I am also leading marketing and outreach activities for IndiaSkills & WorldSkills Competitions in India.
Prior to joining NSDC, I started an organization called Brainwiz, which is a youth-run organization focused on improving the education sector in India. Under this initiative, I also got a chance to work with several large organizations including TERI, American Center, US Embassy, Alma College, UNIC, UNYANET, UNYSAB, WAPCOS, DUREX, CII among others.
You can always reach out to me at 3.nihal@gmail,com 🙌
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Featured speaker at previous eChai events:
Founders and startup folks who joined past eChai startup events
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
"From late-night brainstorming over chai to early morning founder calls, eChai has been more than just a network for me; it’s been home base for ideas, impact, and inspiration. What started as a simple meetup years ago turned into a powerful movement, connecting founders, creators, and dreamers. I’ve had the privilege of seeing startups find product-market fit, marketers (like me) find unexpected collaborations, and most importantly, people finding their tribe. संगच्छध्वं संवदध्वं – Let us move together, speak together. It’s not just a verse from the Rigveda — it’s how Jatin and the entire eChai community truly operate. We don’t just network, we grow together. Forever grateful to be a part of the eChai Effect.
Jaydip Parikh
Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
"The eChai platform has been super valuable for me - it has helped me gain a deeper understanding of domains in the startup and tech ecosystem. What stands out most is the celebration of knowledge, professional growth, and entrepreneurship - it’s one of the best for the Indian ecosystem. Along the way, I’ve also been fortunate to make some great friendships and connections too."
Shalin (Shawn) Parikh
Founder, MyCPE One
“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 @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP
eChai Partner Brands
eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner - working together to explore new ideas, open doors, and build momentum across the startup ecosystem.
