We plan to bring eChai across 100 cities in India. It starts with eChai Startup Demo Day on 26 September, all in person. 13 cities confirmed, 698 founders registered. Any city that reaches 20 interested founders is on too. See your city

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How much equity should I give a startup advisor? For most early-stage advisors, think in tenths and quarters of a percent, roughly 0.25% to 1%, vesting over ~2 years, scaled to how deeply they eng... Intermediate 1 resource → How do I get real value out of the advisors I already have? Advisors go stale when you treat them as an audience instead of a resource, so bring one specific, live problem to each conversation and send it ah... Intermediate 2 resources → How do I turn my early customers and investors into informal mentors? Your best mentors are often people already financially tied to you, and you are underusing them. Investors want you to win, so send a short monthly... Intermediate 3 resources → How do I stay on a busy mentor's or investor's radar between meetings without being annoying? The founders who get ongoing help are the ones who keep the relationship warm without asking for anything most of the time. Send a short progress n... Beginner 3 resources → How do I find a mentor for one specific gap like sales, hiring, or pricing rather than a generalist? General 'startup mentors' are overrated. What moves the needle is someone who solved your exact problem 18 months ago. If you need sales help, find... Intermediate 3 resources → How do I know when an advisor or mentor relationship has run its course, and how do I gracefully end it? An advisor who stops adding value but keeps vesting equity is a slow tax on your cap table and your time. Signs it is over: their advice is now gen... Advanced 3 resources → How do I actually use an accelerator or program alumni network after the program ends instead of letting it go cold? Most founders get 5 percent of the value out of an alumni network because they wait for it to help them. Treat the alum directory as your highest-t... Intermediate 3 resources → How do I evaluate whether a well-known name actually adds value as an advisor or is just borrowing my traction for their portfolio? A famous advisor with 40 logos on their profile is usually collecting equity, not giving time. Before you grant anything, run a diligence call: ask... Advanced 3 resources →

eChai Partner Brands The partnership →