Things to keep in mind during fundraising for early stage founders.
1. It is crucial to meticulously select a list of venture capitalists whose interests align with those of your company. This strategic alignment ensures that both parties are working towards common goals, thereby fostering a more fruitful and synergistic partnership.
2. View funding primarily as a catalyst for growth. Often, funds raised merely for the purpose of survival can lead a company into a detrimental cycle. Instead, focus on utilizing capital to accelerate development and expansion, thereby enhancing the company's long-term viability and success.
3. Be aware that certain aspects of your business may raise concerns or 'red flags' from an investor's perspective. It is imperative to continuously strengthen the 'green flags' or positive aspects of your venture. By reinforcing these strengths, you can effectively mitigate the impact of any potential red flags and present your business in a more favourable light to potential investors.
1. It is crucial to meticulously select a list of venture capitalists whose interests align with those of your company. This strategic alignment ensures that both parties are working towards common goals, thereby fostering a more fruitful and synergistic partnership.
2. View funding primarily as a catalyst for growth. Often, funds raised merely for the purpose of survival can lead a company into a detrimental cycle. Instead, focus on utilizing capital to accelerate development and expansion, thereby enhancing the company's long-term viability and success.
3. Be aware that certain aspects of your business may raise concerns or 'red flags' from an investor's perspective. It is imperative to continuously strengthen the 'green flags' or positive aspects of your venture. By reinforcing these strengths, you can effectively mitigate the impact of any potential red flags and present your business in a more favourable light to potential investors.
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
"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
"eChai has been a game changer in my journey. It connected me with real people, real support and real opportunities. From building HMMBiz to launching Mindalcove, eChai has played a key role at every step. Grateful to be part of a community that truly believes in growing together."
Hardik Manwani
CTO, Mind Alcove
"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
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.
