#Throwback

🇮🇳 #Bangalore: Would you attend a startup demo day on a Saturday evening?

4 years since I last saw Jatin at DSH Singapore for eChai Ventures, we finally caught up IRL – this time co-hosting an eChai #startup pitch event and #investor panel discussion at DSH Bangalore. Our roof was filled with 130+ #entrepreneurs and investors.

Here are some learnings:

⏳45 DAYS to 6 MONTHS

Is the duration for which due diligence, getting a term sheet, to receiving money in the bank can take up to in the process of startups #fundraising (as a gauge) 🪙

📚 RESOURCES

– Venture Deals by Brad Feld is a great read to prepare founders who are #raisingcapital

indianvcs.com is a pooled resource built by some VC folks, for entrepreneurs to have access to investor contacts (built with Notion 🔥)

🤝🏼 KEEP IT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL

– Before reaching out to an investor, research on the fund and what they invest in.

– Be genuine and authentic. Dishonesty is a red flag; The industry is interconnected, and will soon find out 🚩



Seeing is believing. I wouldn't have imagined a pitch night on a weekend evening being full house, and the energy is uplifting.

Thanks a ton to the investors for their valuable insights (Vijetha, Himansu, Bikramjeet, Mohammed Amaan Memon) and all the entrepreneurs who came to share their vision and business ideas with us 🚀 ... Not forgetting one of the best hyper-connectors and startup enablers around: Jatin 💯


WHO SHOULD I MEET NEXT? 😁
I've been here for two weeks already, but will be based out of Draper Startup House #India for the next couple more – I'm happy to connect with #founders, #startups, #investors, ecosystem partners and would love to meet others who are also enabling the startup community! Thanks for the recs 🙌🏼


Loving this journey so far!
Stay tuned for updates from BLR 🇮🇳

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 - Founder, HummingBird Consulting Group
Harsha Bhurani
Founder, HummingBird Consulting Group
"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
Jaydip Parikh
Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
"eChai has been a game-changer for Hungrito, providing us with invaluable connections, insights, and opportunities that have significantly fueled our growth. eChai has introduced us to a global network of entrepreneurs and experts, fueling our growth and opening doors to new opportunities from Ahmedabad to Dubai. The community has become like a second family to us, providing support, guidance, and valuable insights as startup entrepreneurs."
Sahil Shah - Founder- Hungrito & Netsavvies. Digital Marketing Evangelist
Sahil Shah
Founder- Hungrito & Netsavvies. Digital Marketing Evangelist

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.