Be the change you want to see!
Growing SOQO w little to nothing in a tier 2 city with a fledging startup ecosystem looked like the most impossible task, no one to look around, no one to aspire, no motivation and no empathy.
But that’s the thing, night is the darkest before sunrise. What you are seeking is seeking you, or do we say hungry hardworking entrepreneurs of Bhopal coming together for eChai Ventures Breakfast Social regularly every two weeks to be friends. No questions, no demands. Only good food, small groups and candid conversations.
My fav part of breakfast is morning energy of entrepreneurs, fresh and because we’re all in same boat hence without boundaries.
We talk. We talk about failure, getting into cycle of work after long break, mental health, hiring, lived experiences etc.
Good to just know, we’re all in same boat.
Wise words of Prerna Taneja today at the table “take it one day at a time”. And today was that one day we all met for nothing but meeting. :)
In frame
Sneh Nigam
Founder Mindcafe India
Meenal Rai Shejwar
Founder Amado
Vaibhav Kapoor
Director, RGIM Business School
Arihant Arya
Director, Glafix
HitartH Shrivastava
Founder, Bazarville
Co-Founder, F for Fries
Aman Talreja
Co-Founder, Seesaw
Kanika Gupta
Co-Founder, Seesaw
Amrita Bhama
Founder, Summer Stich
Prerna Taneja
Founder, The Zappy Box
and ofc me my and I haha, Founder SOQO
To many more breakfasts together!
Growing SOQO w little to nothing in a tier 2 city with a fledging startup ecosystem looked like the most impossible task, no one to look around, no one to aspire, no motivation and no empathy.
But that’s the thing, night is the darkest before sunrise. What you are seeking is seeking you, or do we say hungry hardworking entrepreneurs of Bhopal coming together for eChai Ventures Breakfast Social regularly every two weeks to be friends. No questions, no demands. Only good food, small groups and candid conversations.
My fav part of breakfast is morning energy of entrepreneurs, fresh and because we’re all in same boat hence without boundaries.
We talk. We talk about failure, getting into cycle of work after long break, mental health, hiring, lived experiences etc.
Good to just know, we’re all in same boat.
Wise words of Prerna Taneja today at the table “take it one day at a time”. And today was that one day we all met for nothing but meeting. :)
In frame
Sneh Nigam
Founder Mindcafe India
Meenal Rai Shejwar
Founder Amado
Vaibhav Kapoor
Director, RGIM Business School
Arihant Arya
Director, Glafix
HitartH Shrivastava
Founder, Bazarville
Co-Founder, F for Fries
Aman Talreja
Co-Founder, Seesaw
Kanika Gupta
Co-Founder, Seesaw
Amrita Bhama
Founder, Summer Stich
Prerna Taneja
Founder, The Zappy Box
and ofc me my and I haha, Founder SOQO
To many more breakfasts together!
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
“eChai has been that turning point in my journey. It gave me a platform when I wasn’t looking for visibility but needed direction. Over the years, it became more than just a network. It became my tribe; a place where conversations sparked collaborations, and strangers became trusted sounding boards. What I value most is how effortlessly eChai brings people together - no airs, no filters, just genuine people with shared dreams. I owe a lot to this community and to Jatin, whose consistency and belief in people have shaped journeys like mine. Forever grateful to be part of something so real.”
Rushabh Shah
Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
"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
“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.
