Founders contemplate whom to approach for funding, while investors consider where to allocate their investments. When one should seek funding or refrain from it is an individual choice. There are no definitive answers to any questions; it's always subjective and often seasonal.
It was an enriching meetup eChai Ventures on very apt topic #funding - learning about this from the best Milapsinh Jadeja sir ,Umesh Uttamchandani sor @mihir joshi sir GVFL Limited , Dheeraj Bhojwani sir !!
Many congratulations to Jatin Chaudhary for completing 15 years to eChai Ventures journey and hosting the show!
Friends and family are typically the first investors in your vision, and early-stage startups often receive initial investments from them.
• Bootstrapping: Self-funding the startup with personal savings or revenue.
• Seed Funding: Initial capital from friends, family, or angel investors.
• Series A, B, C Funding: Increasing rounds of financing from venture capitalists as the company grows.
• Bridge Funding: Short-term financing to sustain operations between major funding rounds.
Pros of Funding:
• Accelerated growth potential.
• Access to expertise and networks of investors.
• Ability to scale operations rapidly.
Cons of Funding:
• Pressure to meet investor expectations.
• Dilution of equity.
Are you part of startup ecosystem?
And which stage you are into , bootstrapping, seed funding, more round of funds , Bridge funding or other??
I am just truly love the energy of all the founders !!
Pankaj Bhimani Ekta Shah Mitesh Shethwala Himani Kankaria Harshal Trivedi Yash Mehta Amit Panchal Nikita A Macquinn Harsha Bhurani Satya Mehta Novin Jaiswal Viraj Rajani Niraj Harlalka Bhavik Makwana Shreyans Panchal
It was an enriching meetup eChai Ventures on very apt topic #funding - learning about this from the best Milapsinh Jadeja sir ,Umesh Uttamchandani sor @mihir joshi sir GVFL Limited , Dheeraj Bhojwani sir !!
Many congratulations to Jatin Chaudhary for completing 15 years to eChai Ventures journey and hosting the show!
Friends and family are typically the first investors in your vision, and early-stage startups often receive initial investments from them.
• Bootstrapping: Self-funding the startup with personal savings or revenue.
• Seed Funding: Initial capital from friends, family, or angel investors.
• Series A, B, C Funding: Increasing rounds of financing from venture capitalists as the company grows.
• Bridge Funding: Short-term financing to sustain operations between major funding rounds.
Pros of Funding:
• Accelerated growth potential.
• Access to expertise and networks of investors.
• Ability to scale operations rapidly.
Cons of Funding:
• Pressure to meet investor expectations.
• Dilution of equity.
Are you part of startup ecosystem?
And which stage you are into , bootstrapping, seed funding, more round of funds , Bridge funding or other??
I am just truly love the energy of all the founders !!
Pankaj Bhimani Ekta Shah Mitesh Shethwala Himani Kankaria Harshal Trivedi Yash Mehta Amit Panchal Nikita A Macquinn Harsha Bhurani Satya Mehta Novin Jaiswal Viraj Rajani Niraj Harlalka Bhavik Makwana Shreyans Panchal
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
“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
"We found eChai to be a force multiplier throughout our startup journey. Through it, we connected with folks from DevX, Allevents, Plutomen, and more - many of whom became friends of IndiaBizForSale.com and even part of our clientele."
Bhavin S Bhagat
Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
"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
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.
