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
“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
"For me, eChai is a second home. I've been associated with it since the early days, when it was already setting a different tone for how startup communities could work. As a traditional business owner entering the new-age D2C space, eChai supported me in every direction. Over the years, it became my window to the startup world — and also gave me lifelong friends who continue to show up, for business and beyond."
Pankaj Bhimani
Founder, 58miles
“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.
