For an entire week, Nihal Ahamed M and I found ourselves venting our frustrations about feeling underwhelmed with the current community activities for early-stage founders. We were eager to take our eChai Ventures Chennai Chapter to the next level but felt like we were searching in the dark.
That was until we met the Sai Ranganathan AVP of StartupTN. His drive, wise thoughts, and inclusive strategy for the TN startup ecosystem left me pleasantly surprised. It’s easy to get lost in one vertical and believe it’s the only one that matters, but his insights inspired me to think broader, more comprehensively, and with an eye on the future.
It was the push we needed at the right time. Now, something is cooking, and things are brewing! I’m absolutely excited and can’t wait to take this to the next level.
A big thank you to Bala Subramanian for setting up this meeting!
That was until we met the Sai Ranganathan AVP of StartupTN. His drive, wise thoughts, and inclusive strategy for the TN startup ecosystem left me pleasantly surprised. It’s easy to get lost in one vertical and believe it’s the only one that matters, but his insights inspired me to think broader, more comprehensively, and with an eye on the future.
It was the push we needed at the right time. Now, something is cooking, and things are brewing! I’m absolutely excited and can’t wait to take this to the next level.
A big thank you to Bala Subramanian for setting up this meeting!
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
CEO, Hummingbird Talent (An eChai Company)
"I attended my first eChai event 3 yrs back, and no one knew me in the market. Over the next three years, eChai didn’t only help me with knowledge or networking, but it gave me an identity from being unknown to now being recognized by a group of inspirational entrepreneurs connected with eChai, who have been gracious enough to acknowledge me and Digipple."
Viraj Rajani
Co-Founder, Digipple
“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 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.
