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
"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
"eChai is playing biggest role in my personal and professional life together. Its a community where i meet like minded people to share idea and learn from their idea. Even while playing cricket i learn something and i implement something new from that learning. Its my entry point for building network in different countries where my base is not established yet. Personally my only fun activity day in a week is eChai cricket and social."
yash shah
Chairman, ES Group of Companies
“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.
