Is #Community Building Just a New Buzzword That Has Recently Popped Up?
Last week, I attended the #Bangalore Community Builders Mixer at Urban Vault. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with friends in this space.
One interesting discussion we had was about whether community building is just a new buzzword. While the term might be new, the practice has been around for centuries. Religious institutions are prime examples of communities coming together for the betterment of humanity and their beliefs, continuing their processes and rituals even without the physical presence of their leaders.
A personal favorite example of modern community-led growth is #Bitcoin. It has no CEO, CFO, or COO, yet it is widely adopted globally. At Draper Startup House, we firmly believe in the power of community, and we love building it every day. Communities like eChai Ventures and The Product Folks have been thriving for over half a decade.
Sohail Khan pointed out beautifully that communities with great SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) endure forever without needing their creators to constantly manage them. I completely agree.
Benefits of Building a Community:
1. Reduce Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
2. Increase Brand Loyalty
3. Direct Interaction with Your Customers for Feedback
4. Foster Collaboration Leading to Partnerships
5. Enhanced Customer Retention
6. Create a Support System for Members
7. Drive Organic Growth Through Word-of-Mouth
8. Build a Strong Brand Identity and Reputation
Last week, I attended the #Bangalore Community Builders Mixer at Urban Vault. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with friends in this space.
One interesting discussion we had was about whether community building is just a new buzzword. While the term might be new, the practice has been around for centuries. Religious institutions are prime examples of communities coming together for the betterment of humanity and their beliefs, continuing their processes and rituals even without the physical presence of their leaders.
A personal favorite example of modern community-led growth is #Bitcoin. It has no CEO, CFO, or COO, yet it is widely adopted globally. At Draper Startup House, we firmly believe in the power of community, and we love building it every day. Communities like eChai Ventures and The Product Folks have been thriving for over half a decade.
Sohail Khan pointed out beautifully that communities with great SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) endure forever without needing their creators to constantly manage them. I completely agree.
Benefits of Building a Community:
1. Reduce Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
2. Increase Brand Loyalty
3. Direct Interaction with Your Customers for Feedback
4. Foster Collaboration Leading to Partnerships
5. Enhanced Customer Retention
6. Create a Support System for Members
7. Drive Organic Growth Through Word-of-Mouth
8. Build a Strong Brand Identity and Reputation
#Communitybuilding is not just a trend; it's a timeless practice that drives real results.
Special thanks to the Urban Vault team for putting this mixer together: Amal Mishra, Devishree A and Simran Chanda.
Special thanks to the Urban Vault team for putting this mixer together: Amal Mishra, Devishree A and Simran Chanda.
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
“I have no hesitation in saying that my association with eChai has been a gateway into the startup ecosystem. Through this platform, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many young and dynamic entrepreneurs. These interactions have been immensely enriching - I’ve learned a great deal and have always tried to offer guidance whenever approached. It’s a truly symbiotic relationship that I deeply value, and it wouldn’t have been possible without eChai.”
Syed Nadeem Jafri
Founder, Hearty Mart
“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
"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 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.
