Meet Vaishvi Bansal , a former founder of StarYup Ventures, turned investor and now serving as a Portfolio Manager at Marwari Catalysts

Marwari Catalysts is an accelerator program that invests in early-stage startups.
They first provide mentorship for 3 months and then invest in the startups, offering guidance across all segments of the business.

🌟 Favorite Startup: Cloud Kitchen Prasadam 🌟
She shared that one of her favourite startups is a cloud kitchen that prepares Prasad and sends it directly to customers' homes.

📌 Tips for Aspiring Founders:

1. Do Your Research: Vaishvi advises founders to thoroughly research and approach venture capitalists who specifically invest in their sector. Understanding the investor’s focus area can significantly increase your chances of securing funding

2. Tailor Your Pitch: When preparing to pitch, it’s crucial to tailor your presentation to the specific requirements of the investor.
A personalized pitch demonstrates that you’ve done your homework and are serious about your venture.

📚 Vaishvi's Recommendations:
• Atomic Habits by James Clear: Vaishvi highly recommends this book, which has been instrumental in her journey. It teaches how small, consistent actions can lead to significant impact over time—valuable advice for any founder

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Upon being asked what she enjoys most, Vaishvi shares that she enjoyed her time as a founder more than as an investor. Why? Because as a founder, you get to build everything from scratch—a process she finds incredibly exciting.

Reach out to Vaishvi Bansal if you are looking for investment for Startups.

Key Takeaways from Vaishvi Bansal:
✅ Enjoy the startup journey and embrace the challenges of building from scratch.
✅ Research and approach investors who align with your sector.
✅ Customize your pitch to match the investor's specific interests and requirements.
✅ Consistency is key—small habits can create big impacts.

I would like to thanks Vaishvi Bansal and other panelist Aditi Sinha and Ashna Agarwal for sharing their insights and tips for the investment.

A special thanks to eChai Ventures , Draper Startup House , and the amazing co-hosts Radhika Mohta , and moderator Mansi Baheti, Nivin Joseph , and Tanya mary for organizing such an insightful event.

P.S. Feel free to reach out to me, Bhavik Gupta and follow Startups Manch, if you’re interested in startups, funding, finding innovative ideas, or exploring new opportunities.

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"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
Koumal Kalantry
Founder, Bignano Ventures
"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
Jaydip Parikh
Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
"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 - Founder, HummingBird Consulting Group
Harsha Bhurani
Founder, HummingBird Consulting Group

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