šÆ The Hero's Program at Draper University
When I first signed up for the Hero's Program, I thought it was all about startups. Boy, was I wrong. This experience isnāt just about launching ventures; itās about discovering the hero within, pushing your limits, and thriving in the face of challenges. šŖ
Picture this: 130 kilometers of walking and hiking in just four days, mixed with swimming, rowing, and running. Survival week, curated by US Navy SEALs, was a true test of grit, blood, sweat, and yes, tears. This journey was designed to build not just physical endurance, but the mental toughness to tackle any challenge with enthusiasm, energy, and a healthy dose of fun! š
Iām beyond grateful to have been part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, alongside 110 heroes from 37 countries. Draper University isnāt about being spoon-fed; itās about being thrown into the deep end (sometimes literally, like treasure-hunting in San Mateo at 4 AM and jumping into a freezing pool in the early morning!) and getting the job done. The spontaneity of pitching to Tim Draper while strolling through the streets ofĀ #SanMateo or sleeping under the stars in Northern California Wilderness pushed me beyond my comfort zone in the best possible way. š
Leaving loved ones for 40 days wasnāt easy, but it was worth every second. Huge shoutout to Karan Bahadur, Vikram Bharati, Asra N. for this great opportunity and the amazing Draper University team Waleed Arshad Mohammad Mustafa Hassan Suffiyan Malik Subah Zaeem Arisa Chelsea Ueno Umar Akram ā you guys are rockstars & a special thanks to my stellar team back home ā Mansi Baheti, Tanya Mary, Deepika Palreddy and Vignesh S ā for keeping things running smoothly at Draper Startup House India while I was away. š
To all the friends Iāve made from around the world, I canāt wait to reconnect with you in the years to come. š
One key takeaway for me: *Amor fati* ā love of fate. Look it up, and a big thanks to Roc Ryder for introducing me to this profound concept.
No more spoilers, but if you ever get the chance to join this program, hereās my advice: *Just say YES.* Trust me, you wonāt regret it.
When I first signed up for the Hero's Program, I thought it was all about startups. Boy, was I wrong. This experience isnāt just about launching ventures; itās about discovering the hero within, pushing your limits, and thriving in the face of challenges. šŖ
Picture this: 130 kilometers of walking and hiking in just four days, mixed with swimming, rowing, and running. Survival week, curated by US Navy SEALs, was a true test of grit, blood, sweat, and yes, tears. This journey was designed to build not just physical endurance, but the mental toughness to tackle any challenge with enthusiasm, energy, and a healthy dose of fun! š
Iām beyond grateful to have been part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, alongside 110 heroes from 37 countries. Draper University isnāt about being spoon-fed; itās about being thrown into the deep end (sometimes literally, like treasure-hunting in San Mateo at 4 AM and jumping into a freezing pool in the early morning!) and getting the job done. The spontaneity of pitching to Tim Draper while strolling through the streets ofĀ #SanMateo or sleeping under the stars in Northern California Wilderness pushed me beyond my comfort zone in the best possible way. š
Leaving loved ones for 40 days wasnāt easy, but it was worth every second. Huge shoutout to Karan Bahadur, Vikram Bharati, Asra N. for this great opportunity and the amazing Draper University team Waleed Arshad Mohammad Mustafa Hassan Suffiyan Malik Subah Zaeem Arisa Chelsea Ueno Umar Akram ā you guys are rockstars & a special thanks to my stellar team back home ā Mansi Baheti, Tanya Mary, Deepika Palreddy and Vignesh S ā for keeping things running smoothly at Draper Startup House India while I was away. š
To all the friends Iāve made from around the world, I canāt wait to reconnect with you in the years to come. š
One key takeaway for me: *Amor fati* ā love of fate. Look it up, and a big thanks to Roc Ryder for introducing me to this profound concept.
No more spoilers, but if you ever get the chance to join this program, hereās my advice: *Just say YES.* Trust me, you wonāt regret it.
Alberto AƱaƱos Ph.D Davit Zargaryan Tamu Petra Browne (DBA-Technology Entrepreneurship) Charles Fu Ray Kuo Jovy Yu Mostafa Masry FRANCISCO RAMIREZ Maxwell O. Chibuogwu, Ph.D Pavel Vinitsky, PhD Yazeed Alsulayhim Thamer Al-Gahtani and many more.
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
"If thereās one phrase that sums up my journey, itās truly āThe eChai Effect.ā Six years ago, I simply walked into my first eChai event, not knowing what to expect. The honest conversations, energy, and inspiration from founders and entrepreneurs struck a chord within me. That eChai spark became the catalyst for everything to follow. I proudly say: my entrepreneurship journey startedāand keeps evolvingābecause of eChai. Redicine Medsolās story is integrally linked to this community. Iāve gained so much, not just as a founder but as a forever volunteer and grateful member of the eChai family. With all my heart, thank you Jatin Bhai and everyone at eChai for shaping, guiding, and supporting my dreams. The eChai Effect will always be a part of my story."
Kush Prajapati
Founder, Redicine Medsol
"I attended my first eChai event 3 yrs back, and no one knew me in the market. Over the next three years, eChai didnāt 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 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 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.
