🎯 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 isn’t just about launching ventures; it’s about discovering the hero within, pushing your limits, and thriving in the face of challenges. 💪

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! 🎉

I’m beyond grateful to have been part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, alongside 110 heroes from 37 countries. Draper University isn’t about being spoon-fed; it’s 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 of #SanMateo or sleeping under the stars in Northern California Wilderness pushed me beyond my comfort zone in the best possible way. 🌟

Leaving loved ones for 40 days wasn’t 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 – you guys are rockstars & a special thanks to my stellar team back home – Mansi Baheti, Tanya Mary, Deepika Palreddy and Vignesh S – for keeping things running smoothly at Draper Startup House India while I was away. 🙌

To all the friends I’ve made from around the world, I can’t wait to reconnect with you in the years to come. 🌍

One key takeaway for me: *Amor fati* – 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, here’s my advice: *Just say YES.* Trust me, you won’t regret it.

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"We found eChai to be a force multiplier throughout our startup journey. Through it, we connected with folks from DevX, Allevents, Plutomen, and more - many of whom became friends of IndiaBizForSale.com and even part of our clientele."
Bhavin S Bhagat - Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
Bhavin S Bhagat
Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
"After moving back from the USA, eChai became my go-to space to learn how the Indian startup ecosystem works. It offered direct exposure to startup thinking and a community that openly shares business insights. What stood out was how easy it was to connect, learn, and grow through real conversations. As we built our IT hardware rentals business, eChai helped us find our niche and refine our path. Proud and grateful to be part of this amazing community."
Heet Sheth - Growth and Tech, Sheth Info
Heet Sheth
Growth and Tech, Sheth Info
"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
yash shah
Chairman, ES Group of Companies

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