The thing that gives me a high is dealing with setbacks.
Setbacks across closing deals, building a team, raising capital or trying different experiments.
Entrepreneurship is one of the few professions where setbacks are often because market is a great equaliser. It doesn't care what you have accomplished previously. It only looks for how will you help it today move forward, faster.
Setbacks also help me learn a little more about myself and how I am as a person under pressure. Every setback reveals a little more about myself to me.
On the flip side, when you succeed, the joy is that much more as well.
For me, entrepreneurship is a journey of successes and set backs. The idea is to survive till the point where ultimately, your successes are a little more than set backs.
There are no endings, no credit roll, no happily ever after - just riding a wave - sometimes with it and other times against it. And that gives me a high.
Setbacks across closing deals, building a team, raising capital or trying different experiments.
Entrepreneurship is one of the few professions where setbacks are often because market is a great equaliser. It doesn't care what you have accomplished previously. It only looks for how will you help it today move forward, faster.
Setbacks also help me learn a little more about myself and how I am as a person under pressure. Every setback reveals a little more about myself to me.
On the flip side, when you succeed, the joy is that much more as well.
For me, entrepreneurship is a journey of successes and set backs. The idea is to survive till the point where ultimately, your successes are a little more than set backs.
There are no endings, no credit roll, no happily ever after - just riding a wave - sometimes with it and other times against it. And that gives me a high.
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
"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
CEO, Hummingbird, An eChai Company
"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
“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
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.
