At eChai Ventures, we are collaborating with the Accel on the Accel Atoms program, along with many other good folks from the ecosystem.

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Accel is back with the fourth cohort of their pre seed accelerator - Accel Atoms.
Over the last 3 cohorts, they’ve funded 30+ startups who’ve collectively raised more than $200 Million. With their fourth cohort they’re looking to invest in founders building in two thriving sectors - AI & Bharat.

What is the AI opportunity? 🤖

Microprocessors led the first tech revolution, which was followed by the internet. The third tech revolution is led by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is a global opportunity for any Indian-origin founder to build AI applications for business cases or to building development/ foundational tools in the AI ecosystem.

What is the Bharat opportunity? 🇮🇳

The top 20 per cent of the rural population has a higher monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) than about 50 per cent of the urban population. This highlights the substantial purchasing power & opportunity that is often overlooked in Bharat.

Who should apply for Accel Atoms? 🫵🏻

Accel Atoms is looking ambitious founders with an ambitious idea in AI or Bharat. This includes startups at the pre-seed stage to startups in the idea-stage/ pre-product stage.

Why should you apply for Accel Atoms? 🤔

When selected, you’ll receive up to $1 Million in funding, perks worth $5 Million & access to a community of 300+ founders. You will also get access to a dedicated learning track to set up your startup for long term success.

Applications are open till the 17th Nov.

You can learn more and apply for this program here:
https://atoms.accel.com/apply

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"For me, eChai is a second home. I've been associated with it since the early days, when it was already setting a different tone for how startup communities could work. As a traditional business owner entering the new-age D2C space, eChai supported me in every direction. Over the years, it became my window to the startup world — and also gave me lifelong friends who continue to show up, for business and beyond."
Pankaj Bhimani - Founder, 58miles
Pankaj Bhimani
Founder, 58miles
"eChai has been a game changer in my journey. It connected me with real people, real support and real opportunities. From building HMMBiz to launching Mindalcove, eChai has played a key role at every step. Grateful to be part of a community that truly believes in growing together."
Hardik Manwani - CTO, Mind Alcove
Hardik Manwani
CTO, Mind Alcove
“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
Utpal Vaishnav
Founder @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP

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.