That’s a wrap on the D2C Mixer!

What an incredible evening of insights, connections, and real conversations with Akshay Gulati (Slikk), Srinivas Sarkar (Coupl® (YC S22)), and Nischal Sharma (Minicult.in)! A big thank you to our speakers for their candid sharing.

Thank you eChai Ventures and Jatin Chaudhary for co-hosting the mixer.

Key takeaways from our power-packed evening:
🔸 You can’t hire rockstars every day, but you can build processes that help average people create extraordinary results
🔸 Build what customers want, not what you think they want
🔸 Master one niche before expanding to others
🔸 Don’t raise capital just because you can - look for strategic value
🔸 Own customer relationships, even on marketplaces
🔸 Partner strategically - understand both user and buyer
🔸 Women drive shared purchase decisions for Coupl - crucial for D2C targeting
🔸 Focus on processes that make success repeatable
🔸 Create frameworks where anyone can deliver quality

Thank you Vishnu Chowdhary 🔥 (D2C Simplified) for being a part of this and keeping it super engaging!

Special shoutout to our community partners: Razorpay Rize, Recur Club, Entrepreneur's Cafe, The Ecosystem Community

Stay tuned for more such events!




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
"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 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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