Last week, we hosted a Round Table in Pune for CallHippo on “The Future of Business Communication.” The room was packed with folks from big call centers and IT giants, all trying their best to look very futuristic 😁 .
The hot topic? AI. And somewhere between the coffee breaks we collectively coined a term: The Fear of the Nokia Fate.
Here’s the gist: Every organization is throwing money at AI like it's a Black Friday sale. Why? FOMO. Everyone’s terrified of missing out on the next big thing, even though most of them don’t have a clue what they’re actually trying to achieve.
Now, here's the kicker: Every time someone in the organization dares to ask, “Hey, should we maybe figure out our goals before burning more money on AI?” another person stands up and dramatically says, “Remember Nokia?” Cue collective gasps.
The Nokia legend goes like this: Nokia didn’t embrace smartphones fast enough and poof!—they vanished into the corporate Bermuda Triangle. Never mind that the story is oversimplified; it’s the mic-drop moment in every AI debate. Nobody argues after the Nokia card is played.
And that’s how we arrived at The Fear of the Nokia Fate—the corporate boogeyman ensuring that AI budgets stay bloated and slightly aimless. Because nobody wants to be the next Nokia.
Here are the people who were there at the round table and contributed to coining this term:
"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
“eChai has been that turning point in my journey. It gave me a platform when I wasn’t looking for visibility but needed direction. Over the years, it became more than just a network. It became my tribe; a place where conversations sparked collaborations, and strangers became trusted sounding boards. What I value most is how effortlessly eChai brings people together - no airs, no filters, just genuine people with shared dreams. I owe a lot to this community and to Jatin, whose consistency and belief in people have shaped journeys like mine. Forever grateful to be part of something so real.”
Rushabh Shah
Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
"I have evolved from role of Community Builder to Startup Consultant to Startup Ecosystem Enabler to Angel Investor and now launching a Venture Studio and eChai has been a catalyst in my overall journey as Startup Evangelist since 13 years."
Mehul Shah
Co-Founder at Counselvise & Ivy Growth
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.