How To Stand Out at Conferences ft.

At a crowded conference, most people play it safe. Navy suits, black blazers, muted tones—they blend in because blending in feels comfortable. It’s predictable. But predictable doesn’t get remembered.

Then there’s
Umesh Uttamchandani Umesh Uttamchandani
, Founder of DevX, at the India Global Forum in Dubai. He walks in wearing a pink blazer. Not because he has to. Not because it’s expected. He does it because it’s a signal. It says, “I’m here. I’m confident. I’m worth noticing.” And people notice. They always do. Someone compliments the blazer. Someone else starts a conversation. The door opens, and suddenly, the pink blazer isn’t just fabric—it’s the beginning of something.

And then there’s
Koumal Kalantry Koumal Kalantry
, Founder of BigNano Ventures, at the eChai Startup Conference in Bangalore. She’s on stage, wearing a red blazer—bold, unmissable, deliberate. In a room where most people fade into the background, Koumal owns the spotlight. Her choice of red isn’t an accident. It’s strategy. Eyes turn. Attention follows. And before a single word is spoken, she’s already set the tone.

Here’s the thing: Umesh and Koumal didn’t just choose colors. They chose to stand out. They chose to be memorable. Because at a conference, being invisible is easy. It’s what most people do. But the ones who make an impact? They don’t wait to be noticed—they demand it.

Your wardrobe isn’t just clothing. It’s a story. A statement. A signal. When you dress with intention, you’re not just wearing a blazer. You’re giving people a reason to stop, look, and listen. And that’s how you turn a moment into a connection.

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 - Founder, HummingBird Consulting Group
Harsha Bhurani
Founder, HummingBird Consulting Group
“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 @ Polynxt (EightQor Capital, Upsquare, House of Starts) • Architect & Capital Allocator
Utpal Vaishnav
Founder @ Polynxt (EightQor Capital, Upsquare, House of Starts) • Architect & Capital Allocator
"I attended my first eChai event 3 yrs back, and no one knew me in the market. Over the next three years, eChai didn’t only help me with knowledge or networking, but it gave me an identity from being unknown to now being recognized by a group of inspirational entrepreneurs connected with eChai, who have been gracious enough to acknowledge me and Digipple."
Viraj Rajani - Co-Founder, Digipple
Viraj Rajani
Co-Founder, Digipple

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