The Impactful Teammate at IBGRiD
Mayank Patel first met us at our booth during EDI's annual fest when IndiaBizForSale.com was still just a discovery platform.
What stood out about him was his deep understanding of our vision. He appreciated the economic value we were trying to preserve by connecting buyers and sellers of businesses—helping businesses continue their legacy rather than shutting down.
At the time, Mayank was a professor of corporate finance, and he generously offered his support in any way we might need.
A Defining Moment
Initially, we avoided providing business valuation reports as a service, fearing that we couldn't maintain the quality we aimed for.
When Mayank offered to help, we decided to test his expertise on valuing our own family business. The result was incredible—not only was the valuation spot on, but it also helped us successfully sell the business at that price. Inspired by this success, we gradually started offering business valuation reports to our audience, led by Mayank.
Over time, this service became a game-changer. It significantly reduced deal failures caused by unrealistic asking prices, generated substantial revenue, and laid the foundation for our investment banking division, IBGRID.
Advice for Fellow Founders
Say "yes" to opportunities and be open to external support. Often, the right person may come with fresh ideas that challenge your initial assumptions.
Look for individuals who align with your mission and are willing to contribute beyond their immediate role. Empower them by creating an environment where they can innovate and grow.
For us, Mayank’s support not only launched a new service but also set a benchmark for quality. Today, we're fortunate to have him as part of our management team, where he leads IBGRID with the same passion that first drew us to him.
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
"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
"The eChai platform has been super valuable for me - it has helped me gain a deeper understanding of domains in the startup and tech ecosystem. What stands out most is the celebration of knowledge, professional growth, and entrepreneurship - it’s one of the best for the Indian ecosystem. Along the way, I’ve also been fortunate to make some great friendships and connections too."
Shalin (Shawn) Parikh
Founder, MyCPE One
“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
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.
