Biggest Entrepreneurship Conclave in Delhi/NCR was High on Josh!!!

eChai was one of the community partners for Headstart Delhi's Biggest Entrepreneurship Conclave in Delhi/NCR - the 125th edition of Startup Saturday.

Headstart Network Foundation is one of India's oldest and largest startup ecosystem development organizations. Established in 2007, they have been chasing the vision 'changing the world with entrepreneurship' ever since.

A not-for-profit organization, almost entirely volunteer-driven, they have helped numerous startups showcase their offerings and get feedback on their products, facilitated tens of thousands of connections to potential co-founders, customers, vendors, mentors, investors, and employees. They are all in it for the love of building and sustaining communities. Headstart volunteers are a passionate bunch - entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship enthusiasts, with a fervent desire and commitment to being change agents.

On 18th May, Delhi Chapter of Headstart Network Foundation celebrated 125th edition of Startup Saturday, their flagship initiative, that happens across multiple Indian cities on the 2nd Saturday of every month, on a particular theme which typically includes expert talks on a focused subject, panel discussions, startup pitches and demos.

You can also check out the contextually curated highlights from social media about #SSDelhi125 here.

While Delhi Chapter has been in existence for more than a decade now fostering entrepreneurship, but there was a different energy at India Islamic Cultural Center last Saturday. 20+ volunteers of Headstart Delhi and Headstart Gurgaon worked tirelessly to bring the best of startup ecosystem in Delhi/NCR under one roof with 400+ young aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, 30+ partners supporting the initiative, a power-packed agenda and a stellar line-up of 30+ speakers, jury and investors including, Dinesh Agarwal (Founder and CEO, IndiaMART), Abhiraj Bahl (Co-Founder, UrbanClap), Sairee Chahal (Founder, and CEO, SHEROES), Upasana Taku (Co-Founder, MobiKwik), Syna Dehnugara (Features Editor at CNBC-TV18 & Co-author of Young Turks), Padmaja Ruparel (Co-Founder at Indian Angel Network & Founding Partner of IAN Fund) and others sharing their entrepreneurial journey.

And this is not all, top 10 startups from Delhi/NCR battled to find the spot among top 3 startups at Kickstart - a closed-door pitching session where pre-selected start-ups selected from 200+ applications were invited to pitch in front of a panel of investors. Top Kickstart finalists include - Asha Didi, Funnearn, Gigzo, Secondhandkart.com (in no particular order).

Journey for Headstart continues, with the grand success of their Delhi Chapter the entire organization is now getting themselves ready for Headstart X - a celebration of the spirit of #PayingItForward as NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONCLAVE happening on 8th June at IIIT Hyderabad with more excitement, representation from 20+ cities across India, power speakers/talks, mentor sessions, startups pitches, investors, hands-on workshops.

You can also check out the contextually curated highlights from social media about #SSDelhi125 here.

We had also hosted the pre-event #SSDel125 TweetChat with Arpit Agarwal (Principal, Blume Ventures) and Amit Singh (MD, Headstart Network Foundation). You can read the complete summary here.


Startup Stream

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"From late-night brainstorming over chai to early morning founder calls, eChai has been more than just a network for me; it’s been home base for ideas, impact, and inspiration. What started as a simple meetup years ago turned into a powerful movement, connecting founders, creators, and dreamers. I’ve had the privilege of seeing startups find product-market fit, marketers (like me) find unexpected collaborations, and most importantly, people finding their tribe. संगच्छध्वं संवदध्वं – Let us move together, speak together. It’s not just a verse from the Rigveda — it’s how Jatin and the entire eChai community truly operate. We don’t just network, we grow together. Forever grateful to be a part of the eChai Effect.
Jaydip Parikh - Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
Jaydip Parikh
Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
"At DevX.Work, we’ve greatly benefited from our association with eChai. Their events and networking forums have connected us with high-potential startups, ecosystem leaders, and innovation-driven professionals — many of whom have become valuable partners, collaborators, and even clients. What stands out most is the openness and accessibility of the community — whether you're an early-stage founder or an experienced entrepreneur, eChai provides a welcoming space to learn, collaborate, and grow. It's more than just a network — it's a catalyst for real, collaborative growth. We’re proud to be part of the eChai community. Highly recommended for any organization aiming to grow within the startup space."
Umesh Uttamchandani - Co-Founder, DevX
Umesh Uttamchandani
Co-Founder, DevX
“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
Rushabh Shah
Managing Partner - STIR Advisors

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