160 Founders, 2 VCs, and 1 Unfiltered Fundraising Night at eChai x Draper in Bengaluru

160 Founders, 2 VCs, and 1 Unfiltered Fundraising Night at eChai x Draper in Bengaluru

We pushed the limits of our terrace space by hosting over 160+ #entrepreneurs last Saturday! ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐ŸŒ†

The Bengaluru Startup Meetup on Fundraising for Startups, co-hosted with eChai Ventures, turned out to be one of our most high-energy events yet at Draper Startup House, Bangalore. ๐Ÿš€๐ŸŽคโœจ

We had the privilege of hosting two incredible speakers:

- Harnidh K., Head of Fund, WTFund โ€“ She broke down their complete vetting process, what they truly look for in founders and why WTFund has become such a magnet for young entrepreneurs ๐Ÿ’ผ๐Ÿ’ก. It was mind-blowing ๐Ÿคฏ to learn that they receive 2500+ applications per cohort and every single one is read and vetted personally by the team โ€“ with zero AI or automation ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿ“„.

She also spent over an hour before and after the event chatting with founders 1:1 โ€“ total legend ๐Ÿงƒ๐Ÿซถ.

- Neha Lakhwara, CEO, Agility Ventures โ€“ Neha didnโ€™t just talk about Agility's investment thesis ๐Ÿ’ฐ and the sectors theyโ€™re bullish on ๐Ÿ“Š๐Ÿ› ๏ธ โ€” she also shared why she will always bet on a founder who shows clarity & grit. ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿ’ช. She opened up about her favourite deal and what made it stand out ๐Ÿ’Ž๐Ÿš€, plus gave a masterclass on the doโ€™s and donโ€™ts of a pitch deck โ€“ founders took notes like crazy ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ“‰๐Ÿ“ˆ.

Huge shoutout to the 160+ attendees who brought the vibe, fired sharp questions ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿงจ (some controversial ones too ๐Ÿ‘€) and stayed till the very end ๐Ÿ’ฌ๐ŸŒ™.

We pulled this off thanks to the kindest speakers who gave us their time and wisdom, expecting nothing in return ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ๐Ÿ’™.

Canโ€™t wait to host Harnidh and Neha again at Draper Startup House soon ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ”
Startup Stream

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

โ€œeChai has been that turning point in my journey. It gave me a platform when I wasnโ€™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.โ€
Rushabh Shah - Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
Rushabh Shah
Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
"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 HummingBirdโ€™s journey โ€” even before Day Zero. From ideation to establishment and into growth, itโ€™s been a constant source of support.ย It connected me with incredible people whoโ€™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 โ€” both personally and professionally โ€” in ways that are hard to articulate.ย Honestly, words fall short when I try to express what eChai means to me. Iโ€™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

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.