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! 🧠πŸ”₯πŸŒ†

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. πŸš€πŸŽ€βœ¨

We had the privilege of hosting two incredible speakers:

- Harnidh K., Head of Fund, WTFund – 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 πŸ’ΌπŸ’‘. It was mind-blowing 🀯 to learn that they receive 2500+ applications per cohort and every single one is read and vetted personally by the team – with zero AI or automation πŸ€“πŸ“„.

She also spent over an hour before and after the event chatting with founders 1:1 – total legend πŸ§ƒπŸ«Ά.

- Neha Lakhwara, CEO, Agility Ventures – Neha didn’t just talk about Agility's investment thesis πŸ’° and the sectors they’re bullish on πŸ“ŠπŸ› οΈ β€” she also shared why she will always bet on a founder who shows clarity & grit. 🧠πŸ’ͺ. She opened up about her favourite deal and what made it stand out πŸ’ŽπŸš€, plus gave a masterclass on the do’s and don’ts of a pitch deck – founders took notes like crazy πŸ“πŸ“‰πŸ“ˆ.

Huge shoutout to the 160+ attendees who brought the vibe, fired sharp questions πŸ”₯🧨 (some controversial ones too πŸ‘€) and stayed till the very end πŸ’¬πŸŒ™.

We pulled this off thanks to the kindest speakers who gave us their time and wisdom, expecting nothing in return πŸ•ŠοΈπŸ’™.

Can’t wait to host Harnidh and Neha again at Draper Startup House soon πŸ πŸ”
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. ΰ€Έΰ€‚ΰ€—ΰ€šΰ₯ΰ€›ΰ€§ΰ₯ΰ€΅ΰ€‚ ΰ€Έΰ€‚ΰ€΅ΰ€¦ΰ€§ΰ₯ΰ€΅ΰ€‚ – Let us move together, speak together. It’s not just a verse from the Rigveda β€” 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
β€œeChai 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
"eChai has been a game-changer for Hungrito, providing us with invaluable connections, insights, and opportunities that have significantly fueled our growth.Β eChai has introduced us to a global network of entrepreneurs and experts, fueling our growth and opening doors to new opportunities from Ahmedabad to Dubai. The community has become like a second family to us, providing support, guidance, and valuable insights as startup entrepreneurs."
Sahil Shah - Founder- Hungrito & Netsavvies. Digital Marketing Evangelist
Sahil Shah
Founder- Hungrito & Netsavvies. Digital Marketing Evangelist

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.