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

"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
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
"eChai has been a game-changer for Hungrito, providing us with invaluable connections, insights, and opportunities that have significantly fueled our growth.ย 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

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