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

"We found eChai to be a force multiplier throughout our startup journey. Through it, we connected with folks from DevX, Allevents, Plutomen, and more - many of whom became friends of IndiaBizForSale.com and even part of our clientele."
Bhavin S Bhagat - Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
Bhavin S Bhagat
Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
"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 isn’t just a startup community … it’s a mindset .Β eChai has been one of the most impactful communities in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s been a turning point . In a world where building something can often feel isolating, eChai gave me a sense of belonging. I’ve found mentors, collaborators, and friends here β€” people who genuinely want to see you succeed.Β It’s a space where ideas are challenged, actions are celebrated, and founders grow not just in scale, but in clarity and confidence. From late-night ideas to early-morning pitches, this community has quietly but powerfully shaped the way I build, think, and dream. I’ll always be grateful for the way eChai creates spaces where founders don’t just grow businesses β€” they grow together."
Koumal Kalantry - Founder, Bignano Ventures
Koumal Kalantry
Founder, Bignano Ventures

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.