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
"I attended my first eChai event 3 yrs back, and no one knew me in the market. Over the next three years, eChai didnโ€™t only help me with knowledge or networking, but it gave me an identity from being unknown to now being recognized by a group of inspirational entrepreneurs connected with eChai, who have been gracious enough to acknowledge me and Digipple."
Viraj Rajani - Co-Founder, Digipple
Viraj Rajani
Co-Founder, Digipple
โ€œI have no hesitation in saying that my association with eChai has been a gateway into the startup ecosystem. Through this platform, Iโ€™ve had the opportunity to connect with many young and dynamic entrepreneurs. These interactions have been immensely enriching - Iโ€™ve learned a great deal and have always tried to offer guidance whenever approached. Itโ€™s a truly symbiotic relationship that I deeply value, and it wouldnโ€™t have been possible without eChai.โ€
Syed Nadeem Jafri - Founder, Hearty Mart
Syed Nadeem Jafri
Founder, Hearty Mart

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.