Back-to-Back Fundraises from Ahmedabad Founders: Optimized Electrotech Raises $6M, Magma Secures $5M

Back-to-Back Fundraises from Ahmedabad Founders: Optimized Electrotech Raises $6M, Magma Secures $5M
Some weeks, the ecosystem speaks for itself.

In just couple of days, two Ahmedabad-based startups — Optimized Electrotech and Magma — announced their latest fundraises, each reflecting the kind of focused, long-term building that’s quietly shaping the city’s startup landscape.

..

Optimized Electrotech, co-founded by Sandeep Shah and Dharin Shah, secured $6 million in Series A funding, led by Blume Ventures and Mela Ventures. The round also saw participation from 9Unicorns, Venture Catalysts, and the Rajiv Dadlani Group.

The company is building electro-optic surveillance systems for defence, aerospace, and space — systems that combine advanced imaging with real-time AI analytics. With applications ranging from border security to autonomous ISR missions, they’re betting on a future where intelligence is not just collected, but interpreted on the edge, fast.

This raise will help them scale R&D, expand internationally, and build next-gen payloads designed for extreme environments.

https://x.com/BlumeVentures/status/1912059645361045808

..

Magma, led by Neal Thakker, announced its own $5 million Series A round, backed by Capria Ventures with support from Avinya Ventures, General Catalyst, Accion Venture Lab, and Sanjiv Rangrass.

Magma helps factories manage raw materials, green energy, industrial waste, and logistics through a single B2B platform. With over 250 manufacturers already onboard — including players like Adani, Arvind, and Reliance — they’ve reached a ₹250 crore annual revenue run-rate and are eyeing ₹1,000 crore over the next two years.

This funding will fuel deeper tech development, backward integration, and scale their infra-layer approach for Indian manufacturing.

https://x.com/nealzyneal/status/1912539239792656461

..

PS: I recently made a short video on the rise of the Ahmedabad startup ecosystem — the energy, the builders, and what’s quietly taking shape here.

https://x.com/jatin10/status/1899758803371094380


Startup Stream

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"For me, eChai is a second home. I've been associated with it since the early days, when it was already setting a different tone for how startup communities could work. As a traditional business owner entering the new-age D2C space, eChai supported me in every direction. Over the years, it became my window to the startup world — and also gave me lifelong friends who continue to show up, for business and beyond."
Pankaj Bhimani - Founder, 58miles
Pankaj Bhimani
Founder, 58miles
“You don’t plan to build a company via eChai. You just keep showing up … and one day, you realize you did.” I’ve known Jatin since 2012, when I was still deciding what kind of second innings I wanted to play as an entrepreneur. Over the years, through events, chai breaks, intros, and seemingly small conversations, eChai helped shape not just Upsquare but also refined the lens through which we see collaboration. At Upsquare, we’ve hired talent, met partners, discovered co-investors, and built lifelong friendships. One of our joint ventures exists today only because a casual eChai memory sparked a deeper trust. Now, as we build House of Starts — our venture builder — eChai continues to fuel our mission: co-creating a shared future. eChai isn’t just a startup network. It’s a trust network. And for business builders like me, that makes all the difference."
Utpal Vaishnav - Founder @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP
Utpal Vaishnav
Founder @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP
"eChai isn’t just a startup community … it’s a mindset . 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 — people who genuinely want to see you succeed. 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 — 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.