Not Just March 8th: How eChai Women Founders Showed Up in April in Mumbai

Wasn’t 8th March International Women’s Day? Then what made 12th April 2025 so special?

Because at eChai Ventures 's Women’s Day meetup, we celebrated women beyond just a date on the calendar.

From 18-year-old dreamers to seasoned professionals, from those just starting out to industry experts — it was a space where stories collided, inspiration flowed, and connections sparked.

It was empowering to be among women redefining what it means to lead — whether it’s teaching bike riding or safeguarding businesses through cybersecurity. The spectrum of energy, strength, and ambition was nothing short of powerful.

Key takeaways that echoed throughout the room:

1. You don’t need to find the road not taken — create one, and show the world why it wasn’t taken yet.

2. Show up — even when you're not sure where it’s leading. That’s how journeys begin.

3. A Convo we had during the meetup that how #womeninmaledominatedfields was once a trend on Instagram but now?

- It isn't just a trend, it's the reality.
- We're surrounded with women in entrepreneurship, a field assumed to be male dominated in itself.

Here’s to the women who are building, leading, and rewriting the rules — one bold step at a time.

Special thanks to Jatin Chaudhary for this initiative!

Let’s continue building this tribe of fearless women. Connect. Collaborate. Create. 

Rinky V. Shraddha Nagrani Ria Rohatgi Aarti Banerjee XACKTON

#XACKTON #eChai #WomensDayEveryday 

Startup Stream

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

“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 @ Polynxt (EightQor Capital, Upsquare, House of Starts) • Architect & Capital Allocator
Utpal Vaishnav
Founder @ Polynxt (EightQor Capital, Upsquare, House of Starts) • Architect & Capital Allocator
“eChai 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
"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

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