I believe weekends are for introspection and reflecting on our journeys and I'm so grateful I got to do that with the eChai Ventures community in Mumbai.
Sharing the story of NUVO Wallet and our future trajectory was a privilege.
The ambiance was beautiful.
While my core message was aimed at inspiring women to follow their hearts and choose entrepreneurship - it was fantastic to see so many men there who also championed the value of building something from the ground up.
Mumbai, your never-say-die attitude never ceases to amaze me.
Thank you to Jatin Chaudhary & Harsha Bhurani for inviting me to share my journey and a special thanks to Pooja Dhole whose skillful moderation made the session so dynamic.
To every woman dreaming of starting her own venture - don't wait for the perfect moment.
That moment is now.
Your journey will have its ups and downs…but the chance to build… to create… and to lead… is an unparalleled experience.
Almost 8 years in Canada, and now back in India for the past 8 months.
I call this the ultimate reset, starting everything from zero.
There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t question if I made the right decision. Reverse culture shock is real.
So is building something that doesn’t exist — and maybe won’t, unless I do it. I want to say I love it.
But I also hate it at the same time. This new journey comes with a weird fog.
You feel like you’re doing something wrong, just because you don’t see anyone around you on the same path.
No like-minded people. No similar shoes. Just you, jumping without a parachute.
When I moved back, I didn’t want to do it alone. I wanted to start a community, not just a product. A crew of people inside the ecosystem who were also figuring it out from scratch.
That’s when I found eChai Ventures and Jatin Chaudhary What they’ve built over more than a decade is impossible to replicate. It’s the kind of force that holds together the chaos of India’s startup system. And the more I spent time around them, the more I realized: their impact is bigger than you can see upfront.
They’ve been part of people’s journeys for so long, they see things the rest of us miss. Insights you won’t get anywhere, not even if you’re paying.
I started going to their events. They do a lot of them.
Not just across India. Globally.
They made the ecosystem feel less like a club and more like a campfire.
From weekly box cricket to being in the rooms where real AI conversations happen at Upsquare®.
It was a true honour to speak at the "Sales Masterclass for Startups : Ahmedabad Edition" organized by eChai Ventures yesterday,
A massive thank you to Jatin Chaudhary and the entire eChai Ventures team for creating such an impactful platform for startup founders. It was a privilege to share the stage with another insightful speaker, Yash Shah (Co-founder, Momentum. Ex Clientjoy), and delve deep into how founders can truly leverage sales strategies for early-stage success.
I had the fantastic opportunity to discuss critical aspects including:
- Getting Customers in the Early Stages: Practical approaches to land those crucial first deals and build initial traction.
- Mastering the Pitch: Crafting compelling narratives to effectively present to prospects and turn rejections into valuable relationships.
- Defining a Winning Pricing Strategy: Insights into setting prices that reflect value and drive growth.
The energy and engagement from all the attendees were incredible. Your insightful questions and active participation made the session truly interactive and rewarding. I hope the frameworks and real-world stories shared will provide actionable strategies for your entrepreneurial journeys.
Looking forward to more such enriching discussions!
This Sunday, from 3 to 6 pm, a group of rebels gathered ... not for gyaan, but for AI-first workflow rewiring.
We didn’t talk about “what AI can do.” We showed what we are doing ... with it.
From rocket .new to Claude.code agents, ChatGPT + Gemini to granola .ai, lovable, hume, emergent ... each tool had a champion. Each workflow, a story. Each person, a perspective.
We explored:
→ Why Business Process Reengineering is no longer a Six Sigma luxury—it’s survival. → Why AI Horror Stories start with blind use, not bold use. → Why Full-Stack Thinking beats tool-stacking.
No slides. No spectators. Just hands-on demos. Laughter. A few “oh damn” moments.
We didn’t leave with answers. We left with upgrades ... mindset, skillset, drive... and toolsets to execute next.
We had a packed room, some super interesting founder pitches, and a whole lot of wisdom and warmth.
Huge gratitude to Pras Hanuma, who literally came straight from the airport after a delayed flight - thank you for showing up with such presence and generosity 🙏
Thank you to the amazing team at DevX for the vibrant work space, and to Jatin Chaudhary and eChai Ventures for giving me the opportunity to host this incredible session!
We need more mornings like this in Mumbai! One where founders show up, ask better questions, and leave a little more inspired than when they walked in.
"I have evolved from role of Community Builder to Startup Consultant to Startup Ecosystem Enabler to Angel Investor and now launching a Venture Studio and eChai has been a catalyst in my overall journey as Startup Evangelist since 13 years."
Mehul Shah
Co-Founder at Counselvise & Ivy Growth
“I have no hesitation in saying that my association with eChai has been a gateway into the startup ecosystem. Through this platform, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many young and dynamic entrepreneurs. These interactions have been immensely enriching - I’ve learned a great deal and have always tried to offer guidance whenever approached. It’s a truly symbiotic relationship that I deeply value, and it wouldn’t have been possible without eChai.”
Syed Nadeem Jafri
Founder, Hearty Mart
“When we launched LegalWiz.in back in 2016, concept of procuring legal and compliance services through a digital commerce platform wasn't as prominent in India. eChai played a significant role in providing the early adopters, and building significant positioning in the startup fraternity. Overtime, eChai grew to be a massive network of like-minded entrepreneurs and extended that benefit to all the members in a true "co-rise" spirit. I personally love to attend eChai events, learn from subject matter experts who share relatable and actionable insights and experiences. For startup journeys, it is so important to be surrounded by people who can add relevance, perspective, and push you to do better. Most importantly a group of people where you aren't being judged about things going right or wrong, but be a motivational force that keeps you going, yet keeping you in check. eChai is that place for me!”
Shrijay Sheth
Founder at LegalWiz.in and Hire4Higher Consulting
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.
