Rebuilding a Startup Life in India After 8 Years in Canada — And Finding a Community That Got It

Rebuilding a Startup Life in India After 8 Years in Canada — And Finding a Community That Got It
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®.

Startup Stream

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

“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
Shrijay Sheth
Founder at LegalWiz.in and Hire4Higher Consulting
"eChai has played a truly pivotal role in HummingBird’s journey — even before Day Zero. From ideation to establishment and into growth, it’s been a constant source of support. It connected me with incredible people who’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 — both personally and professionally — in ways that are hard to articulate. Honestly, words fall short when I try to express what eChai means to me. I’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
"If there’s one phrase that sums up my journey, it’s truly ‘The eChai Effect.’ Six years ago, I simply walked into my first eChai event, not knowing what to expect. The honest conversations, energy, and inspiration from founders and entrepreneurs struck a chord within me. That eChai spark became the catalyst for everything to follow. I proudly say: my entrepreneurship journey started—and keeps evolving—because of eChai. Redicine Medsol’s story is integrally linked to this community. I’ve gained so much, not just as a founder but as a forever volunteer and grateful member of the eChai family. With all my heart, thank you Jatin Bhai and everyone at eChai for shaping, guiding, and supporting my dreams. The eChai Effect will always be a part of my story."
Kush Prajapati - Founder, Redicine Medsol
Kush Prajapati
Founder, Redicine Medsol

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.