The First Welcome in Silicon Valley: Nirman Dave, CEO, Zams

The First Welcome in Silicon Valley: Nirman Dave, CEO, Zams
As part of The First Welcome in Silicon Valley series, I have been asking founder friends to share their stories of the first welcome they experienced in Silicon Valley. These are the people, the moments, and the gestures that stayed with them.

In this stream, Nirman Dave, Co-founder and CEO of Zams, shared three moments that defined his early steps in the Valley.

Nirman is now building Zams, his AI command center for B2B sales teams, bringing tools like Salesforce, Hubspot, Slack, Apollo, and Gong into one place. Before Zams, he co-founded Obviously AI (2020–2024), a no-code AI platform for data analysis.

>  "Murtaza Hussain was the cofounder of Streamlabs, which sold to Logitech for $200M. I cold-emailed him asking for an internship. They didn’t take interns. He gave me one anyway."

> "Asha Jadeja was the reason I ever set foot in the US. She flew me from India for the Rajeev Circle Fellowship at Stanford even before I started college. That was my first glimpse of Silicon Valley. Later, when I started my first company and needed a place to stay, she gave me hers."

> "Chon Tang was the first investor in my company. I was still in college. I had no track record. He backed me anyway."

Nirman’s story shows how the first welcome can take many forms. An internship that wasn’t supposed to exist, a fellowship that changed his path, or an investor who believed without proof. Each of these acts became part of his foundation in Silicon Valley.
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 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
"At DevX.Work, we’ve greatly benefited from our association with eChai. Their events and networking forums have connected us with high-potential startups, ecosystem leaders, and innovation-driven professionals — many of whom have become valuable partners, collaborators, and even clients. What stands out most is the openness and accessibility of the community — whether you're an early-stage founder or an experienced entrepreneur, eChai provides a welcoming space to learn, collaborate, and grow. It's more than just a network — it's a catalyst for real, collaborative growth. We’re proud to be part of the eChai community. Highly recommended for any organization aiming to grow within the startup space."
Umesh Uttamchandani - Co-Founder, DevX
Umesh Uttamchandani
Co-Founder, DevX

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.