Bengaluru is one of those cities where startup momentum feels real — you just need to know where to look.
This guide by Plum makes that easy. It brings together the most relevant communities, accelerators, investors, and voices that help you get started, find your people, and plug into what’s happening.
If you're new to Bangalore or want to explore the ecosystem with more intention, this is a great place to begin.
Some standout insights:
30+ active communities and event series — from eChai and SaaSBoomi to Headstart and Blume Day One — with direct links and clear intros.
Accelerators and startup programs from AWS, 100X.VC, Capria, and Google for Startups — organized by stage and style.
25+ VC firms and accelerators with local presence — including Accel, Peak XV, Antler, Kae, Elevation, and more.
50+ X handles of builders, angels, and ecosystem enablers — to stay in the loop with real-time insights and opportunities.
Why I keep sharing this:
It’s not hype. It’s not a scene. It’s just genuinely useful for any founder trying to find momentum in Bangalore.
I end up recommending this to almost every founder who’s moved to the city or is here for a few weeks. It saves time, opens doors, and makes the city feel a little more yours.
Before they became well-known, these products were just trying to get 100 people to care.
This timeless piece from 2020 by Lenny Rachitsky explores how leading consumer apps like Reddit, Figma, Duolingo, and Clubhouse found their very first users. It features 40+ real examples of early traction that came from hands-on effort, not hype.
It’s still one of the best reads for founders figuring out how to launch and grow something new. The tactics may vary, but the mindset is the same.
Some standout insights:
• Reddit created fake user accounts to simulate engagement in the early days. • Figma ran in-person design workshops and gathered live feedback from students. • Duolingo quietly spread through niche forums and communities before any major campaigns. • Clubhouse focused on bringing in the right early users instead of chasing big numbers.
Why this matters now:
Even with all the new tools and channels, early growth still depends on real conversations, community, and effort.
This read is a good reset for anyone thinking about growth. It brings the focus back to building trust, doing the work, and being close to your earliest users.
If you're planning your own 0 to 1, this one is worth saving.
Google’s not dying — but it’s no longer the only gatekeeper to discovery.
In this sharp and timely piece from a16z, Zach Cohen and Seema Amble introduce GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) — a new way to think about how people find answers through tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude.
For founders used to chasing SEO rankings and keyword hacks, this shift is massive. GEO reframes the game: your startup won’t win by being on page 1 of Google — you’ll win by being the cited answer inside an AI output.
Some standout insights:
The average ChatGPT query is just 5.7 words. This isn’t long-tail SEO — it’s intent compression.
More than 700 unique domains are now getting referral traffic from ChatGPT — often without users ever clicking to a site.
LLMs are not listing options; they’re choosing answers. Your content strategy needs to train the AI, not just target the user.
There’s an emerging GEO tool stack — from prompt-based analytics to citation tracking — and it’s a space ripe for startups to build.
Why this matters now:
The LLM layer is becoming the new frontend of the internet. Whether you’re building a B2B product, a consumer app, or a media brand — your visibility increasingly depends on how these engines perceive and reference your work.
This read helped me realize: distribution isn’t just about reach anymore. It’s about relevance in the eyes of machines.
Curious to hear: how are you adapting your content, product, or growth strategy for the GEO era?
I started working on 58Miles in 2023 with a simple thought. Let’s make a better bag. Something I would actually want to use every day. A bag that works the way we live and move.
It’s now 2025. Still working on it. Still tweaking. Still not calling it “done.”
Everyone is launching apps and lots of AI apps, and I am launching a bag. Not because the world needs a new one, but because I couldn’t find a single one that worked for me.
Most bags either look good but don’t function, or they’re white-labeled, mass-produced pieces with designs that make no sense. Jahaa dekho, wahaa cool bags and good looking bags, they are like black holes. Too many zips. Random compartments. Loud branding. All show, no soul.
And pen compartments. Pen ke compartments me kaun pen rakhta hai.
I wanted something built for people like us. People who work on the move, who travel for work, who dump things into their bags and still want to stay sorted. I wasn’t trying to create a fashion statement. I just wanted a bag that works.
So I started making one. Here in India.
At first, I thought it would be quick. A few prototypes, a couple of months, and we’d have something good. But it never played out that way. Every sample fixed one problem and introduced another. The laptop section would feel too tight. The strap would lean weird. The bag wouldn’t sit right when placed on the floor. The zip didn’t feel smooth enough. These were small things. But they mattered.
40+ samples and 2 years, all these for little things no one notice but feel.
It’s hard to explain why this took so long. The truth is, I didn’t want to carry a bag that I had to explain. I wanted something that made sense the moment you used it. The kind of product that gets out of your way and becomes part of your rhythm.
I wanted to build for the people like us, who work, travel for work, build, create, hustle, messy and still organized.
Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost.
..
This post is part of Slice of Startup Life on eChai Startup Stream — where founders share the unfiltered version of their journey, as it’s happening.
On May 17, 2025, we hosted the first edition of Meet the Founders Behind Ahmedabad’s Breakout Startups — a new series by eChai Ventures and i-Hub Gujarat. The idea is simple: no pitches, no presentations, just real conversations with founders who are building from the ground up.
The format is intentionally stripped down. Two founders, one moderator, and a room full of curious peers.
For this first session, we had:
Vishvajit Sonagara, founder of Quicko, a tax infra platform used by over 2 million people
Eela Dubey, co-founder of EduFund, helping families across India plan and invest for higher education
“How do you design financial products around family conversations?”
That’s what EduFund is solving. Eela shared how her own experience with education financing shaped the product vision. EduFund helps parents across India plan for higher education through SIPs, mutual funds, loans, and personalized guidance.
The work isn’t just technical — it’s emotional. Especially in smaller cities, where the idea of saving for a child’s future still feels unfamiliar. EduFund has raised $3.5M+ and now partners with Tata AMC, ICICI, DSP, and HDFC Credila. But the real focus is building a brand families trust.
“What if your product is seasonal, regulated, and invisible — and still needs to grow?”
That’s the everyday challenge at Quicko. Vishvajit spoke about building infrastructure for India’s complex tax system — not to chase visibility, but to earn trust and simplify compliance at scale. Since 2015, Quicko has stayed bootstrapped while becoming a backend layer for tax professionals, salaried individuals, and fintech platforms alike.
Most of the company’s work happens behind the scenes — but it powers millions of filings every year. The product is built for clarity, not virality.
“What happens when you remove the pitch deck?”
That’s what this format hopes to answer. The room stayed engaged — not because of high production, but because of how grounded the conversation was. We talked about early hires, product pivots, and the quiet uncertainty that comes with building long-term. Many in the room were going through the same thing — and that created the most valuable kind of connection.
No scripts. Just stories.
“Where does this go from here?”
We’ll continue hosting Meet the Founders sessions every few weeks. Each one will feature two builders from Ahmedabad’s startup ecosystem — across sectors like SaaS, climate, healthtech, fintech, and consumer. The goal is to keep showing what building really looks like, one conversation at a time.
And alongside these events, we’ll be publishing deeper, chapter-style stories on the featured startups — starting soon with full-length profiles on Quicko and EduFund.
"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
“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
"The eChai platform has been super valuable for me - it has helped me gain a deeper understanding of domains in the startup and tech ecosystem. What stands out most is the celebration of knowledge, professional growth, and entrepreneurship - it’s one of the best for the Indian ecosystem. Along the way, I’ve also been fortunate to make some great friendships and connections too."
Shalin (Shawn) Parikh
Founder, MyCPE One
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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.
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