Blessing in disguise
Books for Entrepreneurs
Documentary
eChai Wall of Love
How I Met My Co-Founder
In Focus Today
Insight Reports
Movies for Entrepreneurs
Notes from Podcasts
Slice of Startup Life
The First Hire
The First Welcome in Silicon Valley
The Reading Room
Unforgettable Lessons
Trust grows when you show integrity, not when you pitch promises
At eChai Ventures, our Unforgettable Lessons series captures the principles founders discover when they choose the harder path, the one that favors honesty over shortcuts, and long-term trust over quick wins.
For Dipti Parmar, Co-Founder of 99stairs, that principle came alive in the middle of a three-month sales cycle that reinforced what her team has believed from day one.
Here’s how she tells it:
“The best way to sell is to not sell anything.
It took three months to close one of our biggest clients, almost six times longer than usual. He wanted to know a few things, and we told him how it’s done. He came back with concerns, and we reassured him with examples.
What impressed him the most wasn’t a fancy pitch or aggressive tactics, it was our transparency. We walked him through the data, gave him a clear picture of his current situation, and explained everything without sugarcoating it.
Of course he was talking to at least five other agencies (and testing us while at it). What sealed the deal was, in his own words, he felt we were genuinely trying to solve his problems and share knowledge, rather than push him into a sale. That moment reinforced something we’ve believed in since the very beginning: no hiding, no withholding, and no overpromising.
We’ve always chosen to set realistic expectations, be as transparent as possible, and educate our clients instead of trying to “sell” to them. Of course, there are times when doubts creep in, wondering if we’re doing the right thing while others may choose the easier, flashier path. While our competitors ‘guarantee’ results, we plainly declare there are none. But every time, an inner voice reminds us: this is who we are.
And more often than not, the biggest and the best clients recognize and value this honesty and integrity.
Because in the long run, trust isn’t just part of the business. It is the business.”
When Kalpesh Started with Deliveries and Grew Into the One Running the Apparel Business
At eChai, we’ve been capturing stories of founders and the people who stood with them at the very beginning. These are the first hires, the ones who took responsibility early on, grew with the company, and shaped the founder’s journey in ways far beyond their job description.
Here’s how Pankaj Bhimani, Founder of 58miles, remembers his first hire, Kalpesh Vaghela:
“Seven years ago, we were hiring for a junior role in our corporate apparel business. We had posted ads on WorkIndia and Apna, and that’s how Kalpesh Vaghela came in for an interview. He was applying for a very basic position, deliveries and accounts.
I asked him a few fundamental questions, and his clarity impressed me. Even though the role was small, he showed a spark that made me want to bring him in. From day one, he started picking up tasks that weren’t even his. If there was something pending on my desk, he would step in and finish it. That ownership was rare.
Over the years, Kalpesh completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while working with us. His dedication, hard work, and growth mindset never wavered. Slowly, he moved from managing small deliveries to running the entire apparel business on his own.
The biggest advantage of having Kalpesh has been this, he took over the entire business, which freed me completely to focus 100% on building 58miles. That freedom was possible only because of his trust and ownership.
People will make mistakes if you give them responsibility, but that’s how they learn and grow. Kalpesh is proof of it. What started as a junior role became the backbone of my entrepreneurial journey.”
When Sabir Left a Secure Teaching Job to Help Build a Supermarket
At eChai, we’ve been reflecting on one of the most defining moments in any founder’s journey, the first hire. Not just the first person on payroll, but the one who takes a bet on you when nothing is certain. These stories often carry lessons about trust, resilience, and what it takes to build together from day zero.
For this series, I asked Nadeem Jafri, Founder of Hearty Mart, to share his story. Hearty Mart started in early 2000s in Juhapur when organized supermarkets were still new in India.
Here’s how Nadeem remembers the context that led to his first hire:
Here’s how Nadeem remembers the context that led to his first hire:
“When Hearty Mart was in the conceptual stage, we had conducted a research and hired a consultant who guided us in creating the supermarket. Organised supermarket creation was an alien thing for us since I didn’t have a consumer products marketing experience, being from media and advertising, nor anyone from my group was experienced enough to do it.
The consultant gave us thorough insights on what it takes to start a store. During the course of conversation we realised we needed an educated person who could handle distributors and overall store operations. Prior experience wasn’t a criteria. What mattered was trust, education and the potential to be nurtured.
That’s when we approached Sabir Momin, who was waiting for a secured teaching job. He was educated with a commerce background, knew computers, and came from Sathal village near my native Dholka. Our families had known each other for generations. Initially, he wasn’t sure, but we suggested he join us until his teaching job materialised. He agreed and came on board just before launch.
A few months later, when his teaching vacancy finally opened up, Sabir made the tough choice to stay with us. At our struggling stage, he placed his trust in Hearty Mart, and that decision pushed us to work even harder to make the store succeed.
Today, 21 years later, Sabir is an integral part of Hearty Mart’s journey, running stores independently, managing retail franchises, and inspiring many others from his village to join us. What started as a single hire became the foundation of a community that built Hearty Mart together.”
In the early days, brands are built on hard feedback, not easy wins
At eChai Ventures, our Unforgettable Lessons series highlights the raw truths founders discover when they’re just starting out. In the early days, every order feels like survival, and every stumble feels like it could break you. Yet, those stumbles often carry the lessons that shape your brand far more than the early applause.
For Kavita Vaishnav, Founder of Just Kreative, that moment came with one dress, one order, and one return.
Here’s how she tells it:
“When I launched Just Kreative, every order felt like a milestone. After months of dreaming, designing, and refining, our first sale arrived … and it felt like a celebration.
“When I launched Just Kreative, every order felt like a milestone. After months of dreaming, designing, and refining, our first sale arrived … and it felt like a celebration.
Then came the second.
It was from a friend’s cousin who visited us during a casual evening at home. Over chai and conversations, she asked to see some of our designs.
She chose the Monochrome Bloom Dress, XL.
I had poured my care into every stitch, the fabric, the silhouette, the idea of it. I shipped it with pride.
But when she tried it, the dress missed the fit … by just two inches.
I felt that thud in my chest. Not because of the return, but because, in the early days, every order feels like survival.
But that return? It became a mirror.
It taught me that:
→ Listening to every inch matters more than collecting a hundred compliments. Fit is where trust is built.
→ Size inclusivity isn’t optional, it’s essential. We’re now reworking our size chart to celebrate real bodies, not just standard ones.
→ Mistakes aren’t failures. They’re reflections. They show the gap between where we are and who we aspire to be.
→ Size inclusivity isn’t optional, it’s essential. We’re now reworking our size chart to celebrate real bodies, not just standard ones.
→ Mistakes aren’t failures. They’re reflections. They show the gap between where we are and who we aspire to be.
This journey isn’t just about making clothes.
It’s about making her feel seen.
Every woman. Every body. Every inch.
Even if we stumble a few times to get there.”
Kavita’s story is a reminder that in the earliest days, it’s not the easy wins that define you. It’s the hard feedback, the kind that stings, that quietly lays the foundation for a brand that lasts."
When Two Strangers With the Same Name Met at a Business Event
At eChai Ventures, we’ve started a new series called How I Met My Co-founder, a collection of real founder stories about the unpredictable, sometimes chaotic, but defining ways co-founders met.
This one comes from Bhavesh Patel, Co-Founder of Brands.live.
In his words:
“Let me tell you a story that seems almost too good to be true. My name is Bhavesh, and this journey starts with a simple meeting that felt like fate.
In 2019, in Ahmedabad, at a networking event by Patel Business Network, I met another Bhavesh, Bhavesh Korat, now Co-Founder & CEO of Brands.live. We both believed in doing good for others, and that’s what brought us together.
We quickly realized we shared more than just a name; we had a common dream. So, in 2020, with a small team of six, we started Brands.live. Our goal was straightforward: help small businesses in India make a name for themselves without breaking the bank.
The idea was to make branding simple and accessible. We wanted every small business owner to have the chance to tell their story, to stand out, and to grow. It felt like everything just clicked into place as we worked on this.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come. We’ve faced challenges, sure, but our belief in the mission has kept us going. We’re not just building a company; we’re hoping to inspire a whole community of entrepreneurs.
Our roles complement each other too, Bhavesh Korat manages Tech, Finance, and Sales, while I focus on Content and Marketing.”
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
"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
"eChai has been a game-changer for Hungrito, providing us with invaluable connections, insights, and opportunities that have significantly fueled our growth. eChai has introduced us to a global network of entrepreneurs and experts, fueling our growth and opening doors to new opportunities from Ahmedabad to Dubai. The community has become like a second family to us, providing support, guidance, and valuable insights as startup entrepreneurs."
Sahil Shah
Founder- Hungrito & Netsavvies. Digital Marketing Evangelist
“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
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.
