eChai Wall of Love

I led the marketing track at eChai’s Ahmedabad Startup Day and clarity came up more than campaigns

I led the marketing track at eChai’s Ahmedabad Startup Day and clarity came up more than campaigns
Marketing for Startups ≠ Big Budgets. It’s about Big Clarity.

At the #AhmedabadStartupDay hosted by eChai Ventures and @iHubGujarat , our panel on "Marketing" dived deep into what marketing truly means for startups & or anyone interested in taking "business to a brand".

Some golden nuggets from our speakers :

1. Choose your medium wisely. Tools don’t replace thinking, clarity does. Get feedback from audience and keep improving.

2. Great marketing isn’t about selling a product. It’s about telling a compelling story. Build resonance, not just reach.

3. If you’re talking to everyone, you’re talking to nobody. Peel the onion, define your real market, and speak to them with relevance.

4. Behaviour before branding. Understand your audience’s motivations, fears, and desires. Anchor your storytelling in their reality.

5. “Does your brand even need a voice?” Maybe it needs empathy first.

6. Embrace AI tools, tinker with it, learn and experiment. The rules of the game are changing, so dont get caught on the wrong foot in the market.

7. Marketing is a bridge between real value and real people. And no, your distribution strategy can’t be an afterthought, content needs proper distribution. Just creating a content piece is not the end but a beginning of your marketing effort.

Thanks to all the brilliant minds and marketeers who joined the discussion.
NEHA SINGH Shrijay Sheth Vani Herlekar Priyanka Challa Kudos to Jatin Chaudhary & @Kunal 
Let’s continue making marketing smarter, not just louder.

O7 panels 
25+investors 
35+speakers 
350+startup founders & enthusiast & insane energy. 


First eChai Women Founders Meetup at J Startup House Sets the Tone for What’s to Come in Jaipur

First eChai Women Founders Meetup at J Startup House Sets the Tone for What’s to Come in Jaipur
We honestly didn’t know how it would go.

The first Echai Women Entrepreneurs Meet in Jaipur was a let’s try and see moment.

But what happened last evening blew us away.

The event wasn’t just successful, it was deeply interactive.

The audience had endless questions. The panelists were vulnerable, raw, and bold.

We had funny moments, inspiring stories, and so many nods from the audience that said, “Yes, I feel that too.”

Alpana ma’am called her son back from his job in Bangalore to build Nuskha with her.

prabjyot is raising 2 sons, 7 and 14 years old and managing her startup like a pro.

CS Radhika Balasaria left Kolkata at the peak of her career, locked herself in a room for 6 months after moving to Jaipur, and now she’s absolutely killing it.

My biggest takeaways

→ You need to have deep passion for your startup. Your customers should feel it.
→ Talk to your customers. Every single day.
→ Decide your priorities daily—some days it's family, some days it's work.
→ Don’t give up. Ever.

Also so happy to see more women in the audience this time. That made my day.

This was just the beginning. Jaipur has so many powerful women building quietly, we’re here to make more noise now.

Until next time!

J Startup HouseeChai Ventures l Jatin Chaudhary

Celebrating 10 Years of LegalWiz.in and the eChai Connections That Made It Personal

Celebrating 10 Years of LegalWiz.in and the eChai Connections That Made It Personal
10 Years of Legalwiz and a decade of meaningful connections.

Note : AI se nahi dil se likhta hu ...

Big congratulations to Shrijay Sheth and the entire LegalWiz.in team for completing 10 amazing years.

I have seen this journey very closely and been inspired all the time, not only business but the clarity and values Shrijay brings with him.

But todays celebration is more then just legalwiz but also about eChai Ventures, a community which is connecting people even before networking was a cool word. Almost a 10 years ago when I came across eChai and met Jatin Chaudhary at a Chai ki tapri in pure raw form of startup scene in city. And I met some amazing people through eChai , and Shrijay is one such gem of a person I met in an eChai event.

and in eChai , I have not only met founders and business but friends for lifetime, friends who play cricket together , party together , travel together.

It's incredible how one small communiy first idea by Jatin Chaudhary has connected so many of us and kept going on and on across the globe.

so Here's to Shrijay Sheth for 10 years of strength and leadership and to Jatin Chaudhary , kya bolu Jatin, bhai tu to OG hai .... 

eChai Hosts Top AI Leaders from Meta, NVIDIA, Zoom and Walmart at Zoom HQ in California

eChai Hosts Top AI Leaders from Meta, NVIDIA, Zoom and Walmart at Zoom HQ in California
“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” - Michelle Obama
The Women in AI – SF Edition was one of those rare evenings that left us all a little more inspired, a little more hopeful, and a lot more connected.

Curated with deep intention and powered by Zoom Developers and eChai Ventures, we brought together powerhouse of women leaders from Meta , NVIDIA, Zoom, and Walmart to share their journeys—not just in building with AI, but in navigating leadership, responsibility, and community.

Each of these women brought their own light:
Sathiya Panneer (Engineering Lead, Zoom) grounded the conversation with her warm, no-fluff answers. Her realism and quiet strength reminded us that you can lead with empathy and impact.

Syamla Bandla (Senior Director, Production Engineering, Meta) shared details at a scale that made us pause and say: “Whoa.” Her clarity and calm as she spoke about infrastructure and engineering depth was simply masterful.

Rupali Deshpande (AI Learning Specialist, NVIDIA) brought laughter and learning together—sharing how she educates partners on GenAI while keeping the human context alive. (P.S. Don't forget your promise about NVIDIA stocks 😉)

Mamta Suri (Sr. Engineering Leader & AI Evangelist, Walmart) made us reflect deeply. Her concern about the long-term impact of AI on future generations was raw and real. She also dropped wisdom from her recent podcast on ethics and AI that still lingers in my mind.

💜 But beyond the panel, what made the evening unforgettable was the room — filled with women (and allies!) who showed up, supported, and sparked real conversations.

It wasn’t just an event. It was a mirror of what we’re capable of when we choose community over competition.

Huge thanks to eChai Ventures and Jatin Chaudhary for powering this powerhouse.

And to every person who showed up, asked a question, or just listened with intent — thank you. You made this evening truly magical.

Let’s keep showing up for each other. Let’s keep building. Together.

P.S. The last photo says it all — we’re still debating who actually won the “Chai with Khyati” rapid fire round. But honestly, we all walked away with the best prize: each other’s energy. ☕ 💞

AI

When AI Met IRL: eChai AI Day in Bengaluru

When AI Met IRL: eChai AI Day in Bengaluru
Thank you for joining us at the eChai Ventures AI Day at Urban Vault HSR!

We gathered. We discussed. We fuelled our minds with food for thought - what will the differentiator be when AI brings parity to ship out faster, how do you garner trust, do we need to worry about something here, and more.

We unpacked stories of the startups we are building and how AI can be leveraged to save time and increase efficiency among other things.

We fielded questions from curious minds on quantum computing and beyond!

Thank you for taking out the time on a Saturday evening to be with us and collectively experience the joy of gathering IRL! Signing off with Kuldeep Meel, Mehul Jain, Rabi Shanker Guha, Vijaypal Singh and an audience that believed in authentic interaction!

TAG someone who's building in the AI space and we'd love to have them for our future gatherings :)

*Ghibli version by one of our attendees, Rakesh Sahni.

** Baked eggless coconut cake and muffins to share with everyone coz baking is therapy!

https://x.com/rakeshsahni_/status/1908583072536420738

https://x.com/johurulmaz/status/1908559254161699146

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
"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
“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
Syed Nadeem Jafri
Founder, Hearty Mart

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.

Coworking Spaces
CoKarma

Coworking space and community in Hyderabad.

D2C Brands
Perrian

Affordable gold and diamond jewelry with over 1600 designs.

Investment Banking
IBGrid

All-in-one investment banking solution.

Academia
Narayana Business School

Narayana Business School is recognized as the preferred destination for top companies seeking exceptional talent and future leaders.

Gaming
Zatun Games

Zatun is an award-winning, innovative indie game developer since 2007. We develop our IP and do work for hire.

Cloud Telephony
CallHippo

Virtual phone system enhancing productivity, automating workflows, and reducing costs.