Easy Knowledge Club, in collaboration with Etherea, successfully hosted Startup Connext 4.0, a curated founders’ roundtable, in Noida on 23rd December,2025. The closed-door, in-person session brought together 45+ startup founders, investors, incubators, and ecosystem enablers to engage in focused discussions on the real-world adoption of artificial intelligence across industries.
Designed as an interactive, peer-led roundtable, Startup Connext 4.0 moved away from traditional panel-driven formats to enable candid conversations and shared learning. Participants openly discussed their experiences of deploying AI in business operations, the practical challenges of implementation, and the evolving balance between automation and human judgment.
Discussions during the session highlighted that while AI is increasingly driving productivity, efficiency, and faster decision-making, successful adoption depends significantly on data readiness, integration with existing workflows, and building trust, particularly within the Indian market. Participants also underscored the importance of responsible AI usage, with strong emphasis on data security, regulatory compliance, and continued human oversight.
Speaking about the initiative, Amit Singal, Founder, Easy Knowledge Club, said:
“Startup Connext was created to move beyond surface-level conversations and focus on what truly matters for founders today. With AI becoming an integral part of business operations, it is important to have honest, experience-driven discussions around adoption, challenges, and responsibility. Our goal is to create a trusted platform where founders and ecosystem leaders can learn from each other and collaborate meaningfully.”
The event was hosted at Etherea Coworking, Noida, reinforcing Etherea’s role as a hub for community-led innovation and collaboration. Sharing his perspective, Nitin Gupta, Founder, Etherea, stated:
“At Etherea, we strongly believe that innovation thrives in collaborative environments. Hosting Startup Connext 4.0 aligns with our vision of building a vibrant startup community where founders can engage in open dialogue, exchange practical insights, and collectively navigate emerging technologies like AI.”
Startup Connext 4.0 was supported by media partner StartupNews.fyi, who continues to play an active role in amplifying important conversations within India’s startup ecosystem. Commenting on the relevance of such forums, Madhur Malik, Founder, StartupNews.fyi, said:
“As AI rapidly reshapes the startup ecosystem, conversations around its real-world application are more important than ever. Platforms like Startup Connext play a critical role in bringing authentic founder stories and ecosystem perspectives to the forefront, which is essential for building informed and sustainable startup narratives.”
Building on the momentum from this edition, Easy Knowledge Club plans to host future editions of Startup Connext across multiple regions, enabling deeper engagement among founders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders, and driving actionable insights for India’s evolving startup landscape.
