MIT Solve

Solution overview

Our Solution

Beshi Deshi

Tagline

An all inclusive marketplace for Made in Bangladesh products

Pitch us on your solution

The local artisans and craftsmen have long been exploited by mediators and deprived of proper opportunities . Many local artisans are going out of business due to lack of proper nurturing, support and right prices of their products. There is a growing demand of made in Bangladesh products in and outside the country . However due to lack of proper exposure and influx of foreign alternatives the Bangladeshi producers are constantly loosing business opportunities.

Our business is an e-commerce platform which aims at facilitating the Bangladeshi craftsmen and small business to grow. Beshi Deshi provides an online platform for these producers to display and sell their products to consumers living all over the country and abroad. Our Solution also supports them with skill development, sourcing, finance, and promotion.

Film your elevator pitch

What is the problem you are solving?

There is a growing demand of Made in Bangladesh products locally & internationally but there is no easy way to find the craftsmen and artisans, scattered all over the country. Due to the lack of proper support and nurturing many of the local businesses are closing down.

There is no readily available statistical data regarding how many craftsmen are going out of Business every year. However the problem is a chronic one. Local craftsmen are unable to keep up with the foreign brands and the economies of scale that they bring. In the process, they loose the business opportunities. Due to lack of resources, finances and skills and support these local artisans can not even market their product in prominent promotional channels. For example-Digital Media. They end up selling their products in their local bazaar at a nominal price to a very small target segment.

The future generation of these craftsmen therefore do not see as a stable means of survival. This phenomena have been happening with a lot of business for example-muslin and Jute.

In summary, the factors contributing to the problems are:

1) availability of cheaper foreign alternatives,

2) lack of financial and marketing support, and

3) exposure to a bigger target segment (local and international market)

Who are you serving?

Our solution aims at facilitating local craftsmen and artisans who are involve in manufacturing various Bangladeshi products, like Jute, cotton, leather etc. Beshi Deshi provides a platform for these local craftsmen to display their products at the price that are set by them. The platform provides a wider market for them by making these products easily available to local and international buyers. We also work towards developing skills and knowledge of these craftsmen on design, production, pricing as well as supporting them with working capital loans and delivery support.

What is your solution?

Currently our platform displays more than 10000 products of 350+ Product Partners in more than 200 Product Category starting from jute, leather, cotton to groceries, wholesale, building materials etc.

Our main process involves tieing up with local producers to display their products on our platform. The price is set by the producers themselves. On top of that we add our commission of 15%(average) to decide the display price. Delivery charges are applicable based on location. These products are displayed on line at www.beshideshi.com. Customers are given the choice of multiple online payment options as well as cash on delivery. The payments to the producers are made within a cycle of 15 days. The website is being promoted through face book and google advertising. We have plans to launch a mobile app for this platform to ensure more ease of usage.

Select only the most relevant.

Increase opportunities for people - especially those traditionally left behind – to access digital and 21st century skills, meet employer demands, and access the jobs of today and tomorrow
Support underserved people in fostering entrepreneurship and creating new technologies, businesses, and jobs

Where our solution team is headquartered or located:

Dhaka, Bangladesh

In which sector would you categorize your solution?

Technology

More about your solution

Describe what makes your solution innovative.

Unlike the regular e-commerce platform, our Solution is an all inclusive platform, which supports the complete ecosystem of the local producers. It provided end to end support to a producer through the following mechanism:

1) Raw Material Sourcing & Working Capital Loan Support to the registered product suppliers for their production process.

2)Skill Development on Design and Production process to ensure efficiency and global standard

3) Consultancy on cost and pricing calculation

4) Proper Packaging & Delivery Support

5) Warehouse Support

Why do you expect your solution to address the problem?

Our Solution is already creating impact in the businesses of the local artisans. We currently have more than 350 partners with more than 10000 products listed on our websites. Most of our suppliers are home makers and generation old businesses who otherwise did not have the exposure or knowledge to market their products online. Through our solution, these partners are now earning upto BDT 50,000 per month in addition to their existing income. Through our solution they are also being able to procure low cost raw materials and standard packaging and delivery support.

Many of our partners from semi urban areas are getting acquainted to digital knowledge, receiving online training on finances and production support.

In summary, Many of the businesses which were on the verge of closing down are getting rejuvenated through our online market solution.

Select the key characteristics of the population in Bangladesh your solution serves.

Women & Girls
Rural Residents
Urban Residents
Very Poor
Low-Income
Middle-Income

In which countries do you currently operate in addition to Bangladesh, if any?

Australia
Canada
United Kingdom
United States

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

Australia
Canada
United Kingdom
United States

How many people are you currently serving with your solution? How many will you be serving in one year? How about in five years?

Current number of people serving:

Local Businesses/Artisans/Producers: 350+
Average Active Individual Buyer per Month: 1,500+
Wholesale Buyer: 4
Facebook Follower: 31,000+

In 1 Year:

Local Businesses/Artisans/Producers: 3000+
Average Active Individual Buyer per Month: 10,000+
Wholesale Buyer: 20+
Facebook Follower: 500,000+

In 5 Year:

Local Businesses/Artisans/Producers: 50,000+
Average Active Individual Buyer per Month: 100,000+
Wholesale Buyer: 500+
Facebook Follower: 500,000+

What are your goals within the next year and within the next five years?

In five years time, we aim to become a key market player in e-commerce sector advancing the lives of associated local craftsmen, artisans and small businesses. We aim to have a significant impact on their livelihood by increasing their monthly income by exploring different markets beyond borders. In addition, we will create more awareness on global market, trend, design and production process among the local producers to make them apt for global market. The local businesses which are now having difficulties getting financial support will be able to get sufficient working capital loans all year round to fulfill their local and global orders, through our solution. We aim to take Made in Bangladesh products beyond borders in more than 20 countries through our own delivery channel. In 5 years time, we want to be known as a significant driving force behind advancement of local SMEs and positive branding of Made in Bangladesh product world wide.

What are the barriers that currently exist for you to accomplish your goals for the next year and for the next five years?

The main barrier towards achieving our vision is investment support.

How are you planning to overcome these barriers?

Currently, we are looking for investors locally and internationally to fund the different parameters of our solution to develop the complete ecosystem support for the beneficiaries.

If your solution has a website, provide a link here:

https://www.beshideshi.com/

About your team

Your business model & funding

Partnership potential