BlessdBuy | Ecosystem & Marketplace for Verified Nonprofits

Problem:  People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used. ― Dalai Lama

Solution:  To get people to move from their love of things, to loving each other again via our unique 6-step user journey and mission: "To create a community of one billion conscious consumers and then TRANSFORM them into active participants in the developmental sector."

We are an omni-channel (digital, retail, B2B & B2C) platform. Our promise to the user is "doing good made easier". Our business model ensures 70% of our revenue goes to verified non-profits and social enterprises.

Scalability & Global Relevance:  Currently onboarded nonprofits in India, Kenya, Palestine, Brazil. Shipping to 23 countries, corporate partners in Maldives, India, Germany and France.

Been requested to expand to Brazil, USA, Spain, Germany, Hong Kong.

End Users

1. People who have material wealth are often searching for a sense of purpose and community – a void that can be filled by being of service to others. Unfortunately, the dominant paradigm of NGO communication is negative and harassing people to donate drives them further away.  More importantly, donations only perpetuate the problem of dependence.
2. Unilever study reveals 33% of consumers are choosing brands they believe are doing social or environmental good. 53% of shoppers in the UK and 78% in the US are looking to buy products that are sustainably produced, 88% in India and 85% in Brazil and Turkey.

Key Stakeholders/Funders

• Government and private players fund countless NGOs’ skill/product development programs to enable financial independence. This revenue stream is not harnessed. 
• Products are rarely of excellent quality, reaching an audience limited to local events and loyal supporters/ friends & family. 

Creators/Beneficiaries  The international market for handicrafts in pegged around $400B, out of which India has a share of around $8B (for example). 

However, India has 40% of the global artisan population contributing only 2% of the global market. Small innovations  will make a deep impact , bring in a rapid wave of organization.

End Users

Empower socially conscious citizens and to tempt fence-sitters on the periphery who want to contribute but don’t know how. 

1. We aim to make sharing wealth easier by creating a widespread habit of purchasing products made by verified NGOs. It is important to note that purchasing such products is the first step into the BlessdBuy ecosystem which is present at every stage of the journey for social impact-conscious individuals & businesses. 
2. Implementation of our six-step user journey that leads consumers to ‘seva’ (selfless service) – engaging with and  contributing to the developmental sector. A consequent sense of connectedness, joy and purpose.

Key Stakeholders/Funders
Free-ing up of precious resources from existing NGOs and projects  to move on to tackle other issues. Implementation of blockchain technology to ensure transparency and accountability.

Creators/Beneficiaries 
To bring quality, contemporary design, marketing and productivity enhancement to scale the market.

Our aim is shared prosperity, equitable and inclusive economic growth. We facilitate wealth sharing and redistribution by keeping our transaction model simple and transparent. We work with a range of non-profits to develop and sell their products via our online store BlessdBuy.com, our retail partners and to corporations looking for an alternative supply chain. At the end of the year we ensure that 70% of the revenue coming into our bank account from product sales has gone to our vendors. Furthermore, we don’t just sell products – we often handhold the creation of these products, providing design inputs, packaging, sales support, taking it to market and communication.

BlessdBuy’s aim is social inclusion - a bridge to to compassionate and real human relationships that have not been nurtured because of artificial dividers like wealth and class structures. We conduct workshops, where there is deep one on one engagement with our makers. Conversations include their daily lives, family life, food and of course, how they make their beautiful objects.

Ensuring all citizens have easier access to civic participation, our unique 6-step user journey takes people from being consumers, to conscious consumers, to being volunteers, donors and participants in the developmental sector. We’ve moved our community to act and raised funds and sent supplies to support disaster relief – the floods in Kodagu (Coorg) and Cyclone Fani in Odisha, being the most recent instances.

We aim to trigger governments, corporations, NGOs to be more accountable, transparent, and responsive. Some of our efforts in bringing out much needed transparency include a partnership to introduce QR & Bar Code hybrid tags based on blockchain which give traceability to the supply chain. Similarly, we use a user-driven rating system for NGOs, making them accountable in terms of service provided, efficiency and professionalism.

Our corporate partners understand our value proposition; the impact on their business and customer perception. Functional, eco-friendly and decorative items to the hotel industry is a key driver of revenue for our underserved communities. Similarly, we are working with large FMCGs to source and develop sustainable daily-use products with us – ranging from oral care, to toiletries. We have also initiated BlessdBuy shop-in-shop concepts in different segments of retail, ranging from luxury to supermarket formats. Our belief is that most things consumers buy today can be taught to, and made by an alternative supply chain.

Unlike many organisations in the developmental sector, we are end-user/market focused. Because that is the biggest gap. Our six-step user journey takes people from being consumers to being conscious consumers, to being participants in the developmental sector. 

We have demonstrated value to some of our early NGO partners - 800% increase in revenue through design intervention, better market connect and volunteer recruitment and engagement.

This has been presented as a case study at a major retail conference in France by Michel Koch (former CMO of TIME inc, Head of International Multichannel for Marks & Spencer) - https://youtu.be/h6eGdXSZ6mk

eCommerce: to reach a larger, global B2C audience.

Blockchain, QR & Bar Code: so users can scan products and get insight into supply chain, authenticity and where their money is going. 

Plastic-free: we are working with leading multinationals to provide them with plastic free materials and packaging.

Better design: applying better design to create more relevant products and solutions.

Design-thinking: to be more user-centric.

Supply chain: supply chain interventions to ensure more efficiency.

Indigenous knowledge: Taking ancient knowledge to new geographies.

Research has identified the gap, our pilot has demonstrated a solution:

• A Unilever study reveals that 33% of consumers are choosing brands they believe are doing social or environmental good. That number rises to 88% in India and 85% in both Brazil and Turkey. An estimated €966 billion opportunity exists for brands that make their sustainability credentials clear
• We have conducted our own user testing via Buzzaar.com in 15 countries. And also have unique insights via THNK School of Creative Leadership (Vancouver) research paper 'Giving 3.0':
  • Giving today is too much of a one-way street. The “haves” are the donors and they give to the “have-nots.” 
  • People have become increasingly accustomed to services which reduce friction and increase ease in their lives, from laundry to meal delivery.
  • Many also want to feel as though they are valuable part of the community. People are more likely to give back to their local community if they are engaged in people’s stories and have a sense accountability and where their contributions will go.
  • Gamification principles, which show promise in fitness and health tracking, have not yet been successfully implemented in giving. 
  • Corporate leaders look to find meaning while leveraging the expertise and resources they have amassed through their years in the corporate sector by supporting/partnering with an initiative that has the potential to make exponential positive impact.
  • People want the opportunity to earn income, not just charity. Dignity is a critical part of upward mobility.

Currently serving
User reach: Approx 10,000
Beneficiaries impacted: Approx 500

In 1 Year:
User reach: Approx 200,000
Beneficiaries impacted: Approx 3500

In 5 Years:
User reach: Approx 6,000,000
Beneficiaries impacted: Approx 25,000

We have successfully demonstrated our user journey and ecosystem. Here is a case study video uploaded by Mr. Michel Koch, former CMO of TIME inc, Head of International at Marks & Spencer - https://youtu.be/h6eGdXSZ6mk

1. Our next step is to get funding of $50,000-85,000 to recruit sales staff to scale up B2B revenue and to fund basic inventory. Parallel to this, apply for funding to scale up the B2C side, where exponential reach and transformation will happen. 
2. Our larger vision requires funding of $300,000 x 4 years. This will be used to build operations infrastructure and to reach 10,00,000 people per month (1.2million annually) via digital means.
3. Our target is to generate $6 to 7million in revenue over 5 years and impact atleast 100+ communities.

1. We have excellent talent working with us for a token amount/part time and with more top-class talent interested in joining us. We also need funds to stock some basic inventory for our retail shop in shops (3 already live, with 4 more to go).
2. The real impact will come from B2C engagement and eCommerce, where exponential reach and transformation will happen. We need funding to make this happen.

1. Consequently, we require funding to scale up immediately. Minimum funding of $50,000-85,000 to recruit sales staff to scale up B2B revenue and to fund basic inventory. 
2. Our larger vision requires funding of $300,000 x 4 years. Most of it would be used in educating the end user and converting them to engage with our ecosystem, first as a consumer and then as a participant.

3 Full time
Founder
Operations
Community Manager

4 Part time
Finance/Organisation
Digital
eCommerce
Design

Contracted
Accounts
Logistics
Business development

• Akshai Sarin, Founder - Advisory Board member at Green Cross (Brazil), NGO founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mikhail Gorbachev. Recipient of Confederation of Indian Industry ‘GES 2016 Award’. IIM-Bangalore and British Council’s ‘Creative Future 2007’ - Top 20 Young Creative Entrepreneurs in India. Founder of Axyz Music International, nominated for Rolling Stone Magazine and British Council’s ‘Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2009’ award. Worked as lifestyle and beverage brand Red Bull’s first ever ‘National Culture Manager’ for India - recognized by international headquarters with two global best practices.
  
• Soumya, Operations Specialist - co-founder of Upwrite and Write To Change and former operations head at SlydS. Her impact work includes co-organising and curating Aarogya Today – A Conference on Cancer Prevention and working with LifeMaker and ECHO – Center for Juvenile Justice.

• Vandana, Chief Community Officer - spent many years in the advertising and corporate training industries. She’s the ex-president of the Indian Women’s Association of the Philippines, a keynote speaker at events like The Women’s Economic Forum and on the Executive Committee for Lady Shri Ram College’s alumni association. She is also a key force in nonprofits like Swastha (The Coorg Foundation), Aim For Seva and many more.

• Stuti, Organisation Consultant - has a Masters degree in International Accounting and Finance from Cass Business School and over 10 years experience working in Independent Capital Markets Advisory and Business Advisory; with a key emphasis on companies/start-ups that focus on products/services which have disruptive social impact.

Some of our partnership endeavours:

• IHCL (Taj Hotels)

  
  

  • Partnership1: communicating their focus on giving back to the community. This is done via product creation via local underserved communities, focusing on the differently abled.
  • Partnership 2: Tapping into their CSR program to develop products with underserved communities and then retail them through their lobby space.
  • Partnership 3: Supporting development of their new hotel brand, with a focus on sustainability and sustainable livelihoods. This includes creating a range of signature products, like chemical-free toiletries (for example) made by nonprofits. 
  • Partnership 4: working towards elimination of single-use plastics. This is done via biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes and vanity kits, made in collaboration with 1000 Indian farmers.
    
• WeWork
  • Partnership focused on community creation. We conduct knowledge sessions, DIY product making workshops, which serve as a platform for WeWork members to engage with underserved communities.
    
• THNK School of Creative Leadership Amsterdam
  • Concept development. Network access. Creation of sustainable products for their usage.
    
• Royal Caribbean, Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Journeymart.com (TIRUN India)
  • Partnership communicating their focus on giving back to the community. This is done via corporate gifting and advertising barter.

Now the time is right to grow the BlessdBuy into a global online + offline community, driven by the knowledge that 'the gifted human beings who make our beautiful products are as real as the actual objects we hold in our hands.'

Our long term vision is ‘doing good made easier’. The next step is to get funding to scale up on our e-commerce, retail, blockchain based supply chain with last mile visibility, B2B and community initiatives being rolled out. 

This needs partnering with like minded organisations like yours, to offer our users easier access to technology, products, experiences, volunteering opportunities, community and outreach services, skill development, quality and transparency certification, CSR funding, HNI and bridge financing.

1. Our foremost priority is funding, so we can leverage the partnerships already in place. 
2. Organisations that can share technology to make our supply chain more efficient and accountable.
3. In addition to that, we are really keen on organisations that can source in bulk from us and our alternative supply chain. 
4. Corporate gifting, home decor, interior design, furnishing, oral care (for our bamboo toothbrush). 
5. Any organisation that is willing to work with us to develop relevant products and solutions for a ready market, based on their consumer insights.

The GM Prize is a perfect fit, as we are empowering a growing global community of proactive consumers to engage deeply with vulnerable makers and sustainable producers across the world. From supporting the differently-abled, to survivors of human trafficking - we deliver on our promise with a business model which ensures that 70% of our revenue goes to verified non-profits and social enterprises.

We will use this funding to retain our highly skilled staff, as well as recruit business development to increase beneficiary revenues.

Most of the communities we work with are focused on improving the quality of life for underserved women and girls. These include survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse, differently abled, rural artisans who have the skills but not the means, education, hygiene. 

Accessing the funds from the Innovation for Women Prize would mean we can focus more on these specific topics and trigger more engagement with the community at large. Details can be provided.

Many of the communities we work with are tackling the issue of refugees and migrant workers, sustainable livelihoods, education, hygiene. 

Accessing the funds from the Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion would mean we can focus more on these specific topics. Details can be provided.

The Morgridge Family Foundation Community-Driven Innovation Prize would be used to further develop key leadership's capabilities to deliver impact at scale. Some credentials below:

KEY MILESTONES
• 2019: Advisory Board: TEDx Dharamshala.
• 2018: THNK Fellow at THNK School of Creative Leadership, Amsterdam.
• 2017: Recipient of Tata Education & Development Trust Scholarship, THNK Amsterdam Social Entrepreneurship Scholarship.
• 2016: Advisory Board: Green Cross International (Brazil), an NGO founded by former Soviet Union President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993.
• 2016: Indian Ministry of Commerce & Confederation of Indian Industry 'GES 2016 Award' (Top Under the Age of 35).
• 2015: Partner & Brand Ambassador, South Asia: British sustainable luxury brand, Bottletop.
• 2014: Brand Ambassador: W Hotel #InsiderCollective, JBL Audio/Harman Kardon, Tata Motors.
• 2014: Ambassador: International Music Summit Asia Pacific, Singapore.
• 2013: Showcase: Lintas Lowe & Partners’ True Show Awards.
• 2012: Invitee: Walk A Mile/Global Impact Institute at London Olympics.
• 2011: Global Marketing Best Practice: RedBull Thre3style
• 2010: Global Marketing Best Practice: RedBull Free Streets
• 2009: Setup and headed the national Culture Marketing function for Red Bull India
• 2009: Nominated for the "Young Indian Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2009" award by British
Council and Rolling Stone Magazine.
• 2007: Selected among the "Top 20 Young Creative Entrepreneurs in India" - who then attended the British Council & Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B) "Creative Future" program.