Dharma Endeavours Pvt. Ltd.

Connect to the heart of India! We’re a Farmville-meets-eCommerce gamified shopping site that hosts live online flea markets (known colloquially as melas) which connect rural entrepreneurs directly to urban consumers in the areas of handicrafts, value-added food and community tourism. Lasting up to a few days at a time, the melas have virtual stalls for product display, enabling consumers to live, and direct connections to the makers behind the products via phone and video calls. A ‘Centre Stage’ with live-streamed events, music playlists, blogs and videos provide information and raise awareness around sustainable consumption, history, heritage and rural India. Virtual game stalls give you a chance to win free hampers and gifts from sponsors. A mascot, acting as an online shopping assistant, will answer queries and provide you with relevant information. We want to connect the conscientious consumer who is on their own journey of growth to the rural heart of India so that the power of their every purchase helps reduce poverty and leads to a more sustainable lifestyle. Our serious endeavour is to work on 3 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1: reduced poverty - to increase the annual income of our rural producers by at least 25% SDG 10: inclusive economic growth – to impact at least 1000 rural families in the coming year, such that they are included in the digital economy SDG 12: ensure sustainable consumption and production, with a community of 200,000 engaged audiences across all our platforms, within the next year Established in 2016, Dharma Endeavours began in Hampi, Karnataka, with grassroots mobilization of a community tourism initiative. We pivoted in 2020, due to Covid, to our current online model. Incubated by IIM Bangalore, we are winners of the Karnataka, Elevate 2021.