As a social entrepreneur, I've been chasing ideas and ideals all my life. The first of which was Common Ground Cafe. I opened the doors to this idea in 2009 in the Tibetan exile community of Dharamsala, India. After a few years of backpacking and volunteering in Asia, I settled on the experimental idea of using Taiwanese-Tibetan food as a bridge for informal dialogue in the community. 13 years and countless events, debates and laughs later, I’m proud to say the cafe is still thriving today. So stop in for a cup of chai if you ever find yourself in the Himalayan town. After nearly a decade in India, it was time to move back stateside. The San Francisco Bay Area seemed to be the perfect base for a fair trade business so in 2014, I co-founded Koraa (formerly Old Yak Bazaar) in Berkeley, California. From the subcontinent of India to the horn of Africa, we celebrate the craft and heritage of each and every handmade product that sits on our shelf. Partnering with value aligned brands and makers from across the globe, our ethically crafted products represent over 20 countries in every color under the sun. Koraa is a labor of love, shaped by my great loves—travel, design and culture all rolled into one business. With an itch to dive deeper into the world of design and impact, I founded Rover & Kin in 2018 as Koraa's in-house jewelry brand. We collaborate with fair trade guaranteed artisan partners in South Asia to create fashion with impact. Rooted in fair trade, our mission is to build a more equitable ecosystem of design with purpose that honors the people and planet. We are primarily a wholesale brand and currently partner with 350+ retailers across north America and are looking to grow and reach new markets.It took me a decade to realize that at the intersection of social entrepreneurship, great design and the love of handcrafts lies my drive and passion. You know, that little spark to keep powering the weary entrepreneur through all the many trials and tribulations. So why did I write this ridiculously long bio? Because I’m looking to join forces. If this is your vibe too and you think we can collaborate on some level, hit me up.