4ME

Challenge

Many artisans in emerging economies do not have direct access to international buyer markets. Selling their unique products therefore requires many intermediaries, often leaving them with less than 10% of the price products are sold for. Artisans do not have access to the resources they need to grow their business. They cannot easily access small loans by lack of personal identification, bank account or chamber of commerce registration.

Solution

We will create an online global community and marketplace to empower artisans in emerging economies to create & sell unique products and grow their own business. We will enable artisans to use simple SMS or mobile internet access to create personal online stores and upload products. We will link online buyer payments to pay forms accessible to artisans in emerging countries, including mobile money.

We will offer consumers a unique shopping experience, built around their social networks. Giving them affordable access to unique products to complement their lifestyles. We will create a transparent platform where social network, customer ratings and reviews will give consumers the confidence they need to support local artisans.

Impact

We give artisans access to a global marketplace to sell their products directly to buyers in western countries, eliminating the middle men, possibly increase their income by up to 20 times. Creating positive impact on their families & the communities they live in. We give artisans access to a global community where, based on the positive reviews they get by selling their products, they can ask for support and micro loans to grow their businesses.

Want to help? Join our pilot here.