What A Hundred Hands does

A Hundred Hands is a nonprofit trust founded in 2010 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, whose stated mission is to help artisans involved in handmade art, crafts, and homemade foods earn a fair and sustainable livelihood. The organization operates three interconnected programmes: the Artisan Membership Programme, which builds a support community for craftspeople developing their craft and brand; the Handmade Collectives, a direct-to-consumer bazaar model through which over 100 events have been held and artisans retain 100% of sales by eliminating middlemen; and the ME to WE Project, a cross-craft collaboration initiative that has produced 125+ unique products. To date, the organization claims to have impacted 12,000+ artisans across 100+ craft forms in 27 Indian states.

The organization's go-to-market is primarily event-driven and community-led, anchored by the XII Annual Handmade Collective in Bangalore and supplemented by Artisanal Homes showcases (in partnership with D Code by Good Homes) and the "Art Salute" initiative (a joint programme with Times of India powered by Nerolac) in Lucknow. Distribution to consumers is direct through physical bazaars; reach to artisans is delivered through an Ambassador and volunteer network as well as the membership programme. Marketing relies on earned media (Times of India, fashion curator Prasad Bidapa), venue partnerships, and grassroots ambassador recruitment.

Revenue is generated across four streams: recurring artisan membership contributions, transaction facilitation fees from Handmade Collectives, professional services income from customized corporate CSR, employee engagement, and gifting programmes spanning 11+ SDG areas, and donations and sponsorships from individuals, ambassadors, and corporate supporters such as Nerolac. Pricing for corporate programmes is not publicly disclosed and is developed on a customized basis. Customer segments include artisans and craftspeople (primary), individual supporters and ambassadors, and corporate partners.

Name

A Hundred Hands

Legal name

A Hundred Hands

Website

https://ahundredhands.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A Hundred Hands is a Bengaluru-based nonprofit trust that helps Indian artisans earn fair livelihoods through direct-to-consumer bazaars, an artisan membership community, and corporate CSR programmes spanning 100+ crafts across 27 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Artisan Empowerment and Handmade Crafts Marketplace

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Crafts & DIY Hobby Supplies Distribution (CRAOAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD), DIY & Home Skills Workshops (Woodworking, Carpentry, Home Repair, Gardening) (THAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Artisan empowerment
• Handmade crafts marketplace
• Corporate CSR programmes
• Nonprofit craft trust
• Direct-to-consumer bazaars

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Artisan Membership Programme: Building a community of artisans that support each other while building their own craft and brands. Revenue generation through membership contributions and facilitated sales transactions.
2. Handmade Collectives: Direct-to-consumer bazaar events where artisans sell directly to urban consumers and earn 100% of sales. Platform/commission-based revenue from facilitating transactions.
3. Corporate CSR and Engagement Programmes: Innovative customized programmes with corporations covering CSR, employee engagement, and gifting across more than 11 SDG areas. Revenue from programme delivery and consulting.
4. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual supporters, ambassadors, and corporate sponsors support artisan livelihoods, digital literacy, and heritage preservation through donations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

A Hundred Hands is a nonprofit trust that runs programmes supporting handmade artisans to earn fair and sustainable livelihoods. Its flagship offerings include the Artisan Membership Programme (community and brand-building support), The Handmade Collectives (direct-to-consumer bazaars where artisans earn 100% of sales with no middlemen), and the ME to WE Project (cross-community artisan collaboration producing new product designs). It also delivers customized Corporate CSR, employee engagement, and gifting programmes across 11+ SDG areas.

Product overview

A Hundred Hands is a nonprofit trust operating three interconnected programs: the Artisan Membership Programme builds community and supports artisan brand development; The Handmade Collectives provides direct-to-consumer marketplace channels enabling artisans to earn 100% of sales; and the ME to WE Project facilitates cross-community collaboration on new product designs. These programs collectively support over 12,000 artisans across 100+ arts in 27 Indian states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artisan Membership Programme Programme that builds a community of artisans who support each other while developing their own craft and brands, providing membership benefits to craftspeople across India.
• The Handmade Collectives Vibrant bazaar-style marketplace enabling creators to sell directly to urban consumers, allowing artisans to earn 100% of sales by eliminating middlemen.
• ME to WE Project Initiative that brings artisans from different backgrounds together to collaborate on new designs and products.
• Corporate CSR, Employee Engagement and Gifting Programmes Innovative, customized programmes with corporations covering CSR, employee engagement, and gifting across more than 11 SDG areas.
• Artisanal Homes Showcases Showcase events featuring a wide variety of art and handcrafted home décor for modern homes, held at partner venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12000+ artisans impacted
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Times of IndiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint initiative 'Art Salute' created by A Hundred Hands for protectors of the country by protectors of the forest. Translating stories of Central Army Command in Tribal Art (Gond and Bhil) of Madhya Pradesh.
• NerolacminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPowering the Art Salute initiative as a corporate sponsor. Supports the tribal art (Gond and Bhil) exhibition celebrating Central Army Command.
• Porgai Artisans AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership supporting artisan communities. Dr Lalitha Regi, Founder of Porgai Artisans Association, testifies that A Hundred Hands enables even smaller artisans working from home with limited stock to connect with consumers.
• Azim Premji UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership. A Hundred Hands helped curate and deliver artworks for community spaces using values like centredness, trust, interdependence.
• D Code by Good HomesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue partnership for Artisanal Homes showcase featuring handcrafted home décor for modern homes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GoCoop: Indian online marketplace connecting artisan cooperatives and weavers directly with consumers and eliminating middlemen — closely parallel to AHH's Handmade Collectives model.
• Jaypore: Indian e-commerce platform curating and selling handcrafted products from Indian artisans, serving the same urban consumer seeking handmade heritage goods.
• Craftsvilla: Indian online marketplace for handmade and ethnic products across apparel, home décor, and accessories, competing for the same handmade-conscious urban consumer as AHH.
• iTokri: Indian online handmade marketplace offering direct-from-artisan products across textiles, home décor, and crafts, with similar focus on artisan empowerment and fair pricing.

Broad incumbents

• Etsy: Global handmade and vintage marketplace with a substantial Indian seller base; not a direct Indian competitor but defines the global handmade marketplace category AHH operates in.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Fair-trade nonprofit retailer working with artisan groups in developing countries, with a comparable mission of fair compensation and heritage craft preservation via direct artisan-to-consumer channels.
• Fabindia: Established Indian retail brand selling handcrafted textiles and home products sourced from artisan communities, with broader scale, retail footprint, and brand recognition than AHH.

Others

• Dastkar: Indian nonprofit supporting traditional craftspeople (primarily women) through marketing, design intervention, and skill development — directly comparable mission to AHH's artisan livelihood and craft-preservation focus.
• SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association): Indian nonprofit trade union organizing self-employed women artisans and craftspeople; shares AHH's artisan empowerment and livelihood mission, though broader in scope than crafts alone.
• The/Nudge Foundation: Indian nonprofit focused on livelihood development for underprivileged populations; shares nonprofit structure and sustainable income generation mission but operates across sectors, not solely crafts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-hundred-hands

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A Hundred Hands