The 2nd edition of the Kula Conclave will convene creative-cultural and craft-led businesses, investors, funders, academia, ecosystem enablers, global actors, and policymakers to shape the future of India’s $1 trillion handmade economy.

200 Million Artisans will also celebrate winners of their recently launched initiative — Kula Innovate — that aims to address the massive R&D gap in India’s Creative Manufacturing and Handmade ecosystem affecting 80% of craft-led enterprises.

Mumbai, November 14, 2024: 200 Million Artisans (200M), an impact-first, ecosystem enabler championing India’s cultural economy, is all set to host the 2nd edition of Kula Conclave 2024 at Goa’s Kala Academy from December 2-4. This year’s theme, Innovation Futures for Climate and Inclusion, marks a pivotal moment for India’s craft economy.

A highlight of this year’s Conclave is the launch of Kula Innovate, an initiative designed to address the R&D gap impacting 80% of craft-led enterprises in India’s Creative Manufacturing and Handmade (CMH) sector. Launched in August 2024, the challenge has already received 175 applications and unlocked support valued at $160,000 through strategic partnerships.

An exceptional lineup of thought leaders and industry pioneers will guide discussions across core themes: Inclusive Capital, Climate Action, Dignified Employment, Future-Ready Innovation, and Ecosystem Building. Distinguished speakers include Audrey Selian, Director, Artha Impact (Rianta Capital, Zurich); Sumati Mattu, CEO of Group Strategy Projects at Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd; Ruchira Das, Director of Arts India at British Council; Huda Jaffer, Director of SELCO Foundation; Roopa Mehta, CEO of Sasha Association for Craft Producers; Hyeyoung Cho, Curator and Chairperson of The Korea Association of Art and Design; Mimi Nicklin, Founder of Empathy Everywhere; Manish Saksena, Lead Advisor at Aadyam Handwoven; and celebrated Goa-based artist Subodh Kerkar. 

Priya Krishnamoorthy, Founder of 200 Million Artisans, shared: “This year, Kula is uniting diverse communities to co-create the future of handmade with the goal to unlock capital and resources for enterprises driving craft-led innovation futures that benefit our people and our planet.”

Kula Conclave 2024 is a first-of-its-kind networking forum designed to bridge the inclusive capital and networks gap for India’s upcoming creative-cultural, and craft-led brands, social businesses and startups. The 3-day, invite-only event will be facilitating meaningful collaborations between 250+ change-makers from across India who are committed to reimagining the potential of India’s Creative Manufacturing and Handmade (CMH) Sector, including 120-150 high-impact craft-led enterprises supporting 30,000 – 45,000 low-income households.

Unlike many other conferences, Kula is co-designed with the community of 20+ stakeholders including founders of leading organisations and craft-led brands including P-TAL, Brown Living, Kadam Haat, Urvashi Kaur, MeMeraki, Desi Hangover, Material Library of India, Fashion Revolution India, Karghewale, Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, Breakaway Journeys, Somaiya Kala Vidya, Varnam Craft Collective, and many others. Kula is also committed to 50% participation of women. 

Mayura Balasubramanian, founder of the Craftizen Foundation, and a member of the Kula Advisory says, “Kula 1.0 curated thought-provoking sessions and sparked many ideas. As a co-creator of Kula 2.0, I hope we can make it big, think scale, take things global, and overall up the game for the CMH sector. At the core of this lies access to finance which is critical for promising ideas to scale and replicate.”

Kula also brings together a diverse community of investment actors committed to supporting future-ready ideas and enterprises including Beyond Capital Ventures, HCL Foundation, Tata Trusts, Upaya Social Ventures, GetVantage and many others. Artha Impact, an initiative of Rianta Capital Zurich is supporting Kula Conclave and Kula Innovate as Vision Partners along with actors like Wellbeing Economy Alliance, SELCO Foundation, British Council, Fashion Revolution India, and Startup India Mission.

Audrey Selian, Director of Artha Impact says, “Kula Conclave offers a rare opportunity for investors, craft-led enterprises, and industry leaders to collaborate, share insights, and drive forward a $1 trillion economy that has been historically undervalued. By facilitating dialogue & partnerships, Kula Conclave aims to redefine the future of handmade.”

“At the Kula Conclave, our team is looking forward to creating a praxis between community and policy to bridge the inclusive finance and networks gap for India’s many creative, cultural and craft-led enterprises.” – Ruchira Das, Director, Arts India, British Council