Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund Backs O2O Ecommerce Platform Direct Create

Online-to-Offline B2B platform for handicrafts Direct Create has secured an undisclosed amount of funding from Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund (RVCF).

The funding will be used to build the platform and enhance user experience. It will also be used to scale up maker and designer memberships via outreach efforts.

Launched in 2016 by Rajeev Lunkad and Sheela Lunkad, the company allows artisans, designers, and buyers to connect, collaborate, buy, and sell various handcrafted products via its platform. The startup also allows users to get customised goods for specific orders.

Commenting on the development, Sheela Lunkad, co-founder, Direct Create said, “The idea that one can bridge centuries of knowledge and skill and a wide open, global market aided by modern methods of collaboration, creation, and commerce is what led to the formation of Direct Create. We look forward to creating a vibrant community of makers, designers, and buyers, empowering them with the latest tools and technology so our age old traditions get a new lease of life.”

The company aims to digitise the process of creation of handicrafts and other traditional items by enabling digital connection and collaboration between artisans, designers and buyers. It plans to follow an omnichannel strategy while reaching out to customers via mobile, web, and physical retail.

Commenting on the investment, Girish Gupta, CEO, RVCF said, “Direct Create, with its professional and experienced promoters & team, is expected to emerge as one of the leading platform for mass customisation of unique handicrafts in India. RVCF has invested in it through its third investment vehicle ‘RVCF India Growth Fund’ with a target corpus of $44 Mn (INR 300 Cr) which invests pan-India in IT, education, healthcare, fintech etc.”

In October 2016, Pune-based ecommerce platform, Studio Coppre received an undisclosed amount of investment from IT veteran Ganesh Natrajan. In September 2016, Ananya Birla announced the launch of her second venture Curo Carte. It is a global ecommerce platform that provides handmade and high-end luxury products, curated from nine countries. Prior to that, Ahmedabad-based etailer for regional goods Salebhai raised $1.5 Mn (INR 10 Cr) from Times Group’s Brand Capital, for a minority stake in August 2016.