MeMeraki is India’s first culture-tech platform digitizing over 3,000 traditional arts and crafts through online masterclasses, e-commerce, and experiential services. It empowers 350+ generational master artisans from remote areas to become digital creators, reaching 20k+ patrons in 40+ countries. Founded by Yosha Gupta, it blends heritage preservation with tech for sustainable livelihoods amid dying crafts.
Table of Contents
Founder Story: Yosha Gupta Journey
Yosha Gupta, founder and CEO of MeMeraki, transitioned from a 15+ year FinTech career across Asia with World Bank, Gates Foundation, and IDEO to championing Indian heritage arts. Her 25-year passion led to organizing 100+ events promoting artists, evolving into MeMeraki as a passion project with hand-painted luxury handbags showcasing folk arts.
The pandemic catalyzed a pivot: live online workshops digitized endangered arts, turning crisis into opportunity for artisans’ livelihoods. Yosha’s fintech expertise fueled scalable tech like LMS platforms and e-commerce, while her cultural advocacy ensures ethical artist upskilling in social media and digital sales.
Yosha Gupta career before founding MeMeraki
Yosha Gupta built a robust 15+ year career in FinTech before launching MeMeraki in March 2020. Her professional journey spanned Asia (India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar) and the UK, focusing on financial inclusion, product management, and innovation.
Key Roles and Organizations
She worked with high-impact global institutions and startups.
World Bank Group: Contributed to financial inclusion projects across multiple Asian countries.
Gates Foundation: Applied FinTech expertise to scale impact initiatives in emerging markets.
IDEO: Leveraged design thinking for product redesign and user experience in financial services.
Startups and Global Banks: Early career included a global bank followed by an early-stage startup, building from scratch in resource-constrained environments; also consulted for companies in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka on launches, scaling, and UX redesigns.
Lafalafa: Founded or led this e-coupon aggregator as a serial entrepreneur venture prior to MeMeraki.
Her roles emphasized ambiguity tolerance, ownership, and cross-functional building, honed in small teams with fluid responsibilities.
Skills and Expertise
Yosha specialized in product management, financial innovation, and scaling FinTech solutions for underserved markets. She holds education from HKUST (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology). This background directly informed MeMeraki’s tech infrastructure, like LMS platforms and e-commerce for artisans.
Career Timeline Summary
| Period | Focus | Key Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Early Career (20+ years ago) | Global bank, early startup | India, startups |
| Mid-Career (10-15 years) | FinTech consulting, UX redesign | Asia-wide (7+ countries) |
| Pre-2020 | World Bank, Gates, IDEO | Asia, UK |
Transition to MeMeraki
Despite her FinTech success, Yosha’s 25-year passion for heritage arts—organizing 100+ events—drove the pivot during the pandemic. Her skills bridged culture and tech, turning artisanal crafts into a sustainable digital economy.
Core Services Overview
MeMeraki offers B2C and B2B services bridging tradition and modernity.
Masterclasses & Workshops: Live/pre-recorded sessions on 100+ art forms like Rogan art, Kerala murals, Tholu Bommalata; include kits for hands-on learning.
E-Commerce Marketplace: Curated paintings, crafts, handbags; largest collection of artisanal products.
B2B Solutions: Custom art installations, corporate gifting, brand campaigns (e.g., Noise smartwatch faces, 7UP Pujo, Apollo awareness).
Events & Exhibitions: Curated shows with partners like Indian Consulate Hong Kong, Triveni Gallery; AR-enhanced experiences.
Tech Services: Custom e-stores, cloud automation, social media for artisans.
These services digitize crafts, ensuring fair wages and global reach.
How MeMeraki Works
The platform scouts remote artisans, trains them digitally, and connects via tech infrastructure.
Artisan Onboarding: Scouts 3,000+ crafts, documents techniques, upskills in e-commerce/social media.
Content Creation: Viral storytelling (e.g., Rogan, terracotta) via Instagram; live workshops pivot to kits/masterclasses.
Marketplace & Delivery: Handles sourcing, packaging, global shipping; B2B customization.
Sustainability: Aligns with UN SDGs, fair wages, long-term mentorship.
Organic growth via community, not ads, drives 15k+ LinkedIn followers.
Services Breakdown Table
| Service | Target | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Masterclasses | Individuals | Folk art kits, live sessions |
| Marketplace | Consumers | Paintings, crafts |
| B2B Art | Brands | Noise campaign, Apollo murals |
| Installations | Corporates | RGIA Hyderabad “AIRAVAS” |
| Events | Public | Consulate Hong Kong exhibits |
Success Journey: Milestones
MeMeraki’s growth is a bootstrapped, content-led triumph.
Genesis (Pre-2020): Handbag collection viralizes folk arts.
Pandemic Pivot (2020): Launches online workshops, explodes via social media.
Expansion (2022-2025): 350 artisans, 20k patrons; B2B wins like Noise, 7UP.
2025-2026 Peaks: National Startup Award 2026, strategic funding for artist economy scale; RGIA installation.
Global Impact: Featured in Forbes, SCMP; 40+ countries served.
Funding in 2026 targets mentorship, deeper collaborations. Challenges like artisan tech adoption overcome via hands-on training.
Impact on Artisans and Culture
MeMeraki revives endangered arts, creating stable incomes. Artisans gain digital voices, new markets; top 20% now have social accounts via platform content. B2B elevates crafts into modern branding, preserving heritage.
Over 3,000 crafts documented, thousands trained; aligns with SDGs for sustainable production.
2026 Updates and Vision
In February 2026, post-award, MeMeraki deepens institutional ties, invests in physical-digital hybrids. New funding scales onboarding, global events; focuses on long-term artist dignity over rapid growth.
Future: Full digitization of India’s crafts, AR/VR experiences, international artisan networks.
Case Studies
Noise ‘Noise of India’ Campaign: Co-created regional art watch faces, blending heritage with tech.
Apollo Breast Cancer Awareness: Kerala murals across 6 cities, media-covered impact.
RGIA ‘AIRAVAS’ Installation: Tholu Bommalata ecology showcase.
These showcase MeMeraki’s storytelling prowess.
Comparisons: MeMeraki vs. Traditional Art Platforms
Platform Comparison Table
| Aspect | Traditional Markets | MeMeraki |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | Local | Global, 40+ countries |
| Monetization | Sporadic fairs | Sustainable digital sales |
| Preservation | Verbal | Documented masterclasses |
| Innovation | Static | AR, kits, B2B |
| Scale | Limited artisans | 350+ masters |
MeMeraki pioneers culture-tech hybrid.
Challenges Overcome
Navigated pandemic disruptions via digital pivot; built artisan trust through fair practices, tech training. Organic marketing countered ad dependency.
FAQs
What is MeMeraki?
India’s first culture-tech platform digitizing traditional arts via masterclasses, marketplace, and B2B services for 350+ artisans.
Who founded MeMeraki?
Yosha Gupta, ex-FinTech expert with 25+ years promoting arts; pivoted during pandemic.
What services does MeMeraki offer?
Masterclasses, e-commerce, B2B art/gifting/installations, events, tech solutions.
How has MeMeraki succeeded?
Organic growth via viral content, awards (National Startup 2026), funding; 20k+ patrons.
Does MeMeraki help preserve arts?
Yes, documents endangered crafts, upskills artisans for sustainable digital livelihoods.
Where can I buy MeMeraki products?
Online marketplace at memeraki.com; ships globally.
What are recent achievements?
2026 National Startup Award, strategic funding, RGIA installation.
