Can I trade a suit for shorts?

Yes please, as long as it's handmade.

Know About Kula Conclave 2024

Kula Conclave is a first-of-its-kind networking forum that aims to facilitate a dialogue between investors, industry leaders and passionate innovators building impact-led solutions in India's cultural economy, especially its Creative Manufacturing and Handmade (CMH) sector. Our goal is to accelerate the potential of 'Handmade in India' through meaningful connections, conversations, and collaborations.

Kula Conclave will be held in Goa from December 2nd to 4th, 2024.

To make the most of your visit, we recommend planning for the entire Kula Week which starts from November 30th to December 8th, 2024. Beyond the Conclave, we invite you to explore additional pan-India events as well as curated Goa-based experiences offered before and after the Conclave. For more details, check out Kula Satellite Events & Experiences.

Kula is built on actionable insights from 200 Million Artisan's extensive research, 'Business of Handmade- 2nd Edition', which mapped the financing needs and challenges of 516 craft-led enterprises in India. You can check out the highlights of Kula Conclave 2023. The programming for Kula '24 remains data-driven, and is co-created with diverse stakeholders, all committed to building a trillion-dollar future of handmade.

Kula is all about Co-creation over competition, Participation over presentation, Dialogues over monologues, and Action over prescription. Not a one sided snooze fest.

Think of Kula as a potluck. The host only offers the space but the meal gets completed because everyone brings something unique to the table—literally and figuratively!

Plus, unlike many other conferences, Kula Conclave is co-designed with 20+ stakeholders including founders of craft-based enterprises, sector experts, and community organisations. You can check out the Kula Advisory 2024.

Kula is by invitation to maintain a curated, high-quality experience for all attendees. We do not want you to get lost in a 'mela'. Thus, we are capping the Conclave attendance to 300+ delegates, of which 100-120 will be high-impact craft-based enterprises. We prefer going deep instead of going wide to ensure meaningful outcomes.

We do, however, believe in making information accessible to all. Thus, the key highlights of Kula Conclave 2024 will be publicly shared on www.businessofhandmade.com starting January 2025.

If you are ready to network, learn, and co-create solutions that serve our communities uniquely, then Kula is the place for you.

High-Impact, High-Potential Enterprises: We seek enterprises that are capital-ready and collaboration-ready, ideally operating for at least three years. Super early-stage enterprises, unfortunately, are not eligible (but we're open to surprises!).

Catalytic Capital Providers: We welcome funders, investors, and donors committed to offering patient, inclusive and equitable capital, designed for long-term growth. If you're keen on understanding India's diverse creative enterprises and supporting those driving climate action and inclusion, you're in the right place.

Ecosystem Actors + Service Providers: If you're a leader, changemaker or innovator ready to share your resources, expertise, and networks, we want you. Your expertise can help build a support system for our community.

Kula is also committed to ensuring 50% participation by women.

Curation of Kula Invites will factor in geographic representation, gender representation, subject-matter representation, capital-readiness (to give and receive), and collaboration-readiness to ensure a meaningful coming together.

If for whatever reason, your invite gets declined or is added to the waitlist, you can explore other ways to participate such as Kula Innovate, the Kula Goodie Bag, or Kula Kinship Baithaks, where you get a chance to create for our community.

We're data-nerds who believe in intentional matchmaking. Forms help us connect you with the right stakeholders, creating perfect opportunities for all.

Absolutely! We're inviting a curated network of artisan entrepreneurs who are willing to actively participate, engage in dynamic interactions, and explore new opportunities for growth.

Our platform enables India's many craft-led enterprises to find opportunities to grow and scale their impact, thereby empowering them with tools, resources and networks to create dignified pathways for millions of artisans, craft communities, and creative producers across the nation.

Registration and Logistics

The Solidarity Fee for Delegate Passes is ₹13,999 (or $175) per person. We can offer a subsidised rate of ₹6,500 (or $81) for underserved craft-led founders, in some cases.

Your pass provides full access to all three days of the event, including 3 lunches and 1 dinner. Plus, you'll receive our exclusive Kula Goodie Bag, thoughtfully curated with products from impactful enterprises 'Making in India.'

Enterprises working directly within the craft sector are eligible for the subsidised registration fee. You will receive a special payment link with your official invitation to Kula Conclave. However, the spaces are limited, and we encourage craft-based enterprises to register early to take advantage of the subsidy.

Reach out for more details - [email protected].

We recommend a maximum of 2 passes per organisation to keep the event dynamic and diverse.

Our Solidarity Fee plays a crucial role in making Kula Conclave a sustainable and impactful event. We're committed to hosting a green event in Goa, a state known for its vibrant culture and, admittedly, higher costs, especially during peak season.

The fee covers a range of essentials, from compensating our venue, necessary facilities and equipment, to offering delicious local meals and also payments for enterprises who deliver products as part of the Kula Goodie Bag. Community building takes time, money and resources, and your contribution will help us bring Kula '24 to life effectively.

The Solidarity Fee is your small contribution to ecosystem building and financing a handmade revolution. Thanks for your understanding and for being part of this journey!

Stay tuned for more details on the Kula Kinship Baithaks and how to host a session or participate.

Unfortunately, we will be unable to support travel and stay for any delegates. We will only be subsidising the same for a few artisan entrepreneurs.

Think of Kula like a potluck. The host only offers the space but the meal gets completed because each one brings a unique flavour to the table.

While you can't sell at the Conclave itself, those attending the Conclave will have opportunities to be part of marketplaces hosted by our partners. We're partnering with Goa-based organisations as part of Kula Week satellite events across the city. Plus, craft-led enterprises across India stand a chance to get your product featured in our exclusive Kula Goodie Bag!

Book your ticket ASAP! We recommend securing your travel arrangements early as December is peak season in Goa, and things fill up fast. Once your Kula ticket is confirmed you'll also be provided with special prices for hotels.

Yes, discount codes for local hotels will be available once your passes are confirmed.

We're exploring options for travel grants. Stay tuned for updates on availability.

Contact Details

How is financing different from funding?

And other things you might wanna know…

Know about Kula Innovate 2024

General information

We are partnering with diverse organisations in India and globally to create a pool of flexible capital that can be offered to enterprises for R&D, experiments, and scaling up ideas.

The capital pool is a mix of funding (cash-prizes), financing (debt and/or equity) opportunities, and in-kind support. Stay tuned for this year's Kula Innovate Awards.

Registration and Logistics

If you tick all the boxes on this checklist, that's your green signal to apply.

Remember you are applying as an enterprise and not as an individual!

Please read our terms and conditions for more.

You can find the Kula Innovate application form here. It takes about 30 minutes to fill. By now you should know, we at 200M are data nerds. So your answers will help us understand you, your enterprise as well as your innovation better.

Currently Kula Innovate is open to supporting only one idea per enterprise.

No. No giving money, only getting it.

All applications will be reviewed by the 200M team, the 200M Advisory, and a specially formed Kula Advisory, featuring diverse sector experts and founders to co-create this unique platform

Ideally, the winning applications will meet the following criteria for an innovative solution.

  • Problem Understanding: Offers a holistic understanding of the problem with new insights
  • Sustainability: Addresses environmental concerns directly or indirectly by bettering the value chain and enhancing the lives of artisans + informal creative producers.
  • A Systems Approach: Factors in diverse perspectives, stakeholders as well as implications.
  • Impact: Builds the foundation for transformative impact for users and beneficiaries
  • Scalability: Can grow effectively and steadily across communities and/or geographies.

We have some good news here! A minimum of 5 solutions will be supported. Here is what we have so far:

  • Up to 10 Lakhs is cash prizes
  • 50 lakhs in catalytic capital
  • 15 lakhs of in-kind support.

This is a growing pool, stay tuned for updates on @200M

At Kula Innovate we are keen to recognise ideas, approaches, products, processes, strategies, and business models that not only address an enterprise's ability to grow sustainably but also inform the future of responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). In other words, they are innovations that can power the Creative Manufacturing and Handmade ecosystem while creating future pathways for our collective well-being.

Yes, applicants retain ownership of their intellectual property. Any data collected will be used only for the purpose of assessment.

Enterprises not based in India but supporting the creative manufacturing and handmade ecosystem in India can apply. However, those registered in India will be given preference.

The final results will be announced towards the end of October. Watch the announcements space for updates.

Kula Innovate will culminate with an innovation showcase at the Kula Conclave in Goa from the 2nd to 4th December, 2024. All selected solutions will be celebrated at the Kula Innovate Awards Ceremony in Goa.

Apart from the winning solutions, 10 shortlisted solutions will get an exclusive invite to the Kula Conclave in Goa. Winning solutions as well as those shortlisted get visibility on www.businessofhandmade.com as well as other partner platforms.

Enterprises shortlisted as part of the Kula Innovate will not have to pay the Kula Conclave Delegate Fee i.e ₹13,999 ($175) per attendee. They are, however, expected to make arrangements for their own travel and accommodation.

For any assistance with language or the application process please reach out to us at [email protected]. There are also two webinars scheduled for mid August and early September; our team will assist you with your doubts. So watch out for the same!

We love good questions. Ask us at [email protected]