Gramodhaya, India’s pioneering e-commerce marketplace dedicated exclusively to rural entrepreneurs is set to launch soon, today announced a landmark pre-seed funding round led by visionary investor Raji Krishnan. This strategic investment will power the platform’s development and nationwide rollout, beginning with free vendor onboarding in Ernakulam district, Kerala, and full operations by March 2026.
Raji Krishnan, a strategic HR powerhouse with 20+ years at Microsoft and NIIT, IIM Bangalore (EGMP) alumna, sees rural e-commerce as destiny’s pivot. “This isn’t mere investment; it’s unleashing democracy in opportunity,” declared Krishnan. “Digitising rural supply chains fuses ‘Bharat’s’ timeless craftsmanship with the global economy, elevating artisans to entrepreneurs and igniting rural India as a dynamic force in our digital renaissance.”
India’s rural entrepreneurship ecosystem tells a tale of untapped potential overshadowed by urban dominance. Over 12 crore rural micro-enterprises sustain 60% of the nation’s workforce, yet they claim merely 10% of e-commerce sales, while urban consumers command 90% through giants like Amazon and Flipkart. Rural innovators face relentless hurdles – crumbling logistics trap deliveries to nearby cities, forcing reliance on local kiranas with punishingly slim margins. Big retailers extract 20-40% commissions, 60-120 day payment delays strangle cashflows for those living hand-to-mouth, perishable goods rot in transit, middlemen erode bargaining power, and digital barriers leave 70% offline.
Gramodhaya shatters these chains with zero-fee onboarding, Pan-India visibility, and smart logistics conquering last-mile challenges. Kicking off in Ernakulam, Kerala’s perfect rural-urban fusion, this pilot refines operations before statewide growth in Year 1, adjacent states by Year 3, and full national scale within 5 years. As India’s trailblazing rural-first platform, Gramodhaya will spotlight authentic village treasures, handicrafts, organics, spices, linking them to eager urban and global markets for enduring prosperity.
Under Kochi-based GramRise Ventures Pvt Ltd, helmed by women entrepreneurs Doramma Jose and Dony Ani Jose, Gramodhaya is born from lived rural realities. “From serene Kerala backwaters, we’ve watched families endure grueling daily treks, crushed by transport costs, spoilage, and reseller exploitation for scraps,” shared Doramma Jose. “After deep brainstorming, my son Dojo envisioned an e-commerce lifeline, Gramodhaya rises to rewrite their story.”
GramRise Ventures builds on Small Enterprise India’s 16-year legacy as India’s premier MSME knowledge powerhouse. Dojo Jose, with over two decades mastering business directories, publishing, and diverse sectors, leads operations and strategic planning. “MSMEs gained growth knowledge through our Pan-India SME conferences, our magazine, SmallEnterpriseIndia.com, and consulting services, yet their persistent demands for revenue channels exposed urban-rural gaps, Gramodhaya bridges them, ignited by Raji Krishnan’s bold trust“, said Dojo Jose.
Raji Krishnan, a strategic HR powerhouse with 20+ years at Microsoft and NIIT, IIM Bangalore (EGMP) alumna, sees rural e-commerce as destiny’s pivot. “This isn’t mere investment; it’s unleashing democracy in opportunity,” declared Krishnan. “Digitising rural supply chains fuses ‘Bharat’s’ timeless craftsmanship with the global economy, elevating artisans to entrepreneurs and igniting rural India as a dynamic force in our digital renaissance.”
Vendor onboarding kicks off late January, with nationwide launch by March 2026.
Gramodhaya, powered by GramRise Ventures Pvt Ltd, pioneers India’s first e-commerce haven for rural entrepreneurs – delivering free access, vast reach, and logistics mastery to unite urban demand with rural ingenuity.