Kolhapurbachatgat.com: A Student-led Initiative for Rural Empowerment

This research explores the Kolhapurbachatgat.com e-commerce website designed to develop into a successful vehicle for increasing rural women entrepreneur’s potential in Kolhapur, India. Through fieldwork with over 50 rural producers, we found that there were major barriers to adopting e-commerce, such as limited digital literacy and poor internet connectivity. We enabled rural entrepreneurs to sell handmade goods, home-cooked meals, and artisanal products to broader audiences through the design of an intuitive, culturally relevant platform using WordPress and WooCommerce. The results have shown a 30% increase in monthly incomes, improved digital inclusion, and further empowered communities. This project shows how tailored technological solutions can bridge the urban-rural divide and promote inclusive entrepreneurship.