Shanti Bhushan

Indian social entrepreneur connecting rural artisans to global markets through digital platforms

Shanti Bhushan (born 1978) is the founder of Threads of India, a digital marketplace that empowers 12,000+ rural artisans through e-commerce and blockchain certification. Her platform uses AI-driven design tools to help craftsmen create modern products while preserving traditional techniques. Bhushan's Artisan Bank initiative provides microloans secured by digital certificates of authenticity, tripling income for weavers in Odisha and West Bengal.

Her Virtual Craft Bazaars (launched 2012) connect artisans directly with international buyers, reducing middlemen margins by 60%. Bhushan pioneered the Cultural Heritage Index - a blockchain system tracking artisan product origins that's now used by UNESCO. She developed the Handloom Health Initiative providing healthcare access to 50,000+ craft families through mobile clinics funded by premium product sales.