Sneha Vashist

Indian social entrepreneur empowering rural women through digital marketplaces

Sneha Vashist is the founder of SheSells, a digital platform connecting rural women entrepreneurs with urban consumers. Launched in 2017 but gaining significant traction post-2020, her initiative addresses the dual challenges of gender inequality and economic disparity in India's agrarian communities. By providing training in digital literacy, product packaging, and e-commerce logistics, SheSells has enabled over 25,000 women to sell handmade crafts and agricultural products directly online. This innovative model not only increases their income by 3-5x but also builds leadership skills through collective decision-making councils.

In 2022, she partnered with UN Women to scale the initiative across 15 states, creating India's first rural women-led supply chain network. Her work was featured in BBC and Inc Magazine, highlighting how her platform reduces middleman exploitation while preserving traditional craftsmanship. Sneha's TEDx talk "Rethinking Rural Economies" has over 2M views, inspiring global imitation in countries like Kenya and Bangladesh.