PRODUCT OF CULTURE $10,000 GRANT

Product of Culture is excited to support FIVE South Asian Women-Owned Business with this $10,000 grant

MEET THE GRANT WINNERS

Catherina Gomes of 700 Rivers

700 Rivers is a global, ethical, and sustainable lifestyle brand that creates high-quality soaps using 100% natural ingredients local to the South Asian region. All our soaps are made with high-quality ingredients that are skin-friendly, eco-friendly, and tell the story of South Asian ingredients. Each of our soaps are handcrafted by Bangladeshi artisans that have escaped human trafficking and are now employed with dignified work, guaranteed fair wages, and a safe environment with dignified work. We love that our customers can feel great getting a fresh start to their day using their 700 Rivers soap knowing that they are helping women in Bangladesh get a fresh start in life with each purchase.

Damaan Thandi of The Lipstick Politico
The Lipstick Politico

The Lipstick Politico is a digital publication dedicated to pushing the boundaries of mainstream social discourse. Our purpose is to catalog underrepresented voices by portraying multiple sides of current critical issues and social evolution through the lens of South Asian art and expression.

Hetal Vasavada of Milk and Cardamom Sweets

Milk & Cardamom

I sell Indian inspired baked good online that bring back nostalgic flavors for Indian Americans in the form of cakes and cookies. My cookbook, Milk and Cardamom, that was named one of the top cookbooks of 2019 by The Washington Post and San Francisco Chronicle. My recipes have been featured in The New York Times, Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, and more! I started the bakery with my infamous Gulab Jamun Bundt Cake and sell a limited number of cakes every other week. I have sold out every sale and continue to add more desserts to my platform.

Riji Raja of Affirmation Darling

Affirmation Darling

When my husband and I were homeless for two years, we had to navigate through depression and anxiety on our own as these were taboo topics throughout our Indian upbringing. We would declare customized-to-our-situation affirmations and follow through with actions that would help boost our productivity while uplifting us mentally and emotionally. This positive mindset is also how we were able to transition out of homelessness, and ever since then, I had always wanted to use my story to make a difference for the underserved and disadvantaged young adults facing homelessness and mental health issues. In 2020, after we were laid off due to COVID-19, I founded Affirmation Darling, a social impact stationery & wellness brand and our future goal is to be able to employ people transitioning out of homelessness!

Zainab Hussain of Cultural Roots Nursery

Cultural Roots Nursery

Cultural Roots Nursery is a women-owned nursery growing East and South Asian vegetable, herb and tree starts for our respective communities. Our mission is grounded in the belief that making these plants more available will encourage others to reconnect to their heritage and help diversify the local food system. We also strive to be a resource to our community regarding ecological gardening practices and self-sufficiency through food sovereignty. Our current sales avenues are through farmers markets, wholesale at various Asian grocery stores and online. This business is a way for us to champion culture and celebrate immigrants’ stories like ours over ancestral gardens and familiar foods.

ELIGIBILITY
(must meet all requirements)

1. Applicants must be a woman of South Asian descent (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka)
2. A woman who is a founder of a business, any woman who is a creative and trying to further the South Asian footprint, any woman who has started the foundation of something she wants to build.
3. Must be based in the United States or Canada
4. Must be 21 or older
5. Not enrolled in a degree program
6. Able to receive taxable income in the United States or Canada
7. Must complete the submission application
8. Must be following @_productofculture_ for all grant announcements

DEADLINE

Saturday, July 31st, 2021 by 11AM PST (all businesses must be based in the United States or Canada)

HOW TO APPLY

Check that you meet all of the eligibility requirements
Complete this form
Upload your video (see last question on the submission form)
Follow Product of Culture on Instagram for all grant announcements

FOR ALL GRANT APPLICANTS

You will receive special access invitations to fireside chats during the month of August with all the grant benefactors (Five INCREDIBLE South Asian women entrepreneurs who have built scalable ventures and succeeded). More on the benefactors soon!

FIND UP TO DATE GRANT INFORMATION ON PRODUCT OF CULTURE’S INSTAGRAM PAGE

THE NEXT STEP TO $2,000