Bazaarna

Impact
Sustainable Communities, Innovation of Industry, Reduced Inequalities, and Partnerships for Development.

Project Background
Bazaarna, originally conceived as the “Artists’ Search Engine” in 2019, was developed by the founding members of the Artists & Laborers [AL] working group at Studio Madane. The project aimed to bridge the divides within Lebanon’s community of artists, artisans, creatives, and makers, aligning closely with the working group’s broader mission.

In Lebanon, the collective cultural identity and its role in the country’s sociopolitical landscape have been both significant and well-documented. However, the fragmentation of this creative community has had negative repercussions at both national and regional levels. The idea of consolidating these individuals into a single, accessible platform, a search engine where anyone could find their business details, emerged as a response to this challenge.

Initially, the project lacked a business model. Given that the AL working group is dedicated to integrating makers with impact-driven enterprises and reinstating their role at a national scale, the project underwent a strategic transformation. This evolution led to the creation of Bazaarna, a refined, business-driven platform designed to empower Lebanon’s creative economy and lead by example in innovation within the creative and cultural industries worldwide.

Project Description
Bazaarna offers a 3D digital marketplace to local artisans and buyers so that they can engage in a personalized and immersive shopping experience that recreates the atmosphere and interactivity of a real-life traditional bazaar. Think of it as Amazon for artisans blended with the immersiveness of your favorite online game.

The Lebanese artisanal market, whose total addressable size is valued at $2 billion in 2024, faces significant challenges in visibility, accessibility, and affordability. Local artisans, who make up over 20% of Lebanon's labor force [ILO, 2022], struggle to make sales, maintain sufficient funds for their businesses, leverage technology, and grow their market share.. Meanwhile, buyers encounter difficulties in discovering high-quality artisanal products and face unaffordability when they do. Existing e-commerce platforms lack personalization and fail to connect buyers emotionally to the artisans and their craft, further alienating this vital market segment.

The Program

FORSA III Incubation [by Nucleus Venture]
LAU SPARK [by LAU Industrial Hub]

1. FORSA III
Bazaarna reached the 'Working Prototype' stage after being selected as one of 15 startups in Nucleus Venture's year-long incubation program. Spanning from 2023 to 2024, the program provided over 85 hours of business training, mentorship clinics, and more than 25 assignments designed for comprehensive startup development.

2. LAU SPARK
Bazaarna was chosen from 25 startups within the LAU community, including students, alumni, staff, and administration, to join a five-month intensive business development incubator. The program aims to support Bazaarna in becoming a registered social enterprise in Lebanon with active sales.