About Us
Shokhi – Connected Social Commerce for Women
Welcome to Shokhi
Shokhi (সখী) is a Bengali word for “close female friend.” It is the spirit behind everything we build: a trusted, women-led commerce network where women support women.
Why we exist
Millions of women in Bangladesh need financial stability but have no practical way to start or sustain a small business. The same women, as buyers, struggle to find affordable, authentic, quality products for their families’ health and daily needs.
Both problems come from one broken supply chain. Layers of middlemen raise prices and shrink sellers’ earnings. Most digital platforms are hard to use for women with low literacy or poor connectivity. And there has been no trusted, community-based network connecting producers, women sellers, and women buyers.
Shokhi is built to fix that.
What we do
Shokhi is a connected social commerce platform that links women producers, women sellers, and women buyers directly.
For sellers, called Shokhi Apa (“Apa” means sister): a single online store that powers door-to-door, phone, social media, online, and physical sales, with direct access to supplies, raw materials, and financing.
For buyers: affordable, authentic, quality products, delivered by or collected from a woman in their own community.
For producers and suppliers: a direct route to grassroots customers, without layers of middlemen.
Our mission
To reduce poverty among marginalized women and improve their financial stability by building a trusted, women-led, community-based digital commerce network.
What we’re working toward
Sustainable income for women sellers, so they can support their health and their families
Access to authentic, affordable products for every household
Less reliance on middlemen, with fair prices for sellers and lower costs for buyers
Inclusion of women with low literacy and limited connectivity
A scalable, accountable model that can grow responsibly
How we’re different
Middleman-free: products come directly from producers to women sellers, then to buyers.
Built for real life: the platform works on low-cost phones and low bandwidth, and sellers can serve customers by phone or in person.
Community-first: trust comes from a neighbor who explains the product, offers after-sales help, and delivers it herself.
One shop, every channel: sellers manage everything in one place instead of repeating the same work across channels.
Good for the planet: we promote eco-friendly products and certified refurbished goods to support a circular economy and reduce carbon footprint.
Who benefits
Women sellers: sustainable income, authentic supplies, and a growth path
Women buyers: savings, hygiene and healthcare access, and trustworthy products
Manufacturers and suppliers: access to grassroots consumers and lasting social impact
Organizations: worker satisfaction, retention, and CSR impact
Donors, NGOs, and government: measurable poverty alleviation and better healthcare and hygiene access for women
The environment: less waste and lower emissions
Where we are and where we’re going
We are starting with a pilot in a village community in Bangladesh. From there, we will expand across Bangladesh and then to other emerging countries.
Our partners
We work with NGOs, local and international development organizations, industries such as textile, leather, and handicrafts, and microfinance institutions to reach more women and open more opportunities.
