This Engineering Student is helping more than 100 Village Artisans

Harshita Sureka

6 years ago

Ranodeep Saha, CEO and Founder of Rare Planet is an undergrad student pursuing engineering in IIIT, Kolkata. He is working for Telegraph and also is a CAC member of Mozilla Firefox. Saha has two more ventures other than Rare Planet, one supported by TEQIP II of World Bank and the government. In World Bank project, he is creating heart attack alarms, supported by three doctors and two data scientists. Also, he has been interviewed by 21 newspapers and magazines.

Rare Planet started with just an online site and grew big in 1 year and 8 months. They have their own retail counter in Parkstreet and Elgin Road, Kolkata. They create innovative handicraft products. They combine with village people and create world class products from local products. The best part about these handicrafts are that these products are modern with a tinch of traditional look which are worth appreciable.

1. How did you come up with the Idea of Rare Planet ?

Rare Planet has grown exponentially since its inception one year and eight months back. I still remember the first product we created that was a painted kulhar, we always wanted to make Kulhars more fashionable and make it more popular but in course of time we have grown and we are now into a lot of things but everything is handcrafted. I sincerely believe in innovation over invention so each of our product has innovation involved in it.

Something interesting about Rare Planet, the idea came after my break up since my ex was a huge marvel fan and regular at tea junction who use these kulhars. I thought of innovating something with that.

2. What Inspired to start your venture in Handicrafts ?

I truly believe in the power of Indian handicrafts, each state and each village had something unique to offer but there was one very problem in the grassroot level. The products made in these villages were not of a good standard as a result it wasn’t able to grab the market. We innovate these products in our own way and create a world class product out of it. Thereby helping the crafts man to survive.

I have spent more than 2 months in different villages, some places even without electricity to find rarest of the rare handicrafts.

rare-planets-products

3. How did you manage to expand your business in such a short span , being a 20 year Undergrad?

I believe age does not matter. It was difficult and it still is as I am Btech CSE Student and have to attend college on regular basis but if you have to grow something and you have the passion inside you; you will make it. I am thankful to people who have stood beside me specially my artisans who are the heart and soul of the Start Up.

Growing Online was easier but the main break through was getting into Direct Retail but now we have got two direct retail counters in two prime locations in Kolkata, (ie: ParkStreet , Elgin Road)

4. Being an Entrepreneur at an age of 20 how does it feel ?

My life seems interesting from outside and people seriously feel its so much of fun to be an Entrepreneur at the age of 20 but the story on this side is different. It is undoubtedly difficult to maintain college and venture at same time; I have other ventures as well, so my days are hectic but I love this feeling . I have got a very small but a close circle of friends who I meet to revive my energy .

I seriously admire Vijay Shekhar Sharma and want to be like him.

5. How does Rare Planets help the Village workers ?

I or Rare Planet is nothing without workers who make the heart of this Venture. They used to create products but never got proper value for their products and also the products were not upto the mark. When our innovation could help them change their lives, why not support it and so we now have 59 Artisans in our team which include water colour artists , ceramic artists , Patachirta Artist and a lot more.

Also Read About “Calcutta’s First Online Media House heralds this young lady’s passion”

6. What is the USP of your Products?

Almost 80 % of the Products sold by Rare Planet has a story behind it. We have got very intere

sting set of painted bottles which is one of our all time best sellers. These bottles have got a QR code when you scan the QR code you get a story behind the bottle, thus each bottle has a new story to tell. Thus adds to the Brand USP.

Whenever you buy any product from our retail counter we provide a paper bag with that the bag has a small painting on it which is drawn by a orphan kid and thus by buying a small product even you are doing a good Karma.

Thus we believe in delivering values to the Customers and when you are delivering values, People are bound to come back to you.

7. What would you say to someone who aspires to be an entrepreneur ?

Don’t go by the trend, just don’t start a venture because its the new cool. First understand the domain in which you want to work. Realize the fact that the product or the service, you are going to deliver may have the competitors and you have to be the best to survive in the market . Strategize properly and then plunge into a venture.

8. Tell us about your Heart attack alarm project and how has it been going on ?

As I already said I am into other ventures. This is my third venture which is actually a research project under my University and is funded by TEQIP-II (World Bank ). Then I have taken this research project as a venture in which we are trying to develop a hardware device out of it. I have got one Senior Cardiovascular Surgeon , One Senior Pulmonary Surgeon , one junior Pulmonary Surgeon and Two of Kolkata’s best IOT developers.

I am quite excited about this project and soon we will disclose the prototype .

9. Most important thing you have learned from your start up ?

Two things I would love to mentio. First is patience. You need to have a lot of patience when you are into a Start up as things will not always fall in place and you might have to work over and over to make a small thing perfect.

Second , You need to understand one thing clearly, your product or service is for the consumer. You always try to make sure that people love would your product and service. Ultimately, its customers who will help you generate revenue.

Rare Planet Website