Mandmade

About the offering

NOVICA is a mission-driven global handmade commerce platform with over $20M in gross revenue (2025, unaudited) and $142M+ delivered directly to artisans worldwide over its 25+ year history. Co-founded in 1999 by Stanford-educated brothers Roberto and Andy Milk alongside Armenia Nercessian (a former United Nations Human Rights Officer whose UNHCR team won a Nobel Peace Prize), the company operates a network of Artisan Empowerment Hubs that connect makers in emerging markets directly with global customers, removing layers of middlemen. NOVICA's new growth division, Handmade.com (a wholly owned domain and platform), expands the model through self-service onboarding, AI-assisted listing tools, automatic language translation, and a capital-light marketplace designed for global scale. The company has raised $24M+ from institutional investors including Scripps Ventures, National Geographic Ventures, and the Grassroots Business Fund, with $5M+ raised in the past year from strategic partners. Partnerships with UNICEF, the Smithsonian, and Kiva add institutional credibility. The StartEngine campaign has raised $44,723.72 toward a $20K-$2.55M goal via Series A-4 Preferred Stock at $2.04/share with a $74.18M valuation. The preferred stock includes a 5x liquidation preference in certain exit scenarios exceeding approximately $160M in transaction value.The ProblemThe global handmade market is worth an estimated $900 billion, yet millions of artisans remain excluded from digital commerce. Makers in underserved communities face barriers including limited internet access, lack of photography and packaging capabilities, language barriers, complex cross-border shipping logistics, high platform fees, and complicated onboarding requirements. Even when artisans create extraordinary products, they depend on layers of middlemen who capture most of the value—the people closest to the product receive the smallest share of the financial return. On the consumer side, shoppers seeking authentic, ethically sourced handmade products struggle to find trustworthy platforms. Many marketplaces are crowded with mass-produced goods, inflated pricing, and products lacking transparency about who made them. Only one platform has surpassed $10B+ in annual GMV in the handmade space (Etsy), leaving a massive, underserved market despite 300+ million people worldwide involved in artisan and craft production.The SolutionNOVICA addresses these challenges through two complementary platforms. The core NOVICA marketplace operates through regional Artisan Empowerment Hubs that provide concierge-level support to artisans—helping them onboard products, photograph inventory, manage listings, and access global shipping and logistics. Artisans set their own prices with full transparency. The model removes middlemen and manages cross-border trade complexity, enabling thousands of makers to reach customers worldwide. Over one million products ship every year.Handmade.com extends this model to global scale through self-service onboarding, AI-assisted listing tools that turn a single photo into a complete product listing (descriptions, translations, captions), automatic language translation, and a streamlined marketplace for millions of makers worldwide including those in the US and EU. Verified sellers build trust through badges and referrals, and artisans can participate in curated communities supported by organizations like the Smithsonian or national export agencies. Makers post weekly video updates from their workshops, with complimentary boosted distribution. The platform also enables direct collaboration between artisans and influencers/stylists for co-creation and curated collections.Together, NOVICA's curated retail model and Handmade.com's scalable marketplace combine operational depth, brand trust, and digital reach.Business ModelNOVICA generates revenue through e-commerce sales of handmade products, shipping over one million items annually through its global fulfillment infrastructure. Handmade.com adds a capital-light marketplace model where makers manage their own storefronts. Revenue streams include marketplace commissions, platform fees, and potentially premium services for makers. The company leverages NOVICA's existing Artisan Empowerment Hubs, global logistics, microcredit programs, and long-standing maker relationships. The influencer collaboration model (stylists curating collections and co-creating with artisans) creates additional revenue and engagement opportunities. The $20M+ gross revenue (2025, unaudited) demonstrates the established commercial base.Traction$20M+ in annual gross revenue (2025, unaudited). $142M+ delivered directly to artisans over the company's lifetime. Over one million products shipped annually. $24M+ raised from institutional investors including Scripps Ventures, National Geographic Ventures, and the Grassroots Business Fund. $5M+ raised in the past year from strategic partners including RebelMouse, The Working Assembly, Nina Designs, and 192 Bank Street. Net Promoter Score of 76 (indicating high customer loyalty). Long-standing partnerships with UNICEF, Kiva, and the Smithsonian Institution. Featured in The New York Times, Vogue, NBC News, Good Housekeeping, and Harper's Bazaar. Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur recognition for both co-founders. World Economic Forum Young Global Leader designation for CEO. YPO Global Impact Award. The Handmade.com domain is owned by the company. AI-assisted listing tools and automatic language translation are under development. The StartEngine campaign has raised $44,723.72 with 28 days remaining.Market OpportunityThe global handicrafts market reached approximately $906.8 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow to approximately $1.94 trillion by 2033 (GlobeNewswire), driven by e-commerce adoption, cross-border trade, and consumer interest in handmade and ethically sourced goods. Growth estimates range from approximately 5% to nearly 12% CAGR depending on methodology. More than 300 million people worldwide are involved in artisan and craft production. Only one platform (Etsy) has surpassed $10B+ in annual GMV, leaving the vast majority of the market fragmented and underserved. Consumer trends toward ethical sourcing, sustainability, authenticity, and transparency continue to accelerate.TeamCo-Founder, Director & CEO Roberto Milk is a Stanford graduate (honors, International Relations), CFA Charterholder, former investment banker, Schwab Foundation Outstanding Social Entrepreneur, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, YPO Global Impact Award recipient, and US Trade Advisory Committee on Africa appointee. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Co-Founder, Director & President Armenia Nercessian is a former United Nations Human Rights Officer who served in war-torn countries for over two decades, participated in the El Salvador and Bosnia peace processes, and served on a UNHCR team that won the Nobel Peace Prize (1981). Fluent in six languages and conversant in three more. Co-Founder & COO Andy Milk is a Stanford graduate (honors) and recognized 20+ year expert in global logistics who built NOVICA's international fulfillment infrastructure. Chairman Michael Burns and investor Gordon Crawford have provided ongoing support including in the most recent prior offering.

FAQ