Key Points:

• Mato, an online jewelry boutique was established that specializes in crafting sustainable and unique jewelry that reflects Nepali culture handmade from clay.

• Mato has received seed funding and mentorship from PSV, which has helped them to expand their product line. exhibit at events, improve online visibility, and tap into international markets. Mato has introduced 30 new product designs and increased sales by 60%.

• Mato is currently focused on brand collaborations and expanding their product line. They have ambitious plans to become a prominent player in Nepal’s accessory industry and expand internationally.

Background

 

The Nepalese Jewellery Market is currently dominated by mass-produced plastic earrings that exhibit transient trends, offering limited choices in terms of distinctive styles, preferred color palettes, and shapes. Recognizing the shortage of environmentally-friendly accessory options for conscious consumers, Mato, an online jewelry boutique was established that specializes in crafting ‘one-of-a-kind’ accessories meticulously handmade from clay. These clay accessories blend fashion, creativity, and sustainability to create a piece of wearable art and help bring your statement outfit together. Each and every accessory is handmade with great attention to its details and with the thought of its client in mind reflecting its unique individuality.

 

                                                                                                  Mato’s new collection of earrings incorporating Mithila and Newari essence 

 

The Founder

 

Ms Subhechha Singh is the founder of Mato who is in charge of sculpting, product design, and clay modeling. Subhechha, who always dreamt of starting her own business, one day discovered the art of clay jewelry through Instagram reels and TikTok. With artistic genes, she found these clay accessories to be fascinating and started researching them. Upon further research, she found that such accessories were not introduced in Nepal and thought of starting her own clay jewelry business. However, she did not want to make jewelry similar to what was already available in foreign countries and decided to blend the rich Nepali traditions, culture, and heritage into these creative accessories and thus named her business, MATO. Subhechha already had an interest in pottery during her school days, so learning how to make clay jewelry did not take her much time. She shares, “Our platform affords discerning shoppers the opportunity for exclusive customization, allowing them to select and personalize designs and colors to create statement fashion pieces that perfectly align with their unique style preferences.”

 

                                                                                           Founder of Mato, Subhechha Singh exhibiting Mato’s Stall in the Farmer’s Market 

 

Mato and PSV’s Seed Funding

 

Subhechha had just started her first year at Padma Kanya College studying BSc. CSIT when she launched Mato with limited resources that imposed limited growth and experimentation opportunities with the designs. So when PSV announced the application for the first investment cycle that ensured not only stakefree investments but also domain specific mentorship, she rolled up her sleeves to apply. Despite being the youngest applicant, Subhechha was very determined and passionate about the venture as her efforts to bring an entire pitch presentation during the interview, constant follow-ups with the PSV teams and actions as per the suggestions led Mato to stand out and bag the seed money. 

 

The targeted customer segment for Mato is fashion conscious females aged 16-40 who tend to prefer lightweight and affordable jewelry compared to heavy and expensive gold accessories. So Mato previously used air-dried clay which was more affordable and lightweight. However, the customers showed their concerns on the durability and inability to withstand humidity. Hence, with the investment of PSV, Subhechha switched to Polymer Clay, making the jewelleries more sustainable, waterproof, trendy and cost-effective. The funding also helped her to buy a new oven, sculpting tools and put stalls in different exhibitions/farmer’s markets. 

 

                                                                                                                    Subhechha baking the new designs of polymer clay earrings 

 

Mato and PSV’s Non-financial Aid

 

PSV has also assisted Mato in elevating its market presence by arranging the stall exhibition of Mato’s products at prominent events like the NYEF Entrepreneurship Conclave 2023, which effectively extended their reach to previously untapped consumer segments. Additionally, the insightful session on digital marketing facilitated by PSV has helped Mato to work on their online visibility. The founder wanted to tap on the international markets entertaining higher demands of polymer clay accessories. So, Mr. Sushanta Timilsina (Founder of Wittys Coffee House and Witty’s Hotel) , a connection introduced by PSV as Mato’s Mentor, recommended the infusion of Nepali cultural elements into their art, particularly within their earring designs. As a response to this counsel, Mato is presently engaged in the creative process of redesigning their products with a distinct Nepali essence. Within the 3 months of seed funding, Mato has introduced 30 new product designs and their new customer reach has increased by 40% whereas the sales have rocketed by approximately 60%. 

 

                                                                    Subhechha showcasing Mato’s product to MP Sobita Gautam at NYEF Entrepreneurship Conclave 2023

 

Mato and it’s future endeavors 

 

At present, Mato is focusing on brand collaborations with the local businesses. The new partnership with Mithila House blends the rich Mithila culture of Nepal with the eco-sustainability of Mato earrings. Likewise, they have teamed up with Personalised Company to customize merchandise like cutlery for childrens, expanding their presence in the children’s market. Recently, with Rakshya Bandhan around the corner, they have also made clay rakhis, experimenting and venturing deeper into increasing their product line. With a vision to establish itself as a prominent player in Nepal’s accessory industry, Mato is progressively working on expanding its product line from earrings to bracelets, rings, and lockets and intends to expand internationally. The remarkable pace at which Mato is enhancing its product offerings is truly impressive, fueling high expectations and everyone at PSV eagerly anticipates their forthcoming achievements.

 

                                                                                                                           New line of handmade clay Rakhis launched by Mato

 

– Shradha Gurung (Investment Associate)