1. Problem Validation

Have you spoken to actual artisans?

• Reach out to 2-3 artisans/NGOs (e.g., via WhatsApp or local craft communities) to validate:

• Would they use this? What’s their biggest pain point (e.g., pricing, logistics, middlemen)?

• Do they have smartphones/Internet access to engage with AR/blockchain?

2. Competitive Edge

Why wouldn’t artisans just use Instagram/Etsy?

Example differentiators:

• AI Pricing: "Our algorithm guarantees you earn 2x more than Etsy’s race-to-the-bottom."

• Zero Fees for Artisans: "First year commission-free."

3. Technical Risks

• AR Latency: Will the experience lag on low-end phones?

• Mitigation: Use WebXR (browser-based) instead of native apps.

• Blockchain Costs: Gas fees for NFT provenance?

• Mitigation: Use Polygon (low-cost) or mock a demo TXN for the hackathon.

4. Data Dependencies

• AI Pricing Model: Where will you get localized wage data?

  Hackathon Hack: Use ILO’s public datasets or mock data for 2-3 countries.

• Artisan Stories: Who will film/edit AR content at scale?

  Shortcut: Partner with One-Off NGOs (e.g., Fabindia) for pilot content.

• User Flow Gaps How will artisans onboard?

  Sketch a WhatsApp-based flow (e.g., "Send photo + voice note → we handle listings").

• How will buyers discover products?

  Plan a TikTok/Instagram hook: "Scan your rug to see if the maker was paid fairly."

6. Ethical Risks

• Will AR exploitation happen? (e.g., buyers only watch stories but don’t purchase).

  Fix: Gamify engagement (e.g., "Unlock 10 stories → get 10% off").

• Data Colonialism: Are you extracting artisan stories without fair compensation?

  Fix: Profit-sharing contracts upfront.

7. Scalability Constraints

• Can your backend handle 10K AR video scans/day?

Hackathon Answer: "We use Cloudflare Stream for cheap AR video hosting."

• How will you moderate counterfeit listings? Shortcut: "NGO partners manually verify artisans pre-launch."

8. Legal/Compliance

• What happens if AI pricing violates local laws?

Coverage: "Algorithm suggests prices, but artisans set final amounts."

• GDPR for AR data?

  Hackathon Ignore (but note for real-world: "Store only hashed artisan IDs").

9. Impact Measurement

• How will you prove artisans earn more?

  Demo Tactic: Show a before/after screenshot of an artisan’s earnings (e.g.," 3/day→8/day").

• Pilot Test: Run a 1-day test with 1-2 real artisans (e.g., list their product on your MVP).

10. Pitch Narrative

• What’s the headline?

Weak: "A marketplace for artisans."

Strong: "Etsy exploits. We protect. Scan to pay artisans fairly."