Gary Mao

  • TOTO Express

  • 2016 Global Fellow

Gary Mao
  • TOTO Express

  • 2016 Global Fellow

bold idea

Increase artisan income while keeping village traditions in tact in India by digitizing local art, providing intellectual property education, and expanding market access.

organization overview

TOTO Express uses digital technologies to increase the transparency and reliability of doing business for rural artisans in India. Our technologies reduce transaction costs of transporting, receiving money, and contracting with global buyers.

Personal Bio

Gary Mao is founder of TOTO Express. Gary built his first business at 21 and went on to build several other businesses in China, India, and the United States, from food businesses to engineer matchmaking services. In India, he and his co-founder formulated their idea for TOTO Express as they piloted an education project where they tore apart a 50-seater bus and turned it into a mobile classroom for deep jungle localities in India. It was through this project that Gary saw the power of income generation to enable things like education. Gary is also anUses digital technologies to increase the transparency and reliability of doing business for rural artisans in India. Our technologies reduce transaction costs of transporting, receiving money, and contracting with global buyers. MBA graduate from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and their 2015 Social Innovation Fellow.

  • Issue Area ?

    A general program area that describes the focus of this Fellow’s organization during their Fellowship.

    Poverty Alleviation Economic Development

  • Organization/Fellow Location ?

    Our most recent information as to where the Fellow primarily resides.

    Cupertino, United States

  • Impact Location ?

    Countries or continents that were the primary focus of this Fellow’s work at the time of their Fellowship.

  • Organization Structure ?

    An organization can be structured as a nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid (a structure that incorporates both nonprofit and for-profit elements).

    Nonprofit

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