In 2020, Carved Culture launched its first fundraising campaign to support Ravi Kumar, a young man in India who had connected with founder Ryan Bomzer through the company's YouTube videos.
What began as a conversation between two people who had never met developed into a friendship, a community fundraising effort and, eventually, an opportunity to work together.
A Friendship That Began on YouTube
Ravi first reached out after watching our videos. He was enthusiastic about Carved Culture and generously shared ideas about how he could help the business, despite having no previous connection to us.
Over weeks of conversations and video calls, Ryan learned more about Ravi's living conditions and the serious difficulties he was facing. The friendship inspired Ryan to find a practical way to help.
Our First Fundraising Campaign
Ryan began sending food parcels and essential supplies to Ravi in India. He also used Carved Culture's platform to organise his first fundraising effort, sharing Ravi's story through a blog post, a YouTube video and social media.
Supporters generously contributed, helping provide additional food and necessities. It was an early example of how our growing online community could make a difference beyond our products.
Creating an Opportunity to Contribute
As the friendship developed, Ryan wanted to help Ravi build a more sustainable future rather than rely only on repeated donations.
Carved Culture offered Ravi paid content-writing work, including sharing traditional Indian recipes and knowledge. By November 2020, Ryan was publicly thanking Ravi and his mother for teaching him how to make Akki Roti.
Ravi would go on to contribute ideas and support the business in other ways, turning a connection made through YouTube into a lasting collaboration.
More Than a Business Milestone
This experience shaped how we thought about the value Carved Culture could create. Our first fundraising campaign was not a product launch or a marketing initiative. It began with one person reaching out, another choosing to help, and a community willing to contribute.
It remains a reminder that a business can create opportunities and meaningful relationships as well as sell products.