What if today's waste became
tomorrow's raw material?
We at Asta believe in this vision and mobilize
a network for good through
innovation, education and design.
By transforming waste into assets,
we also turn artisans into entrepreneurs and change
how people see the products they consume.
We work with the principle of absence
of waste and we turn companies' waste
into products with social impact.
What was once the end, becomes a new beginning.
The Asta network was founded in 2005 by Alice Freitas and Rachel Aung. They both came from careers in big multinationals. But they decided to leave the traditional way aside to become entrepreneurs. But not as common entrepreneurs, as social entrepreneurs.
Alice had travelled to India to get to know the social businesses that were growing in the country. She felt in love with the handmade when she saw the artisans weaving. Therefore, starting her social business with the goal of valuing the Brazilian handicraft and empowering the artisans was the logical path that her heart and intuition was setting up. In partnership with Rachel, they plunged headlong into this unique economy. Over the years, with success and error, they are sewing together the story of several artisan women through the Asta network.
Our name comes from Astrea, a Greek goddess who, according to Mythology, was sent to the world of mortals to end a period of evil and envy. Under the influence of Astrea, humanity lived a time of justice and equality. Through partnerships we seek to empower and create income for Brazilian artisans, following the mission that we brought with our name.
Strategic repositioning of Asta Network
Asta's Showroom Launch
Entry into CE-100 Brazil, a network of leaders in the development of circular economy
Graduation of 2 classes at the Artisans Business School, in partnership with the Coca-Cola Arts Collective and the British Council
Certified as a B Corp
Beginning of the Artisans Business School in partnership with the Coca-Cola Arts Collective
Participation in EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women, mentoring program for entrepreneurs
1st place at the UBS Visionaries Award
Mobilization of a network of artisans to meet orders from large companies
Launch of the catalog with the story of each group of artisans of Asta Network
R $ 1 million in products sold by Asta Network
Started working with groups of artisans in the Amazon at the invitation of the Coca-Cola Institute Brazil
Finalists of the Folha Social Entrepreneur Award
Creative Economy Award from the Ministry of Culture
Ana Lúcia Franco, artisan who is part of Asta Network, elected microentrepreneur of the year for the Planet Finance International Microfinance Award
Investment from Caixa Economica Federal Social and Environmental Fund
Contribution of Chanel Foundation
40 groups of artisans and 700 councilors are part of Asta Network
Billing of R$585.000
3rd place at Global Development Network
Accenture financing
Construction of strategic planning 2010-2015 with Ashoka and McKinsey & Company
Inter-American Foundation Investment
Ventura Institute Investment
1st place at the Planeta Casa Award - Social Action Category
Start of direct sale with 5 consultants
Ashoka Fellows Network Entry
Banco Santander Investment
The idea of Direct Selling arises
Launch of the first product catalog
1st corporate gift order: 300 photo frames for Dow Chemical
Opening of a kiosk selling products in Rio de Janeiro
1st funding, granted by Avina Foundation
Asta Network foundation
1st training of women
Participation in Gift Fair - SP
Reposicionamento estratégico da Rede Asta
Lançamento do Espaço Asta
Entrada na CE-100 Brasil, uma rede de líderes no desenvolvimento da economia circular
Formatura de 2 turmas da Escola de Negócio das Artesãs, em parceria com o Coletivo Artes Coca-Cola e British Council
Certificação como Empresa B
Início da Escola de Negócio das Artesãs em parceria com o Coletivo Artes Coca-Cola
Participação no EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women, programa de mentoria para empreendedoras.
1º lugar no Prêmio UBS Visionários
Mobilização de uma rede de artesãos para atender pedidos de grandes empresas
Lançamento do catálogo com a história de cada grupo de artesãos da Rede Asta
R$ 1 milhão em produtos vendidos pela Rede Asta
Início do trabalho com grupos de artesãos na Amazônia a convite do Instituto Coca-Cola Brasil
Finalistas do Prêmio Folha Empreendedor Social
Prêmio Economia Criativa do Ministério da Cultura
Ana Lúcia Franco, artesã que faz parte da Rede Asta, eleita microempreendedora do ano no Prêmio Internacional de Microfinanças do Planet Finance
Investimento do Fundo Socioambiental da Caixa Econômica Federal
Aporte de recursos da Fundação Chanel
40 grupos de artesãos e 700 conselheiras integram a Rede Asta
Faturamento de R$ 585 mil
3º lugar na Global Development Network
Financiamento da Accenture
Construção do planejamento estratégico 2010-2015 com Ashoka e McKinsey&Company
Investimento da Inter-American Foundation
Investimento do Instituto Ventura
1º lugar no Prêmio Planeta Casa na categoria Ação Social
Início da venda direta com 5 consultoras
Entrada na rede de fellows da Ashoka
Investimento do Banco Santander
1ª encomenda de brindes corporativos: 300 porta-retratos para a Dow Química
Abertura de um quiosque de venda de produtos no Rio de Janeiro
1º financiamento, concedido pela Fundação Avina
Fundação da Rede Asta
1ª capacitação de mulheres
Participação na Gift Fair - SP
Miriam Lima e Rachel Schettino, Roberta Lomonaco
Alice Freitas, Angélica Oliveira Antonio Villela, Camila Pinheiro, Fernanda Goulart, Flavia Castro e Maria Eduarda Pfeiffer
Alice Meditsch
Gabriela Mazepa
Mariana Valadão, Maryam Ghavami e Milana Bernartt
Anderson Costa
Valéria Santos
Hugo Cunha
