Mandeep Soor: Transforming the Fashion Industry via a Global Chain of Trust

Ladderworks is a publishing platform of diverse picture books and online curriculum with the mission to empower over a million kids to become social entrepreneurs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders, and Changemakers who are advancing the UN SDGs. 

Spiffy here with the scoop on the entrepreneurial leaders of Planet Earth. As the only interplanetary journalist stationed on this blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Mandeep, the co-founder and CEO of Bendi. Let’s learn what’s happening at Bendi and how Mandeep is making a positive impact in the world.

Spiffy: Thanks for joining me, Mandeep! Tell me, what challenge are you addressing through Bendi?

Mandeep: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! Fashion brands want and need to understand and reduce their sustainability impacts. However, 80% of companies still don’t know their full supply chain. Bendi solves this lack of supply chain knowledge problem with artificial intelligence that maps millions of data points of suppliers. Additionally, Bendi gathers information from local and national news, industry bodies and NGOs, legal cases, and social media to monitor risks related to suppliers in order to alert companies when human rights and environmental issues occur.

Spiffy: Interesting! What motivates you to do it?

Mandeep: Bendi was born from a desire to make a positive impact in the world and an opportunity to use modern technology to address wicked problems. One in eight people in the world work in textile and clothing clothing supply chains, but persistent human rights issues remain. For example, 50 million people and one in ten children are in modern slavery around the world. Our vision is to transform how the fashion industry operates and create a global chain of trust.

Spiffy: What would you say is the impact of your work?

Mandeep: Bendi’s work supports fashion brands to identify issues in supply chains early and work with suppliers to reduce and avoid harm to people and the planet. With Bendi, fashion brands are able to see every aspect of their supply chain and address events before they become an issue and work with suppliers to make improvements.

Spiffy: Tell me about a recent organization milestone or initiative. What impact does it make on your audience/community?

Mandeep: Bendi has recently started a pilot project with a womenswear brand called Rakha. Our prism platform will help to double the brand’s supply chain transparency. This means that, with Bendi, Rakha will be able to identify all the suppliers in their supply chain as well as see the riskiest areas where they should change their operations. This is an exciting milestone to reach because it is the first time that Bendi is putting the product to the test with a real life brand. Bendi will be able to help Rahka’s production be even more sustainable.

Spiffy: Thanks for speaking with me today, Mandeep—it’s been an honor!

Mandeep is the co-founder and CEO at Bendi, a software startup working towards making fashion fairer for the planet and everyone involved. Before Bendi, Mandeep worked in consulting, finance, and for a data science startup. (Nominated by Gaingels. First published on the Ladderworks website on August 15, 2023.)

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.

© 2023 Ladderworks LLC. Edited by George Romar. Spiffy’s illustration by Shreyas Navare. For the Ladderworks digital curriculum to help K-3 kids advance the UN SDGs, visit Spiffy's Launchpad: Creative Entrepreneurship Workshops for K-3 Kids and their caregivers here.