Built for a community that was already there

Mandali is a community platform for independent convenience store owners in the United States. It helps owners hire trusted employees, find trusted local service providers, follow industry news, and stay connected with nearby owners. Mandali is launching soon on iOS and is free at launch.

Across the United States, independent convenience stores open early, close late, and run on personal relationships. Many of them are owned by South Asian, largely Gujarati, families. Behind the counter, hiring, buying and advice move through WhatsApp groups, phone calls and word of mouth. A community this strong deserves better tools than a group chat.

What the name means

Mandali is a Gujarati word for a circle of people who come together, a trusted group. That is exactly what the platform is built to be.

Mandali is not creating a new behavior. It is giving an existing behavior a permanent, organized and trusted home.

What Mandali does at launch

• Job board: owners post jobs and hire employees with verified work histories. Employees apply free.
• Employment profiles: a verified work history that travels with the employee from store to store.
• Community feed: posts, supplier recommendations and updates from owners, with privacy controls.
• Industry news: news and regulatory updates that matter to independent store owners, in one place.
• Services directory: trusted local providers such as plumbers, HVAC, refrigeration repair, electricians and pest control, recommended by other owners.
• Direct messaging: owners and employees talk inside the app instead of sharing personal numbers.

Mandali is launching soon on iOS and is free at launch. Next come a store marketplace, collective buying with suppliers, and more. See our approach.

Who is building it

Learn more

• Our story: how Mandali started at a convenience store counter in Jersey City.
• Why now: the problems owners face today.
• Market: the US convenience store industry in numbers.
• Approach: what we build first and how we reach owners.
• FAQ: quick answers.