Founder of MOA
The Story of MOA and the Revolution in India’s AEC Industry
Discover the story behind MOA - Member of Architecture. Learn how MOA is solving the AEC industry's biggest challenges, discoverability, trust, and AI-driven design.
Published on 12/11/20256 min read
A Broken Industry and a Bold Vision
If you have ever tried to build a home in India, or if you are an architect trying to build a career, you know the truth: the system is broken. For clients, finding a trustworthy professional is like searching for a needle in a haystack of unverified contractors and endless Google searches. For architects, the reality is even starker—years of grueling education often lead to a market where "visibility" is legally restricted and "trust" is hard to earn.
Enter Member of Architecture (MOA).
Founded in 2025, MOA is not just another directory; it is a movement. It is a "Marketplace of Architects" for clients and a "Member of Architecture" identity for professionals. But to truly understand why MOA matters, we have to look at the people who built it and the pain they lived through to get here.
The Founder Saahil Khatri, The soul of MOA lies in the lived experience of its founder, Architect Saahil Khatri.
Saahil’s story is one that resonates with thousands of young professionals across India. Coming from a humble middle-class family, he entered the field of architecture with stars in his eyes. Like many, he believed that talent, creativity, and a degree were the golden tickets to a successful career. He envisioned a life of designing skylines and shaping communities.
But the moment he stepped out of college and into the market, the bubble burst.
The reality of the architecture profession in India was far worse than the textbooks suggested. Saahil found himself navigating an industry plagued by disorganization, where "who you know" mattered more than "what you know." He saw talented peers struggling to pay bills because they couldn't find clients, while clients were getting duped by unverified non-professionals.
He realised that the struggle wasn't just his it was systemic. The industry wasn't just tough; it was unfair. He didn't want to just survive in this broken system; he wanted to fix it. He wanted to make an impact that would outlast his own career. That frustration was the spark that ignited Member of Architecture.
Saahil took the helm of Product, Growth, and Business, channeling his architectural insights into building a platform that actually serves the people it claims to help. But he knew he couldn't do it alone. He needed a technological backbone to bring this vision to life. While Saahil understood the problem, Vasu Dutt understood the solution. Joining as the Co-Founder, Vasu Dutt brought the engineering prowess needed to turn an idea into a scalable tech ecosystem. Vasu isn't just a coder; he is the architect of the platform’s digital infrastructure.
Together, the duo represents the perfect marriage of domain expertise and technological innovation. Their partnership is built on a shared obsession: solving the pain points that everyone else in the industry has accepted as "normal."
Identifying the Pain Points: Why MOA Was Born
Before writing a single line of code, Saahil and Vasu spent months conducting rigorous surveys. They spoke to hundreds of real architects, interior designers, and bewildered homeowners. The feedback was consistent and alarming. They identified two massive black holes in the Indian AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) sector:
1. The Crisis of Discoverability
In India, the Council of Architecture (CoA) has strict guidelines regarding advertising.[2] Architects cannot market themselves like traditional businesses: No billboards, no flashy TV ads. This creates a massive visibility gap.
For the Architect: How do you get new clients if you can't advertise? You rely on word-of-mouth, which is slow and unreliable for a young firm.
For the Client: You rely on random suggestions from friends or shady contractor networks. You rarely get to see the best talent because the best talent is invisible.
MOA solves this by acting as a neutral marketplace. It doesn't "advertise" in the banned sense; it lists. It creates a democratic space where a young architect with a brilliant portfolio has the same chance of being discovered as a veteran firm.
2. The Trust Deficit
"Will the architect run away with my advance?"
"Will the client actually pay my final fees?"
These fears paralyze the industry.
MOA’s Solution: The "Verified" Identity.
On MOA, "Member of Architecture" isn't just a name, it’s a badge of honor. The platform implements rigorous verification processes to ensure that every professional listed is legitimate. For a client, seeing the MOA Verified badge is a sigh of relief. It means accountability. For the architect, being an MOA member instantly elevates their brand authority.
The Platform: More Than Just a Listing
MOA intends to become the market leader in the AEC industry by functioning as a comprehensive tech ecosystem. It is not just about connecting two people; it is about facilitating the entire journey of building.
For the Client:
Direct Access: No middlemen. Connect directly with verified architects and interior designers who match your style and budget.
Transparency: View portfolios, past projects, and verified reviews before you commit.
For the Professional:
A Digital Identity: In a world where you can't advertise, your MOA profile becomes your digital visiting card. It is SEO-optimized, professional, and trustworthy.
Business Growth: Saahil’s focus on growth ensures that the platform constantly drives high-intent traffic to its members, solving the "dry spell" problem many freelancers face.
The Future in MOA
The year "2025" is significant because it marks the start of a tech-first era in Indian architecture. The founders are not stopping at a marketplace. According to insider updates, the pipeline features are set to disrupt the industry on a massive scale. MOA team are currently building something "crazy" in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
1. Vastu-AI
In India, Vastu Shastra is not just a preference; for many, it is a deal-breaker. However, hiring a genuine Vastu consultant is expensive and often confusing.
MOA is developing Vastu-AI, a tool designed to analyze floor plans instantly. Imagine uploading a blueprint and having an AI tell you exactly how the energy flows in the space, offering corrections and scores in seconds. This democratizes ancient wisdom using modern tech.
2. D{ai} – The Design Intelligence
This is the game-changer. While details are under wraps, D{ai} promises to be an AI assistant specifically for architects and interior designers. It aims to automate the tedious parts of the job—perhaps generating instant Bill of Quantities (BOQ), optimizing layouts, or even assisting in regulatory compliance checks.
By automating the mundane, MOA wants to free up architects to do what they do best: Design.
More Coming soon!
Member of Architecture is a classic example of a "scratch your own itch" startup that evolved into a "heal the industry" mission. Saahil Khatri didn’t just want a better career for himself; he wanted a better ecosystem for everyone.
By bridging the gap between the middle-class architect's struggle and the tech-savvy client’s needs, MOA is poised to become the unicorn of the AEC industry.
If you are an architect, this is your new home.
If you are a client, this is where your dream project begins.
Welcome to the Member of Architecture.
Visit the platform today at www.memberofarchitecture.com to join the revolution.