The Agriculture Grand challenge is a unique opportunity for Agri-tech start-ups to solve some key challenges which are being faced by in the Agriculture sector in India. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, with Invest India, has identified 12 key problem statements which range from providing a fair price to the farmer to creation of yield estimation models which can be used by farmers. Two solutions, at idea stage and ready-market stage, for each problem statement will be shortlisted under the program. The idea stage start-ups will get incubation support to go from idea to prototype while the ready market solutions will get to be part of a market access program, aimed at easy adoption of their innovation.
(a) Selection process:
- Helping officials from Ministry of Agriculture & Invest India in selecting the top startups
(b) Agriculture Masterclasses:
- Coordinating with officials from Ministry of Agriculture & Invest India for any knowledge support at all 5 locations as mentioned in program overview
(c) Startup Pitching to Jury:
- Coordinating with startups regarding the pitching dates
(d) Incubation Program:
- A diagnostic panel must be conducted with each startup at the start of the program to discuss (a) incubator partner (b) mentor milestones (c) startup milestones and any other details
- IP will be responsible for working closely with the startups selected under the problem statements they decide to be implementation partner for
- IP will be responsible for physical incubation of startups for upto 3 months
- IP will be responsible for mentor match-making
- IP will conduct business workshops
- IP will conduct investor workshops
- IP will provide lab facility for POC development
- IP will provide testing facilities
- A government pilot (1-2 weeks) will be provided to the startup at the end of 3 months. IP will be responsible for coordination activities with officials of Ministry of Agriculture & Invest India
(e) Acceleration Program:
- A diagnostic panel must be conducted with each startup at the start of the program to discuss (a) incubator partner (b) mentor milestones (c) startup milestones and any other details
- IP will be responsible for working closely with the startups under the problem statement which they select for being implementation partner for
- IP will be responsible for physical acceleration of startups for upto 3 months
- IP will be responsible for mentor match-making
- IP will conduct business workshops
- IP will conduct investor workshops
- A government pilot (8-12 weeks) will be provided to the startup as part of the program. IP will be responsible for coordination activities with officials of Ministry of Agriculture & Invest India
(f) Tracking activities:
- IP will be responsible for tracking the activities of the startup for upto 9 months after the completion of the program
(g) Other activities:
- A co-creation seminar will be conducted for all 24 selected participants in the beginning of the program. IP will provide knowledge support for the program
- The IP will be responsible to create a country wide network of incubators & accelerators to implement the physical incubation/ acceleration program, if required.
ACCESS THE RFP HERE