Startup Mahakumbh: Agritech Pavillion To Celebrate Startups & Innovators In The Sunrise Sector

With an aim to foster India’s entrepreneurial spirit and unite key players, industry body ASSOCHAM, in collaboration with Nasscom, Bootstrap Incubation & Advisory Foundation, TiE, and Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), will host Startup Mahakumbh from March 18-20 in New Delhi.

The one-of-a-kind event will see participation from 1,000+ high-growth startups, unicorns, domestic and global VCs, and more. It will also feature 10+ sector-specific pavilions showcasing India’s most innovative startups.

Meticulously curated, these pavilions will display cutting-edge advancements and industry insights across diverse fields. One such important pavilion would showcase the innovations and achievements of the agritech sector, key to modernising the country’s agriculture.

According to the World Economic Forum, India’s agritech activity has skyrocketed in recent years, with startups surging to over 1,000 in 2020 from 43 in 2013. Recognising this rise, the agritech pavilion will feature engaging panel discussions, masterclasses, deal rooms and other formats. Its ‘entrepreneur-first’ agenda will ensure that startups get access to one-on-one mentoring sessions, live pitches, best practices on governance and the opportunity to participate and win awards for their innovations. Besides offering a vibrant environment to exchange ideas and best practices, the pavilion will showcase 60+ agritech startups that are revolutionising agricultural innovation in India.

It is presented by NABARD and powered by Aavishkaar Group. 

“The importance of the agritech pavilion is in realising what agritech startups can do for the farmers. The aim is to help the farmers transcend into the role of micro-entrepreneurs. Agritech startups will also work to decode the engagement with farmers at a social and cultural level,” said Vineet Rai, founder and chairman of Aavishkaar Group, executive member of IVCA and the lead for agritech pavilion. 

Additionally, the pavilion will host inspiring keynotes, panel discussions, and an exclusive award ceremony for promising ventures.

Networking & Growth Opportunities

Led by the Aavishkaar Group, the pavilion will showcase exhibition pods, which will feature startups leading agricultural innovation. It will also feature eminent speakers including industry stalwarts such as Mohandas Pai, chairperson Aarin Capital Partners and Manipal Global Education as well as leaders from prominent agritech startups like AgroStar, DeHaat, Cropin, Samunnati, among others.

“We’re excited to participate in Startup Mahakumbh,” said Rai, “The ‘Bharat Innovates’ theme embodies the link between innovation and startups. As host and pavilion lead, we’ll bring key partners, visionaries, and promising enterprises, weaving a rich tapestry of insights, ideas, and investments. It will showcase the latest advancements, disruptive technologies, and opportunities reshaping agriculture’s future,” he added. 

NABARD, India’s apex development bank for sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development, will also be a key partner and sponsor of the agritech pavilion. This collaboration highlights Nabard’s dedication to nurturing innovation and growth in the agritech sector. At the pavilion, Nabard will introduce a select group of startups, showcasing the dynamic potential within India’s agri-startup ecosystem. 

“NABARD has been supporting the startup ecosystem in agritech space through contributions to AIFs. We are also supporting startups in the agritech space through NABVENTURE, a venture capital subsidiary. We would continue to provide support for initiatives that propel the agritech ecosystem  and in this direction, NABARD has chosen to be the lead partner in the agritech pavilion which aims to highlight the contributions of these enterprises to our agro-ecosystem. I fully hope that at this event, we collectively work towards a brighter, more sustainable future for agriculture in India,” said Shaji KV, chairman, NABARD. 

“Significant interventions need to be made to make the supply of farm inputs seamless and create more value. There is also a pressing need to look into the post-harvest aspect and how the food makes it from the farm to the fork. Innovations in branding, food processing and fintech aspects are also important. Farmers should be made an intrinsic part of the food processing industry so they flourish as micro-entrepreneurs,” said Rai.