Day 2 at Startup Mahakumbh: AgriTech Pavilion Showcases Innovations to Transform Indian Agriculture
New Delhi, April 5, 2025: Day 2 of Startup Mahakumbh saw the AgriTech Pavilion transform into a dynamic hub of agricultural innovation, bringing together policymakers, investors, and startups reimagining the future of farming in India. A key highlight of the day was the visit by Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Government of India, Shri Giriraj Singh, who engaged with several pioneering agri-tech startups. During his visit, he extended his heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, for spearheading this landmark initiative celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship.
The day began with a Welcome Address by Debasish Mishra, Chief General Manager, Delhi Circle, SBI, who highlighted SBI’s sustained support for the startup ecosystem. “We now have five such branches in five parts of the country – Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Gurgaon – which are supporting banking and financial services to startups. These five startup outlets have combinedly opened more than 3000+ startup accounts,” he noted.
The Opening Plenary, “Bridging Capital: How FIs & Funds Can Fuel Agritech & Rural Innovation?”, saw participation from Shashvat Rai, Partner, Aavishkaar Capital, CM Patil, CEO, Krishi Kalpa Foundation, and Debasish Mishra. Addressing early-stage founders, Debashish Mishra advised, “Come out with your idea, make it a product, and make it a commercially viable solution.” CM Patil urged founders to remain mission-driven, sharing, “Don’t build the model for investors, build it for yourself – you are there for the long run.”
The Pavilion was packed with engaging sessions including impromptu pitch competitions, founder journeys, and insights from leading investors. Alekh Sanghera, Co-Founder and CEO of Farmart, took the stage in “Trailblazing Tales – Agri-Innovations from Sector Disruptors”, while Sunil K Goyal, Managing Director and Fund Manager, YourNest Venture Capital, and Abhishek Mittal, Partner, Aavishkaar Capital, spotlighted emerging business models with funding potential. Meanwhile, in her investor pitch session, Anisha Singh, Founding Partner, She Capital, shared valuable advice: “Make sure you find that one credible model, find what it is that is a differentiator and ensure you’re able to scale or talk about it.”
A key highlight was the presentation on Krushak Odisha Unified Platform (KOUP) by Gaurav Goel, Founder & CEO, Samagra, and Anay Gogate, Program Lead, Samagra, illustrating how the Odisha Government is enabling startups to connect with farmers through digital public infrastructure. A session on global trends and their impact on agriculture followed, with Ambassador Gurjit Singh, Board Chair at Intellecap, speaking on “The Geopolitical Landscape and its Impact on Agriculture”.
Hemendra Mathur, Co-founder, ThinkAg and Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund, took audiences through a knowledge-packed segment, followed by a talk on Open Network for Agriculture in UP by Dipika Prasad (Google) and Yuvraj Ahuja (IFC). Bharath Ganapathy, Sr. Program Manager, FIDE, rounded off the Pavilion sessions on Day 2 with a presentation on the Unified Krishi Interface.
In recognition of outstanding entrepreneurial efforts, Best Startup Pod Awards and Pitch Competition Winners were announced. The Aavishkaar Mahakumbh People’s Choice Award went to Pravidhaan FPC Pvt Ltd (Winner – ₹3L) and Himfla Pvt Ltd (Runner-Up – ₹2L). The Aavishkaar Kisan Kranti Award of ₹1L each was conferred on four startups: Isaayu Agritech Pvt Ltd, Prishigo Food and Beverages, Ascription Technology, and Dhalava.
In the high-stakes Aavishkaar Ultimate Agritech Pitch, Pravidhaan FPC emerged as the Winner (₹3L), with GramSe as the Runner-Up (₹2L). An Honourable Mention (₹1L) was awarded to BioFizz for its innovative approach.
The day concluded with a thought-provoking Masterclass on IPO readiness by Veenit Surana, Partner, EY India, followed by the main stage discussion “The Liquidity Continuum: The Flywheel Unlocked” featuring Rohit Batra (Evolvence), Ishpreet Singh Gandhi (Stride Ventures), Vineet Rai (Aavishkaar Group), and Arvind Ganeshan (Axis Capital Ltd.). During the conversation, Vineet Rai noted, “Venture as an ecosystem has yet to deliver on the promises that we have made and that’s actually a challenge we have to solve for India.”
Startup Mahakumbh’s AgriTech Pavilion continues to build momentum as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and investment in the sector, echoing India’s vision to empower its farmers and agri-entrepreneurs for a resilient future. With the stage now set, Day 3 promises even more action — spotlighting cutting-edge technologies and new-age business models that will shape the next era of agritech. Stay tuned as India’s agri-innovation story unfolds — bolder, bigger, and better.