In an effort to enhance sustainability and profitability in agriculture, 14 agritech startups have been selected to receive catalytic capital under the new ‘Innovators for Bharat’ initiative. Launched by SBI Foundation in partnership with Villgro, the program aims to provide ₹6 crore to help early and growth-stage startups develop tech solutions that address agricultural challenges and climate change impacts.
Supporting AgriTech Innovation
The program was unveiled at a launch event in Bengaluru, with key stakeholders from SBI Foundation, Villgro, and NABKISAN in attendance, along with a wide array of industry representatives, including investors and CSR executives.
SBI Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the State Bank of India, focused on implementing community initiatives in areas such as rural development, education, healthcare, and sustainability, with a mission to improve socio-economic conditions across India. Villgro is a leading social enterprise incubator in India that supports innovation-driven startups in sectors like agribusiness, healthcare, and climate action, helping them scale impactful solutions through mentorship, funding, and market linkages. Meanwhile, NABKISAN is a subsidiary of NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) and provides financial services, including loans and credit, to agriculture and rural enterprises, promoting sustainable rural development.
Sanjay Prakash, MD and CEO of SBI Foundation, highlighted the initiative’s goal to improve the income of smallholder farmers through technology-driven solutions, promoting both profitability and sustainability in the sector.
“The vision is to foster startups that offer practical solutions to agricultural challenges. By hLaunched by SBI Foundation and Villgro, the program offers support to startups developing climate-smart agricultural solutionselping smallholder farmers increase their profits, we aim to drive meaningful change in agriculture and support climate resilience.”
Focus Areas and Impact Goals
The 14 startups chosen for the Innovators for Bharat program are working on solutions to reduce post-harvest losses, repurpose agricultural waste, and lower CO2 emissions. Some of the startups include Bharat Rohan, Marut Drones, Ekosight, and Krimanshi. Over the next two years, these startups aim to positively impact 10,000 individuals, promote sustainable practices on 60,000 acres of land, and prevent the emission of 15,000 tonnes of CO2.
Read more: Rs 7.5 B ‘AgriSure’ Fund Launched to Boost Agri Startups
Villgro’s Associate Lead for Agriculture & Climate Action, Maithili Rege, outlined how the program aims to coach these startups, embedding their solutions in the market and offering innovative financing.
“With initial funding of ₹3.25 crore, we’re unlocking an additional amount through our partner NABKISAN to support startups with a total of ₹6 crore in catalytic capital.”
Collaborative Support and Future Outlook
The Innovators for Bharat program combines financial and technical support from both SBI Foundation and Villgro. SBI Foundation will leverage its network of banking and financial institutions to provide mentorship, while Villgro will offer technical assistance and market linkages. The ultimate goal is to help these startups scale their solutions, making them more accessible to end-users and driving a lasting impact on Indian agriculture.
In addition to funding, the program is structured around partnerships with civil service organizations to conduct field trials and pilots, ensuring that the startups’ solutions are tested and validated in real-world conditions.
The launch event also featured panel discussions on key issues such as “Boosting Farm Finances” and “Making Climate-Smart Agri-Businesses Succeed,” highlighting the critical role that financing and climate resilience will play in the future of agriculture.
A Broader Vision for Social Impact
The Innovators for Bharat initiative is part of SBI Foundation’s broader mission to accelerate social innovation in India. With a focus on agriculture, climate change, and sustainability, the initiative is designed to empower entrepreneurs to drive transformative changes in the sector, ensuring profitability, nutritional security, and resilience to climate impacts.
Villgro, India’s largest social enterprise incubator, has been a vital partner in this initiative, bringing years of experience in supporting invention-based enterprises across sectors such as health, agribusiness, and climate action. Since its inception, Villgro has backed over 300 social enterprises that have collectively raised significant investments and impacted millions of lives.