SUMMARY
The Startup Mahakumbh will feature masterclasses, live pitches, deal rooms, unicorn roundtables and more at its agritech-focussed pavilion to highlight cutting-edge advancements
Supported by Nabard and the Aavishkaar Group, the pavilion will be attended by speakers like Mohandas Pai, chairman of Aarin Capital Partners, and Dr Vaibhav Tidke, cofounder and CEO of S4S Technologies
The agritech pavilion will also showcase exhibition pods featuring startups leading agricultural innovation
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 captivating discussions on India’s agritech potential, including a fireside chat with Mohandas Pai, chairman of Aarin Capital Partners, and Dr Vaibhav Tidke, cofounder and CEO of S4S Technologies.
“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 pavillion.
Additionally, the pavilion will host inspiring keynotes, panel discussions, and an exclusive award ceremony for promising ventures.
Networking & Growth Opportunities
Attendees can expect one-on-one mentoring, masterclasses, live pitches, deal rooms, and unicorn roundtables to foster exchange of ideas and networking. Led by the Aavishkaar Group, the pavilion will also showcase exhibition pods, which will feature startups leading agricultural innovation.
“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.
“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.
