SBI Foundation and Villgro Launch 'Innovators for Bharat' Program to Empower Climate-Resilient Agriculture

In response to the urgent need to address climate challenges in Indian agriculture, SBI Foundation and Villgro, a social enterprise incubator, have launched the 'Innovators for Bharat: Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods' program. This initiative aims to provide crucial support to startups that are developing innovative solutions for climate-resilient agriculture.

The program will offer a combination of equity seed funding, grant capital, and incubation support to a maximum of 15 startups. These resources will empower startups to grow sustainably and substantially impact agricultural livelihoods.

An essential component of this initiative is tailored incubation support. It encompasses strategic mentoring for business expansion, opportunities to conduct field pilots, access to rural distribution networks, scientific guidance on quantifying and evaluating climate impact, and technical assistance for creating carbon projects. Furthermore, the program will strongly emphasize helping startups build financially stable business models and access debt financing.

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This program invites startups at various stages of development, from early MVPs to more established enterprises in the growth stage. It's open to agritech startups, agri-fintech startups, and climate tech startups focusing on themes such as climate-resilient agriculture, post-harvest loss reduction, waste-to-value, and carbon impact measurement.

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Startups interested in this opportunity have until October 11, 2023, to submit their applications. The startup selection process will commence in October 2023, with the announcement of selected startups expected in November 2023. The incubation period is scheduled to run from February 2024 to July 2025.

For applications, visit: villgro.org/current-programs/#cause-20.

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