Program Overview

India’s rural agricultural landscape is home to legacy Agri institutions, a large civil society and a farm-supportive government. Moreover, the historical policy push to adopt scientific and technological innovations from the world is now being complimented by a new generation of Agri innovators and entrepreneurs who are building indigenous innovations suited for Indian farms. However, despite these trends and chronology, millions of small farmers living on more than 125 million small and marginal land holdings in India, continue to face extreme financial, technological and climate-induced challenges.

The India Agritech Incubation Network (IAIN) is a collaborative effort between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Social Alpha. It aims to establish a conducive ecosystem for innovators and entrepreneurs in agriculture. The network has fostered cooperation among private and public sector stakeholders, created specialised technical infrastructure, provided market access, influenced public policy and facilitated market access for early-stage innovative solutions. The diversity of innovations spans pre-cultivation technologies for soil & crop health, inclusive farm equipment for drudgery-cost-risk reduction, post-harvest technologies for loss elimination, and allied sector innovations for building income resilience. IAIN was conceived and designed to bring science and technology innovations to small and marginal farmers and help improve their productivity, income and quality of life.

Focus Areas

Small Farm Mechanisation
  • Drudgery & Labour Equity: Labour intensive operations in cash crop farming such as sowing/planting, input application, inter-cultivation, and harvesting results in high dependence on manual labour and higher cultivation cost due to labour scarcity and limited operating time.
  • Innovative solutions that can improve the utilisation efficiency of agriculture inputs.
  • Unavailability: Lack of appropriately designed equipment that meet the needs of small and marginal farmers, especially women.
  • Affordability: High capital expenditure and operating costs due to fossil fuel dependency make small farm mechanisation economically unviable, thereby limiting its adoption by small and marginal farmers.
Soil Carbon Rejuvenation
  • Misselection and unbalanced application of chemical inputs has weakened the rhizosphere & soil biome diversity, thus leading to low symbiotic exchange of organic matter between soil and crops.
  • Over reliance on synthetic farm inputs has disrupted carbon cycles on farms creating suboptimal yields with high costs.
  • Intensive farming & climate change have degraded the soil carbon pool & soil structure, thus impacting biological & hydrological efficiency of the soil.
  • In the absence of alternative incentives systems that can cushion risks, farmers see no merit/need to participate in ‘Good for soil organic carbon’ practices.
  • There is a lack of reliable, easy and economically viable tools to calculate carbon fractions, thus limiting incentives for farmers for regenerative carbon practices.
Post Harvest Management
  • Limited price for lower grade produce (in perishables) impacts farm incomes. There is need of decentralised technologies to create market linked value-added products from low grade produce.
  • Loss of weight & quality of perishable commodities due to moisture loss, rotting and sprouting leads to lower price realisation.
Feed & Nutrition for Cattle
  • Seasonality and non-availability of green fodder, along with the overall decline in green fodder production increases fodder cost.
  • The lack of region-specific and breed-specific feed options for cattle is resulting in the widespread use of generalised feed formulations, leading to detrimental impacts on production yield and animal health.
  • Non availability of screening and diagnostic tools for identifying health and nutrition deficiencies leads to generic, misaligned and non-scientific supplement prescriptions.
  • Concentrate feed prices are increasing YoY due to raw material shortage and inflation. Access and affordability are limited to 30% farmers who are organised via cooperatives.
Forest Bioeconomy & Conservation
  • NTFP: Low productivity, disease & climate stress impacts NTFP yield resulting in low incomes and unsustainable practices.
  • NTFP: Due to lack of value preservation & value addition of NTFPs, PGs receive a mere 25% portion of the overall value while intermediaries claim an excessive 75% share.
  • Forest fires: Accumulation of dry biomass on forest floor increases the bio-fuel load which combined with heat stress triggers forest fires.

WHO HAVE APPLIED

Innovators & Start-ups with solutions that are technologically innovative and have the potential to create an impact in the lives of smallholder farmers of Uttar Pradesh & Odisha and demonstrate business model sustainability.

  • Development Stage– Technology is being integrated, tested, validated in controlled and field settings [ TRL 4-6]
  • Pilot Stage– Technology has demonstrated technical performance, and is ready for testing early product-market fit, use cases and ROI demonstration [TRL 7-8]
  • Scale Up Stage– Technology has demonstrated early market evidence, use cases and ROI, and can scale based on market evidence [TRL 9]

MEET THE COHORT

Program Offerings

Sandbox facility to test, validate and pilot innovations on the ground in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
Access to Social Alpha’s seed investment and / or other funding opportunities; and facilitated access to a large investor and donor network.
Product development support via Social Alpha Labs including assistance with designing, rapid prototyping and design for manufacturing.
Dedicated Agri-business experts to assist with business planning, developing go-to-market strategy and overall business advisory.
Mentorship by a set of qualified global and local experts; and curated set of capacity building sessions.
Practical on-the-ground feedback from the farmer community, grassroots non-profits, agriculture experts and corporate and government bodies.
Access to shared office space and lab infrastructure at Social Alpha Labs

Program Impact (2019-2021)

30
Startups Onboarded
30
Pilots Across the State
70
Partners
30
Districts Impacted
75000
Households Covered
1.25 CR
Worth of Incubation Support
4.5 CR
Investment in Piloting
6.05 CR
Market Access
60CR
Finance Leveraged

Indian Agritech Incubation Network (IAIN) is a unique venture where there is a consortium of partners like Social Alpha, CInI, BMGF and IIT Kanpur coming together to address the issues of small and marginal farmers. The innovations & solutions that have been selected through the program are basically addressing very specific challenges in agriculture. The UP government is proactively working towards promoting these solutions through testing small beds, connecting with the farmer-producer organisations, improving the product to make it more acceptable to farmers. Subsequently as the product scales up its activities, there are different government schemes to incentivise the technologies and subsidise the machinery, etc. The technologies and solutions can be embedded in the system to make it more acceptable and affordable to the farmers. All these efforts combined will enable the farmers to address the challenges and empower them. And IAIN is a positive effort towards the creating that impact on small and marginal farmers.

DEVESH CHATURVEDI

Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmer’s Welfare, Uttar Pradesh

We were using the feed supplied by Shwetdhara but not satisfied with fat levels. Now there is sufficient protein, fat and maize in the feed & performance of feed is more than satisfactory.

Ashok Jaiswal

Madafarpur, Pratapgarh, UP

Strategic Partners

Outreach Partners

Important Dates

  • Launch of Techtonic: Innovations in Agritech

    September 18th, 2023

  • Deadline for applications

    October 18th, 2023

  • Initial evaluation

    October 20th – 25th, 2023

  • Virtual interviews & presentation

    October 26th – 31st, 2023

  • Jury round & grand finale

    November 10th, 2023

  • Announcement of winners

    November 15th, 2023

  • Incubation support and pilot initiation

    November 30th, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

ELIGIBILITY
Who can apply for the program?

Techtonic Innovations in Agritech is a search for innovators and entrepreneurs with transformative technologies that address a curated set of challenges faced by the smallholder farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. Individuals, group of individuals, social enterprises and start-ups registered in India (whether for-profit or not-for-profit) are eligible to apply for the program.

· TRL 4 – Basic technological components have been integrated to establish that they work together.

· TRL 5 – Technology has been put together and can be tested in a simulated environment.

· TRL 6 – Prototype is being tested in simulated operational environment or in a high-fidelity laboratory environment.

· TRL 7 – Actual system prototype is near completion or ready and has been demonstrated in an operational environment or is at pilot level.

· TRL 8 – Technology is proven and developed but not yet operational or applied anywhere.

· TRL 9 – Technology has been applied in its final form and is operational.

· Solution is already in market and can be scaled and replicated in Uttar Pradesh & Odisha.

Is there any preference for an innovation?

Applicants are encouraged to submit applications for technology-based innovations that focus on solving challenges faced by small and marginal farmers of Uttar Pradesh & Odisha. The Innovation may be a product, platform or service, but must be aligned to the focus areas outlined in the program. There is a preference for technology-based innovations that have a high social impact potential.

I am a college student working on a technology. Can I apply for the program?

Yes, you may apply if your technology satisfies the category in Q2. Please note that finalists of the Techtonic Innovations in Agritech will be required to participate in evaluation sessions where they will have to present to the jury. This may require the physical attendance at the convening location and may interfere with college schedules.

Can I submit more than one application for different technologies?

Yes, applicants can submit multiple applications, but each application must feature a distinct problem statement/technology/process/innovation. However, in the final decision, only one application (if selected) will be considered per enterprise.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
How many applications will be selected?

Upto 15 Applications satisfying the focus areas of the techtonic will be selected as the final cohort of IAIN program.

What is the structure of the program?

The first month of the program is cohort driven. As part of the cohort there will be an orientation launchpad which includes opportunities to attend knowledge sessions and seminars, interact with mentors and experts, and meet potential investors organized by the IAIN ecosystem. Dedicated agri-business experts will map an in-depth incubation plan for the winners. The structure, nature and duration of incubation will vary depending on the winner’s unique needs. Those incubated will be eligible for financial support and/or piloting opportunities subject to successful due diligence.

What is the duration of the program?

The program is a typically a 12-24-month long engagement. However, it will vary from case to case based on the needs of the startups. Promising start-ups upon successful completion of milestones may continue to receive incubation support for a longer duration.

What are the different types of benefits I can avail from the program?

Winners will receive an incubation programme covering one or many of the following depending on their need's assessment.

  • Sandbox facility to test, validate and pilot innovations/projects on the ground in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha
  • Access to Social Alpha’s seed investment and / or other funding opportunities; and facilitated access to a large investor and donor network
  • Product development support including assistance with designing, rapid prototyping and design for manufacturing
  • Dedicated agri-business experts to assist with business planning, developing go-to-market strategy and overall business advisory
  • Mentorship by a set of qualified global and local experts; and curated set of capacity building sessions
  • Practical on-the-ground feedback from the farmer community, grassroots non-profits, agriculture experts and corporate and government bodies
  • Access to shared office space and amenities at Social Alpha and support services such as accounting, compliance, taxation, legal, IP, etc.
Do I have to be physically present for any cohort-based sessions? Is attendance necessary?

As part of the program, there may be a requirement to attend certain sessions in person. The winners will be required to attend the orientation launchpad. The incubatees will be required to attend relevant workshops, events and demo days during the incubation period physically/virtually. Unless there is a pre-communicated genuine and unavoidable reason for absence, winners/incubatees missing most of the program will not only lose the actual benefits of their selection but may also be reconsidered for continuing with the program.

Is the mentoring paid or free?

Mentoring, as part of the continuous engagement with the winners of the Techtonic Innovations in Agritech, will be provided free of charge. Participation in specialized/additional events could be subject to a nominal fee.

How frequently will Social Alpha interface with the winners during the program?

There will be regular interface between the winning teams and the implementation team. Each start-up will be allocated a portfolio manager to help with customized requests who will continually and regularly engage with the start-ups.

Funding support
What kind of funding support can I avail through the program?

Decided on a case-to-case basis, eligible incubated start-ups will get access to funding for pilot implementation with our partners in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. Eligible incubated start-ups of the Techtonic Innovations in Agritech might be considered for follow-on funding subject to successful due diligence and investment committee approval.

Can I find other funding partners for investments?

Yes, the winning start-ups can find other funding partners.

SELECTION PROCESS
What are the important dates to remember during the selection process? By when will the results be announced?
Date Event
18th September 2023 Launch of Techtonic: Innovations in Agritech
18th October 2023 Deadline for applications
20th – 25th October 2023 Initial evaluation
26th – 31st October 2022 Virtual interviews & Presentation
10th November 2023 Jury round & Grand finale
15th November 2023 Announcement of winners
30th November 2023 Incubation support and pilot initiation
Can I submit my application post deadline?

No, applications submitted post the stated deadline will not be considered for evaluation.

Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions

Please read the following terms and conditions before submitting your entry:

Eligibility
  • Participating or proposed ventures should be independent entities, meaning that they should not be a subsidiary of an existing corporation or have legal ties to a government body.
  • Existing non-profits can participate; however, they should propose a venturing idea or a plan to transform their existing solutions into a more sustainable solution.
  • As the program is looking for start-ups to work on establishing marketing channels for existing products, and not research, only those with developed ideas and/or prototypes should apply.
  • The applicant should be a registered company /willing to be registered in India. The shareholding by Indian promoters in the company should be at least 51%.
Submissions and Participation
  • Submissions which are incomplete will be deemed void and disqualified from the program evaluations.
  • Submissions should be the original work of the participant/participating entity and should demonstrate positive social or environmental impact, have a disruptive technology innovation with potential to be sustainable and scalable in India (though not exclusively in the region).
  • Participants who are determined to be ‘Finalists’, ranked in the final evaluation stage might be required to send at least one core member for the final round of evaluations.
  • Winners agree to the use of their names, photographs, disclosure of their country of residence; and are required to cooperate with any other reasonable requests by the organiser relating to any publicity-related activities.
  • Winners are required to submit a declaration of good standing and solvency at the final stage of evaluation. If there is any change in circumstance that invalidates their good standing and solvency, the team is to immediately inform the organisers.
  • All participants own the rights to their ideas. Participants must properly acknowledge any trademarks, patented or copyrighted materials of others that are incorporated into the submission materials. Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission before utilizing such materials into their submissions.
  • Submitted ideas are protected in the spirit of non-disclosure, and all submitted materials will be treated as company confidential. The only people with access to the entry materials will be evaluators/judges, partners and select members of the organising committee. Materials will not be distributed to any other party unless requested by a participant. No other provisions are made to protect intellectual property.
  • Participants are advised not to disclose critical information which would affect a successful filing of patent(s). All presentations are open to the general public, and some presentations may be videotaped. Attendance by media personnel is expected in the final stages of the program. Any data or information discussed or divulged in public sessions by participants should be considered information that will likely enter the public realm, and entrants should not assume any right of confidentiality in any data or information discussed, divulged or presented in these sessions.
Decisions regarding the winners
  • The selection of the ‘Winners’ is at the sole discretion of the judges and the organisers from Social Alpha and partnering organisations. Best efforts will be made to make decisions in accordance with this document.
  • Throughout all phases of the Techtonic, all decisions of the judges are final.
Disqualification and Organiser’s Right to Amend Competition Rules
  • The organisers of the program reserve the right to disqualify any participant who is found to have violated the spirit of the application guidelines and terms and conditions stated herein. Disqualified participants shall forfeit all prizes awarded to them.
  • The organisers reserve the right to amend these rules at any point before the Closing Date of the applications in line with the overall goal of the Quest.
  • The indicated dates for the applications may be revised at any point of time by the organisers. Any change in schedule will be suitably intimated on the applications webpage and on other relevant platforms.

Dismiss

For any assistance needed in filling the application form, please reach out to us at

iain@socialalpha.org