Pusa Krishi Launches UPJA & ARISE Incubation Programs Providing Grants for Agri-Startups
16 April 2024, New Delhi: Pusa Krishi, Indian Agricultural Research Institute’s Incubation Centre promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the agriculture and allied sectors, has unveiled its latest startup incubation programs, UPJA and ARISE, on April 1, 2024. These initiatives aim to empower aspiring entrepreneurs by offering them essential resources, mentorship, funding, and guidance to transform their innovative ideas into successful ventures.
UPJA (Seed) is an agribusiness incubation program that targets agri-startups beyond the prototype phase, with established products in the market. This program provides technology validation, mentoring, guidance, pilot opportunities, go-to-market support, and industry connections to startups with innovative solutions at the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage. Participating startups have the opportunity to secure funding of up to Rs. 25 lakhs to fuel their growth and development.
ARISE (Pre seed) is a specially designed incubation program for early-stage agri-startups. It serves as a platform for budding entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, equipping them with necessary entrepreneurial skills through mentoring and industry exposure. The program offers access to business and technology validation, robust mentoring and advisory services, market linkages, and connections to create impactful solutions in the agriculture ecosystem. Eligible startups participating in the ARISE program can receive funding of up to Rs. 5 lakhs to support their initial stages of growth.
This year, Pusa Krishi has extended its support to entrepreneurship-driven students, providing selected candidates with Rs. 4,00,000 to develop their innovative products. This move aims to encourage students with entrepreneurial aspirations to explore the field of agriculture and contribute to its growth and innovation.
It is important to note that these incubation programs are not restricted to candidates specializing in agriculture alone. Individuals from diverse educational backgrounds with innovations applicable to agriculture are encouraged to apply for funding, thereby expanding the horizons of opportunities in the agritech landscape.
The eligibility criteria for application include entities adhering to the government norms/DPIIT guidelines for startups, students without registered startups, early-stage ventures with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and innovators with startup aspirations.
Registration for the UPJA and ARISE programs commenced on April 1, 2024, and will remain open until April 30, 2024. Interested individuals and startups are encouraged to seize this opportunity to join Pusa Krishi’s incubation programs and avail themselves of the support, funding, and guidance necessary for their entrepreneurial journey in the agriculture sector.
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