IIT Kanpur organises first batch of agritech-entrepreneurship development programme

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur’s business incubator Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) organized the first batch of agritech-entrepreneurship development programme under the advanced ESDP programme, in collaboration with AgroNXT Services. The first batches under the five-day programme were hosted from February 6 to 10 at the institute’s outreach centre, Noida.

Startups, individuals working on projects, MSME representatives, engineers, MBA, and agriculture graduates, and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) participated in the programme. Renowned experts from the agri-tech sector imparted knowledge on entrepreneurship and funding.

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During the five days, the programme’s participants were exposed to several critical aspects of entrepreneurship in this sector including opportunities for entrepreneurship in agriculture, agricultural finance and credit, mobile-based financial inclusion applications, microfinance, and support system for agriculture based startups in India.

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A case study on the Bhu-Parikshak - Smart Soil Testing Device developed at IIT Kanpur, was also shared with the participants. Over 120 people registered for the first batch of the programme. Selected ideas under the programme will get access to funding opportunities from the Ministry of Micro and Small Management Enterprises (MSME). The next batches of the programme are starting from February 13.

“This program will be helpful to all who participated, as it emphasized several important aspects of entrepreneurship in specific sectors, and provided access to practical business knowledge frameworks that can enable the entrepreneurs to turn ideas into successful businesses,” said a statement from IIT Kanpur.