Vineet Rai of Aavishkaar Group to chair Agritech Pavilion at the 2nd edition of Startup Mahakumbh

New Delhi: Member of the Organizing Committee of Startup Mahakumbh and Chair of the Agritech panel, Founder and Vice Chairman of Aavishkaar Group, Vineet Rai, will be anchoring the Agritech Pavilion at the 2nd Edition of the Startup Mahakumbh, the world’s largest celebration of innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The event is set to take place from April 3–5, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. C M Patil, Chief Executive Officer of KrishiKalpa Foundation will be the Co-Lead of the Agritech Pavilion.

With the focal theme as ‘Startup India @ 2047—Unfolding the Bharat Story’, the convening will feature 3,000+ startups, 1,000+ investors and incubators, 10,000+ delegates from 50+ countries, creating an unparalleled platform to shape the future of India’s entrepreneurial landscape.

 “Startup Mahakumbh as the name suggest is the grand celebration of Indian Startup ecosystem. As the member of Startup Mahakumbh Organizing Committee and as Chair and Lead of the Agritech Pavilion, we look forward to welcoming exciting new startups to showcase their transformative capacity, specifically in the space of Agriculture and Rural Development. As we chart the course towards ‘Vikshit Bharat@2047’ the Agritech pavilion will showcase how Indian farmers are sharing their experience with the startup founders and their technological prowess to paint a new narrative around food security, job creation and income enhancement. At the Agritech Pavillion, farmers and stock market experts, venture funds, Investment bankers, agritech startups and farmer producer companies, would weave a rich tapestry of insights, ideas, investments and impact.” shared Vineet Rai, Founder and Vice Chairman, Aavishkaar Group.

Aavishkaar Group is also delighted to present NABARD as the lead partner of the Agritech pavilion. As the pre-eminent institution of choice for building rural India, the partnership will shed light on the latest advancements, disruptive technologies, and opportunities reshaping the future of agriculture in India.  NABARD is India’s apex development finance institution promoting sustainable, equitable agriculture and rural development. This pivotal collaboration highlights NABARD’s commitment to nurturing the agri-sector’s growth and innovation. At the pavilion, NABARD will also showcase 30 startups from their cohort, showcasing the dynamic and transformative potential within India’s agri startup ecosystem.

Shaji KV, Chairman, NABARD said, “Innovation and entrepreneurship in rural India are the cornerstones of inclusive development. By fostering startups, we empower communities, strengthen agriculture, and pave the way for a sustainable future, NABARD will continue to provide support for initiatives that propel the agritech ecosystem to make strides in the agriculture space.  At Startup Mahakumbh 2025, we aim to highlight the contributions of the enterprises we support and scale, to our agri-ecosystem. We look forward to a brighter, more sustainable future for agriculture in India.”

Supported by Next Bharat Ventures, Aavishkaar Capital and Intellecap, part of the Aavishkaar Group, and IIT Kharagpur, the Agritech pavilion will celebrate startups and technologies driving sustainable agriculture and improving livelihoods across rural India.

The overwhelming participation and response from entrepreneurs and innovators alike from the previous edition has resulted in a more interactive and creative format for this edition. With ~100 promising startups alone being showcased, there will also be an ‘Agri-Bazaar’, bespoke Masterclasses, and exciting discussions with Agritech luminaries at the Summit. As a 1st time addition to the Summit, the ‘Startup Maharathi Challenge’, with a funding pool for INR 30Cr, will provide an opportunity for visionary startups to showcase transformative solutions, secure nation-wide recognition, and access the right funding and mentorship to scale.

The ‘Entrepreneur-first’ agenda will ensure that Startups get unprecedented access to one-on-one mentoring sessions, live pitches, best practices on Governance, and the opportunity to participate and win Awards for their startup innovations. The Startup Mahakumbh agenda has been curated to facilitate a vibrant exchange of ideas and best practices at the forefront of agricultural innovation in India.

The comprehensive program is curated by an Organizing Committee featuring prominent leaders from India’s startup ecosystem. Led by FICCI, the key organizers include ASSOCHAM, Nasscom, TiE, IVCA and Bootstrap Foundation. The event is well supported by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), reinforcing its commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship at a national level.