28th March 2024, Pune
The Agribusiness Incubation Center of ICAR-DOGR organized the “Start-Up Cohort-Sankalp”, with the primary goal of fostering networking opportunities and enhancing the capacities of potential startups in the agricultural sector. Started from March 8 to March 28, 2024, this Startup Cohort brought together 15 budding Start-Ups spanning diverse fields such as seed, food processing, mechanization, sensor-based technology, marketing, supply chain management, alongside pre- and post-harvest technologies and signed MoUs with these Start-Ups.
Throughout the duration of the event, participants were provided opportunity to engage with various stakeholders and experts. These interactions delved into discussions surrounding emerging technologies, the challenges encountered within their respective industries, and potential strategies to overcome them. Additionally, to facilitate hands-on training and foster networking opportunities, the participating startups were facilitated with exposure visits to various institutions such as IIT Bombay, COEP Pune, Atal Incubation Centre Baramati, ICAR-CIRCOT, and several industrial establishments.
In the valedictory session, Dr. K. D. Kokate, former DDG (Agricultural Extension) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, delivered an inspiring address to the startups. Dr. Kokate emphasized the pivotal role of startups in fostering sustainable development within the agricultural sector. He underscored the importance of leveraging science and technology to drive innovation, urging entrepreneurs to remain vigilant about advancements in their field.
Furthermore, Dr. Vijay Mahajan, the director of ICAR-DOGR, offered invaluable insights to startups on optimizing networking efforts with enterprises within their respective domains. He stressed the importance of maintaining unwavering commitment to product or service quality, emphasizing its role in ensuring sustained success. Reflecting on the significance of staying up-to-date of technological advancements and fostering robust networks, Dr. Rajiv Baliram Kale, PI-ABI Centre, and the course director of the program, emphasized the imperative nature of continuous learning and adaptation. He added that, the institute has signed MOUs with these 15 startups for incubation support and highlighted how the training provided during the event, coupled with forward-thinking adaptations in business strategies, are integral to achieving long-term success.
The valedictory program witnessed presence Dr. Kalyani Gorrepati and Dr. Bhushan Bibwe along with Dr. Rajkumar Dagadkhair, Co-PIs of the ABI Centre.
