BharatAgri Raises Rs 35 Crore ($4.3 Million) in Series A Funding to Empower Farmers

BharatAgri, an innovative advisory-driven e-commerce platform dedicated to empowering farmers, has recently announced the successful culmination of its Series A funding round, amassing a substantial sum of Rs 35 crore (approximately $4.3 million). This funding effort was spearheaded by Arkam Ventures, India's pioneering early-stage venture fund with a focus on Middle-India startups in the agri-tech sector. Remarkably, this marks Arkam Ventures' third investment venture in the realm of agri-tech.

Participation in this funding round extended beyond Arkam Ventures, with the backing of Capria Ventures and continued support from existing investors, including India Quotient, 021 Capital, and Omnivore. The newly acquired capital injection will be strategically allocated to expand BharatAgri's e-commerce platform into previously untapped regions and further enhance its last-mile delivery capabilities. Additionally, as part of this investment, Rahul Chandra, the Managing Director of Arkam Ventures, will take a seat on BharatAgri's board.

BharatAgri, co-founded by Siddharth Dialani and Sai Gole, both alumni of IIT Madras, has established itself as a pivotal player in the agri-tech sector by offering farmers a comprehensive smart farming advisory service. This service aids farmers in identifying and procuring the most suitable input products tailored to their unique agricultural needs. The company has harnessed predictive algorithms to provide customized advisory services that take into account specific crops, regions, and climatic variations.

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Farmers can access invaluable guidance to boost crop yields, reduce input costs, and streamline labor-intensive processes. Notably, BharatAgri's e-commerce platform features an extensive inventory of over 10,000 agricultural products, including fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, insecticides, and farming equipment. These products are readily delivered across India, spanning over 20,000 pin codes.

Arkam Ventures, with a strong focus on rural fintech and agri-tech solutions, has previously invested in prominent agri-tech companies such as Jai Kisan, a rapidly growing rural fintech platform, and Jumbotail, India's premier B2B food and grocery marketplace.

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Siddharth Dialani, Co-founder of BharatAgri, emphasized the company's vision for the future, stating, "In the next 3 years, 50 million+ farmers will use the internet for the first time, and we want BharatAgri to be their bridge to the digital era of agriculture that is now dawning. With 10L+ unique monthly users, 10k+ SKUs, 100+ marketplace partners, and 20k+ serviceable pin codes, BharatAgri is making a significant impact on farmers' lives."

Rahul Chandra, Managing Director of Arkam Ventures, highlighted the transformative potential of BharatAgri in the agricultural sector, noting, "Agri inputs is a $44 billion market in India and suffers from stock-outs, misinformation, and non-scientific usage behavior… The rural infrastructure in India is rapidly modernizing, with the last mile reaching more and more villages, and farmers are increasingly trusting digital knowledge sources."

The seamless convergence of advisory services and e-commerce has enabled BharatAgri to substantially increase farmers' production by 30%, reduce operational costs by 10%, and boost their earnings by a remarkable 100%. Over the next 12 months, BharatAgri is focused on fortifying its distribution network, enhancing last-mile delivery services, and expediting turnaround times. In response to escalating demand, the company is also strategizing the establishment of multiple warehouses in diverse regions, further solidifying its commitment to empowering India's farming community.

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