The Startup Mahakumbh, first-of-its-kind three-day event, organised by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), started-off on 18 March 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The event witnessed participation of over 1000 startups from India and around the world along with venture capitalists, High Net Worth Individuals, and policy makers. This grand event was graced by eminent Government dignitaries including Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister; Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry; Shri Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog; Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, DPIIT; Shri Prashant Kumar Singh, CEO, Government e Marketplace; Shri Sivasubramanian Ramman, Chairman, SIDBI etc.
Shri Shaji KV, Chairman, NABARD graced the opening day event. Participating in the plenary session on “Food for Thought: Reimagining Indian Agriculture with Farmer as Entrepreneur”, Chairman highlighted on the need for blended finance to support startups facing challenges in scaling up their operations due to limited access to equity and debt instruments and foster new linkages in rural ecosystem. He also highlighted the need to skill farmers in processing, value addition etc.
Chairman also participated in the Fireside Chat on “Financing Enterprises to power India's transition to Sustainable & Resilient Agriculture” at the Agritech Pavilion of the Mahakumbh. During the discussion, he highlighted the climate risks in the agriculture sector and the need for transition towards sustainable agricultural practices and stressed upon the need of low-carbon and disruptive technologies in the agriculture sector and assured NABARD’s support to startups engaged in such technologies.
Chairman visited agritech startup pavilion and interacted with agritech startups supported and funded by NABARD. The startups expressed wholehearted gratitude for the support of NABARD in providing funding, business development and marketing, and thanked the Chairman for providing them the opportunity to participate in the event. Notably, 25 NABARD-supported startups participated in the Mahakumbh and showcased their products and ideas to potential investors and networked with their global peers and industry leaders.