RKVY – RAFTAAR Scheme for Student Agripreneurs by IIT KANPUR
Offered By - Government Of India, IIT Kanpur, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
About the Program
The RKVY-RAFTAAR Scheme for Student Agripreneurs is an India-focused agritech startup support program designed for student innovators and early-stage agripreneurs building solutions in agriculture and allied sectors. The initiative is being implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, with the Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), IIT Kanpur and SIIC IIT Kanpur serving as ecosystem and incubation partners.
The program is specifically targeted at student-led startups operating from the idea stage to the pre-seed stage. It aims to support innovative and scalable agritech ventures solving real-world agricultural challenges related to productivity, sustainability, rural livelihoods, farm efficiency, supply chains, and technology adoption in the agriculture ecosystem.
Selected startups receive structured incubation, mentorship, technical validation, ecosystem access, and milestone-based grant support of up to ₹4 lakhs. The program also includes a one-month Agripreneurship Orientation Program where founders are introduced to startup-building fundamentals, incubation support systems, and sector-specific technology guidance. Participants physically attending the orientation may also receive a stipend of ₹10,000 per month.
The scheme supports a broad range of agriculture-focused innovation categories including AgriTech, Agri-Biotechnology, AI-driven agriculture solutions, Farm Mechanisation, Post-Harvest Management, Agri Supply Chain innovations, and Agri-Waste to Wealth solutions. Through SIIC IIT Kanpur’s ecosystem, startups also gain exposure to mentors, investors, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), industries, and market-access partnerships.
Only four startups are planned to be selected under this cohort, making the program highly focused and competitive. The selection process includes startup reviews and presentations before incubation and investment committees.
From a founder’s perspective, this opportunity is particularly valuable for student founders who already have a strong agriculture-related problem statement and want institutional incubation support before scaling commercially. It is especially suitable for founders seeking credibility, technical validation, and early grant-based support without immediate pressure for private fundraising.
Offerings / Benefits:
- Grant support up to ₹4 lakhs
- Structured incubation support
- Access to IIT Kanpur incubation ecosystem
- Technical validation and expert guidance
- Mentorship support
- Agripreneurship Orientation Program
- ₹10,000/month stipend for eligible physical participants during orientation
- Networking opportunities with investors and industry experts
- Market access support through FPOs, KVKs, industries, and farming communities
- Follow-on funding opportunities
- Investor connect and pitch opportunities
Sectors Supported:
- Agritech
- Agriculture and Farm Technologies
- Agri-Biotechnology
- AI in Agriculture
- Farm Mechanisation
- Agri Supply Chain
- Post-Harvest Management
- Agri-Waste to Wealth
- Agriculture and Allied Sectors
Who Can Apply / Eligibility
- Applicants must be student agripreneurs from recognized academic institutions
- Applications can be submitted individually or as a team
- Startup/idea must operate in agriculture or allied sectors
- Startup stage must be idea stage to pre-seed stage
- Applicants should have:
- A defined problem statement
- A proposed solution
- Basic validation or Proof of Concept (preferred but not mandatory)
- The proposed solution must be innovative and original
- Applicants must own the idea/technology or hold commercialization rights
- At least one team member must actively work on the solution
- Selected participants must participate in incubation, mentoring, and milestone reviews
- Incorporation is not mandatory initially, but selected startups may later need to form a legal entity
- Applicants must comply with RKVY-RAFTAAR and SIIC IIT Kanpur guidelines
Eligible sector areas include:
- Agriculture and Farm Technologies
- Agri-Biotechnology
- Post-Harvest Management
- AI/Data-driven Agriculture Solutions
- Agri-Waste to Wealth
- Farm Mechanisation
- Agri Supply Chain and Market Linkages
- Agriculture and allied sector innovations
Best suited for student-led agritech startups with early-stage innovations and a strong problem-solving approach.
Selection Process
- Call for applications
- Preliminary review of startups
- Presentation before the RKVY Incubation Committee
- Evaluation by the Selection and Investment Committee
- Announcement of selected startups
- Onboarding and incubation support
How to Apply
- Submit the application under the RKVY-RAFTAAR Scheme provided below
- Provide startup and innovation details
- Submit business plan and impact-related information
- Include team background and expertise details
- Wait for preliminary screening and committee evaluation
- Participate in presentations if shortlisted
Source & Verification
All information is compiled from publicly available sources. Refer to the links below for most accurate & updated details. Disclaimer
- Source 1: program.siicincubator.com
This information is provided for general awareness and does not constitute an endorsement by StartupGrantsHub.com. Exercise due diligence before submitting any personal or sensitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Applicants must be student agripreneurs from recognized academic institutions
- Applications can be submitted individually or as a team
- Startup/idea must operate in agriculture or allied sectors
- Startup stage must be idea stage to pre-seed stage
- Applicants should have:
- A defined problem statement
- A proposed solution
- Basic validation or Proof of Concept (preferred but not mandatory)
- The proposed solution must be innovative and original
- Applicants must own the idea/technology or hold commercialization rights
- At least one team member must actively work on the solution
- Selected participants must participate in incubation, mentoring, and milestone reviews
- Incorporation is not mandatory initially, but selected startups may later need to form a legal entity
- Applicants must comply with RKVY-RAFTAAR and SIIC IIT Kanpur guidelines
Eligible sector areas include:
- Agriculture and Farm Technologies
- Agri-Biotechnology
- Post-Harvest Management
- AI/Data-driven Agriculture Solutions
- Agri-Waste to Wealth
- Farm Mechanisation
- Agri Supply Chain and Market Linkages
- Agriculture and allied sector innovations
Best suited for student-led agritech startups with early-stage innovations and a strong problem-solving approach.