Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development Programme (RKVY-RAFTAAR) — Agri-Startup Grant Funding

About

A Government of India RKVY agri-startup scheme that provides pre-seed grants of up to Rs. 5 lakh and seed-stage grants of up to Rs. 25 lakh through Knowledge Partners and RKVY Agribusiness Incubators, with incubation and mentoring support.

Benefits

• 💰Idea/pre-seed grant
  Selected idea/pre-seed startups may receive a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs. 5 lakh, subject to selection and project approval; the Bhaskar source states the grant covers up to 90% of approved project cost.
• 💰Seed-stage grant
  Selected seed-stage startups may receive a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs. 25 lakh, subject to Selection and Investment Committee approval; the grant covers up to 85% of approved project cost and the startup must contribute at least 15%.
• 🧑‍🏫Incubation and mentoring
  Selected startups are trained and incubated by Knowledge Partners and RKVY Agribusiness Incubators, with business mentoring, technical assistance, domain-expert access, marketing and networking support.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory for seed-stage applicants: be an Indian startup as per DPIIT/DIPP notification
• Mandatory for seed-stage applicants: be a registered legal entity in India
• Mandatory: Indian subsidiaries of MNCs/foreign companies are not eligible
• Mandatory for seed-stage applicants: have a minimum viable product/business or service with market fit, viable commercialization and scope for scaling
• Mandatory for seed-stage applicants: use innovation/regional outreach in the core product, service or business model
• Mandatory for seed-stage applicants: a startup that has already received seed support under the programme is not eligible for a subsequent round of seed support
• Mandatory according to at least one official R-ABI call: seed-stage applicants must have at least two months of residency/incubation at the relevant R-ABI before evaluation
• For idea/pre-seed stage: entrepreneurs with an initial idea and business plan may apply, subject to the relevant incubator's call

Participation Commitments

• Apply through an RKVY Agribusiness Incubator (R-ABI) or Knowledge Partner; there is no single central application route for all cohorts
• Submit the application in the prescribed format with applicant, startup, business model and project-cost details
• For seed-stage funding, sign a legal agreement with the incubator before release of the first instalment
• For seed-stage funding, the incubatee must bear 15% of the project cost on a proportionate basis, with up to 85% funded under RKVY-RAFTAAR up to Rs. 25 lakh
• Seed-stage disbursements are linked to milestones and utilisation/UC requirements
• Some official R-ABI calls state a minimum two-month residency/incubation period before seed-stage evaluation
• Individual R-ABI cohorts set their own application deadlines; check the relevant incubator's current call

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food

Target Location

India — applicants must be Indian startups as per DPIIT/DIPP notification and registered legal entities in India; Indian subsidiaries of MNCs/foreign companies are not eligible.