Dr Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, former chairman of NABARD, will mentor Omnivore’s portfolio companies and will advise on new investments
Omnivore, India’s leading agritech venture capital firm, is delighted to announce that Dr Harsh Kumar Bhanwala will become a Senior Advisor effective 1st June 2021. As a Senior Advisor, Dr Bhanwala will mentor Omnivore’s portfolio companies, advise on new investments, and help develop the fund’s rural fintech investment strategy.
From 2013 to 2020, Dr. Bhanwala was Chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Government of India’s apex development bank, which oversees all aspects of agricultural credit as well as the supervision of regional rural banks and cooperative banks. Prior to leading NABARD, he was the Chairman & Managing Director of the India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL), Senior Vice President at IL&FS Water, and the Managing Director of the Delhi State Cooperative Bank. Dr. Bhanwala began his career at NABARD and worked there for almost three decades.
Since leaving NABARD, Dr. Bhanwala is serving as the Executive Chairman of Capital India Finance Limited, an NBFC. He is on the Board of Governors of IIM Rohtak and serves as an Independent Director on the board of Bayer Crop Science India. He is also an Independent Director on the board of MFIN (Microfinance Institutions Network). Dr. Bhanwala earned a B.Sc. in Dairy Technology from the National Dairy Research Institute – Karnal, an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, and a PhD in Management from Maharshi Dayanand University.
Omnivore funds entrepreneurs building the future of agriculture and food systems, and has backed over 25 agritech start-ups since 2011. Every day, Omnivore portfolio companies drive agricultural prosperity and transform food systems across India, making farming more profitable, resilient, and sustainable.
Jinesh Shah, Managing Partner at Omnivore said, “We are thrilled to have Dr. Bhanwala on board with us. Our team and portfolio will benefit immensely from his deep expertise in the agriculture and financial sectors. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”
Dr. Bhanwala likewise noted, “I am delighted to be with Omnivore. It is a wonderful opportunity to work with an incredible pool of talent. With my decades of experience in the financial sector, I am confident that I can add value by being an advisor and helping Omnivore achieve new milestones.”
