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HomePosts Tagged "Ninjacart"
Agrotech, China, Company News, Start ups

 It aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage FoodTech and AgTech startups by providing access to cutting-edge technology, venture capital partners, financial backing, and expert business advisory.

Bangalore based Ninjacart, India’s leading agri-tech startup has announced the launch of its Ninjacart Startup Program. This agri-tech-focused startup program aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage FoodTech and AgTech startups by providing access to cutting-edge technology, venture capital partners, financial backing, and expert business advisory.

With nearly a decade of experience in transforming agricultural ecosystems, Ninjacart has collaborated with global agri-tech innovators to optimize supply chains and address distribution challenges. The Ninjacart Startup Program leverages this expertise to help startups scale faster, drive change, and lead the future of food distribution.

The Ninjacart Startup Program offers four key benefits to participants:

Access to Ninjacart’s Advanced Technology: Ninjacart’s industry-leading, cutting-edge technology offers startups access to a focused suite of supply chain management proprietary tools to drive growth or enhance operational efficiency. Growth tools include demand forecasting, sales management, pricing intelligence, campaign management, and customer app. Operational tools include procurement, inventory management, workforce management, logistics, and catalogue management.

Pitch to VC Partners: Startups will have the chance to present to top VC partners such as Syngenta Group Ventures and Base Capital on Demo Day, scheduled for February 2025.

Financial Backing: Ninjacart offers credits up to $50,000 to offset platform and implementation fees during the first six months of participation.

Expert Business Advisory: Participants will gain access to Ninjacart’s domain expertise in building scalable supply chains for fresh produce, meat, and staples, offering tailored guidance to shorten their path to profitability.

The program is open to emerging startups founded in 2020 or later, with up to $1 million in funding, operating outside India. Eligible startups must be post-revenue and focused on innovating the food supply chain.

“At Ninjacart, we’ve always believed in the transformative power of technology to solve critical supply chain inefficiencies,” said Kartheeswaran KK, Co-Founder and CEO, Ninjacart. “The Ninjacart Startup Program is designed to empower innovators who are driving systemic change in food systems. By offering our expertise, technology, and network, we aim to help startups accelerate their startup journey and propel the collective transformation of the global agriculture ecosystem.”

 It aims to accelerate the growth of

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Digital Technologies, India, Industry Reports / Analysis

The agricultural industry continues to be India’s principal economic sector, and it is responsible for the employment of more than half of the country’s workforce. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the agricultural landscape by introducing fresh techniques to boost crop yields and provide support to marginal farmers. This is all happening as a result of the convergence of these two fields.

Agritech companies are becoming increasingly prevalent in India, which is the key element that is driving the deployment of artificial intelligence in the agricultural industry. Speaking on the latest development in AI in the agri sector, Kartheeswaran Kandasamy, CEO & Co-Founder, Ninjacart stated, “The breakthrough artificial intelligence solutions that are being created by these companies are aimed at the small and marginal farmers as their target audience. For example, a number of companies are currently working on the development of applications that are driven by artificial intelligence and provide recommendations on crop management in real time. On the contrary, other firms are utilising machine learning in order to create sophisticated predictive models for the state of the soil and the environmental circumstances.”

Expanding Influence of AI in Agriculture

Artificial intelligence is responsible for revolutionising a number of different industries, and agriculture is one of those businesses that is being affected by this revolution. The agriculture sector is currently engaging in the application of technologies that are driven by artificial intelligence in order to address a number of key difficulties that are currently being faced. The ability to forecast weather patterns and maximise irrigation efficiency are two of the problems that need to be overcome on an urgent basis. Other challenges include monitoring crop health and improving supply chain efficiency. These technological advancements not only cause an increase in productivity, but they also provide farmers with the opportunity to make decisions based on data, which in turn makes them more resistant to the effects of climate change and the volatility that exists in the market.

Moreover, the integration of AI into agricultural practices is paving the way for innovative approaches that go beyond traditional farming methods such as:

Precision Farming: Precision farming, which makes use of data-driven insights to improve crop management, is made possible by artificial intelligence technologies. Artificial intelligence is able to offer farmers with specific information about the health of the soil, the amounts of moisture in the soil, and the conditions of the crop by evaluating data from satellites, drones, and sensors. This makes it possible for farmers to apply the appropriate quantity of water, fertilisers, and pesticides precisely where they are required, which in turn helps to reduce waste and increase yields.

Predictive Analytics: For the purpose of forecasting crop yields and associated threats, artificial intelligence algorithms can examine historical data, weather patterns, and market movements. Farmers are able to make more informed decisions about planting schedules, crop selection, and resource allocation with the assistance of this predictive capability.

Automated Systems: The employment of automated devices that are powered by artificial intelligence, like robotic harvesters and drones, is becoming increasingly common in order to expedite farming operations. Using these technologies, farmers are able to accomplish operations such as planting, watering, and harvesting with more efficiency and precision, which in turn reduces the amount of work that is required of them and simultaneously increases their production.

Transforming Farmer Interactions with Technology:

The usage of artificial intelligence chatbots and virtual assistants, such as WhatsApp AI bots, is one of the most interesting breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for the agricultural sector in India. Farmers are gaining access to information and interacting with technology in a way that is being revolutionised by these bots. WhatsApp bots that are powered by artificial intelligence are providing farmers with real-time information on a variety of areas of farming, such as weather forecasts, suggestions for crop management, and market prices.

Govt push for tech reforms in agri sector

A significant commitment to modernising agriculture has been established by the government of India over the course of the past few years. This commitment has been made through the implementation of policies that are advantageous and the increase of budget allocations. Because of the significant rise in investment, the budget for agriculture has increased from Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 1.3 lakh crore.

“The Digital Agriculture Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) are two examples of government programmes that are designed to encourage farmers to utilise a variety of digital tools and technology in their agricultural operations. Both of these programmes are meant to encourage farmers to employ digital tools and technologies. The implementation of artificial intelligence and other forms of technology into conventional farming operations is becoming less difficult as a result of these programmes. This, in turn, makes it easier for farmers to gain access to resources and information in a more efficient manner,” said Kandasamy.

Impact and Future Prospects

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in Indian agriculture is already producing favourable outcomes. Enhanced crop yields, lower input costs, and enhanced resource management are some of the benefits that farmers who use tools and technology driven by artificial intelligence have reported. Because they have access to information that is both fast and accurate, farmers are able to improve their decision-making abilities and better adjust to shifting environmental situations.

“As we look to the future, the potential for artificial intelligence to significantly alter agriculture in India is enormous. There is a good chance that increasingly sophisticated solutions for crop management, pest control, and resource optimisation may emerge as a result of ongoing research and investment in artificial intelligence technologies. Additionally, when artificial intelligence products become more readily available and more reasonably priced, they will be able to reach a wider range of farmers, including those who live in places that are underserved and distant,” added Kandasamy.

Way Forward

There is a promising way to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agriculture in India, and that strategy is to increase agricultural yields through the application of artificial intelligence. Small and marginal farmers are gaining access to tools and information that were previously out of their reach.

This is a result of a number of factors, including the rapid rise of agritech businesses, the substantial assistance provided by the government, and the revolutionary potential of chatbots powered by artificial intelligence. It is likely that if these technologies continue to progress, they may be able to solve a major number of the problems that Indian farmers are currently suffering. As a result, this will pave the path for an agricultural industry that is not only more prosperous but also more robust.

By Nitin Konde

The agricultural industry continues to be India's

Agribusiness, Collaborations, Company News, Horticulture, India, Start ups, Supply Chain

The partnership intends to facilitate Camposol’s market entry through the implementation of a tailored approach using Ninjacart’s knowledge and data systems.

Camposol, the largest blueberry producer in Peru, has partnered with Flipkart-backed B2B agri-start-up Ninjacart to bring the exotic fruit to India with the objective of getting the supplies year-round. The blueberry market in India is undergoing a transformation as a result of the strategic cooperation between Camposol and Ninjacart. This transformation is being brought about by Ninjacart’s digital marketplace, technology-enabled supply chain, innovative solutions, and data-driven approach. Through the utilisation of Ninjacart’s knowledge and data systems, this partnership intends to facilitate Camposol’s market entry through the implementation of a tailored approach. This is accomplished by leveraging Ninjacart’s enormous network of over 100,000 stores. Additionally, the relationship improves Camposol’s operational stability in India by providing data-driven insights based on volume. This makes it possible for Camposol to gain access to other cities and consumers more quickly. In addition, Ninjacart ensures complete traceability across the whole supply chain, with the goal of enhancing consumers’ awareness of the origin and safety of quality blueberries.Ninjacart has developed an application that monitors the health of these exotic fruits and offers statistics of inventory on a daily basis.

In addition to this partnership, the governments of Peru and India are currently engaged in preliminary discussions for the establishment of service and product agreements. Ninjacart is currently making preparations to expand its presence in the market for exotic fruits and will begin importing exotic fruits such as cherry, avocado, and other such fruits.

Camposol will, as a first step, promote its blueberries in metropolitan areas, and at the same time, it will make various efforts to build a habit of consuming berries among Indians. This is all part of Camposol’s strategy to expand its reach in India. After reaching the goal that was established earlier, Camposol will proceed to expand its presence into tier 1 and tier 2 cities.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, which served to formalise the partnership between the two companies. The purpose of this strategic collaboration is not only to increase the availability of blueberries in India, but also to build greater agricultural linkages between Peru and India in the future to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Camposol’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Sergio Torres said, ” Through the utilisation of Ninjacart’s market knowledge, a curated entrance strategy is ensured, which allows for the smooth introduction of blueberries of superior quality to the Indian market. As a result of their enormous distribution network, consumers all throughout India will have easy access to fresh and premium blueberries through more than 100,000 retail outlets. By working together, we are in a position to reimagine the accessibility and perception of blueberries, making it possible for consumers all throughout the country to have access to product that is both fresh and of excellent quality.”

Ninjacart’s Co-founder and Head of International Business, Sharath Loganathan said, “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Camposol, which will leverage their superior sourcing capabilities for strong supply.” As the most important blueberry exporter in Peru, Camposol’s vertically integrated operations guarantee that their products are of the highest possible quality and are distributed in an effective manner throughout their activities. Our excellent ties with kirana stores, supermarkets, modern trade outlets, e-commerce/quick commerce platforms, and HoReCA partners make it possible for global brands to access premium customers in a smooth manner.

The partnership intends to facilitate Camposol's market

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Funding, Start ups

The partnership will focus on identifying and addressing global food supply gaps, leveraging cross-border opportunities to amplify Mayani’s market presence.

Walmart-backed Ninjacart, India’s leading agri-startup that leverages technology and data to organize the global agriculture ecosystem, joins forces with Philippine B2B agritech innovator Mayani in a landmark deal. This strategic partnership sees Ninjacart deploying capital alongside cutting-edge supply chain technology and its advisory services to fuel Mayani’s innovation and growth trajectory. Ninjacart will also support Mayani’s expansion efforts and jointly establish an integrated Asian agri-food supply chain that would catalyse more digital innovations geared to address Asia’s complex food basket.

Ninjacart’s investment in Mayani, facilitated through its venture funding arm, NinjaVentures, marks a significant step in its international expansion strategy. The partnership will focus on identifying and addressing global food supply gaps, leveraging cross-border opportunities to amplify Mayani’s market presence. Mayani will integrate Ninjacart’s advanced technology, source traceability, and inventory management solutions to achieve inter-operability, hyper-efficiency, predictive modeling, and to enhance its supply chain efficiency.

Ninjacart’s entry into Mayani coincides with follow-on funding from existing investors, including the Jimenez family, after Mayani’s successful $1.7 million seed round led by AgFunder in 2023. With over three times revenue growth in the same fiscal year and positive margins, Mayani demonstrates strong fundamentals for further expansion and impact.

Kartheeswaran K K, Co-Founder & CEO, Ninjacart, expressed his excitement about the deal, saying “Our investment in Mayani reflects our unwavering commitment to revolutionize global agri commerce. By bridging the expertise of two agricultural powerhouses, India and the Philippines, we aim to create a transformative impact and unlock new opportunities in the Asian agri-commerce landscape and beyond.”

Ochie San Juan, Co-founder and Chief Farmer at Mayani, expresses enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “The strategic additionality beyond capital, coupled with Ninjacart’s deep understanding of the Asian agri-supply chain, excites us about this investment. It strengthens the locus of our business, which is tech-enabled output market linkage, that further reinforces our upstream interventions on climate-positive inputs and rural financing.”

Ninjacart’s key investors, such as Walmart, Accel, and Tiger Global, have been instrumental in shaping its trajectory. This milestone highlights the aligned vision of Ninjacart and its investors to meet the evolving demands of agricultural ecosystems through the esteemed NinjaVentures. NinjaVentures is a notable global endeavour committed to sharing Ninjacart’s technological expertise, knowledge, and skills with emerging startups worldwide, aiming to transform agricultural supply chains in a manner akin to the challenges faced by nations like the Philippines.

Mayani boasts a vast grassroots network of over 144,000 organised smallholder farmers and fisherfolk across the Philippine archipelago. Its multi-point value chain platform optimizes supply chain dynamics, connecting fragmented supply with B2B market demand seamlessly. Moreover, Mayani’s ancillary agro-services empower smallholders, enhancing yield and climate resilience through quality agricultural inputs and facilitating rural financial inclusion.

The alliance between Ninjacart and Mayani heralds a new era of innovation and collaboration in the Philippine agritech sector, driving sustainable growth and economic empowerment across the agricultural value chain.

The partnership will focus on identifying and

Agrotech, Company News, Start ups

This partnership aims to empower Farm-to-Fork Agri startups In Egypt with Ninjacart’s technology and expertise, fostering innovation and growth in Egypt’s AgriTech sector

Entlaq, a Cairo-based entrepreneurship think tank has forged a strategic alliance with Ninjacart, India’s leading agri-startup that leverages technology and data to organise the agriculture ecosystem. This alliance focuses on identifying and supporting promising Farm-to-Fork Agri startups in Egypt, providing them with Ninjacart’s cutting-edge tech platform, supply chain management solutions and specialized advisory services.

The partnership specifically focuses on efficient supply chain management through advanced technology, connecting farmers directly to markets in Egypt. It also emphasizes implementing data-driven agriculture, ensuring quality assurance and certification, fostering financial inclusion across the Agri value chain, expanding marketplaces, and reducing waste.

Ninjacart’s expansion into Egypt under its global initiative, NinjaVentures, underscores the company’s dedication to identifying startups in Egypt that align with its business model. Through this partnership, Ninjacart strives to drive non-linear growth in the Egyptian Agri sector, prioritizing innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. Ninjacart’s distinguished NinjaVentures initiative is an ambitious global endeavour dedicated to extending Ninjacart’s technological expertise, knowledge, and skills to emerging startups in various countries aiming to revolutionize agricultural supply chains.

Kartheeswaran K K, Co-Founder & CEO, Ninjacart said “This partnership between Entlaq and Ninjacart is a clear testament to Ninjacart’s dedication to global agricultural transformation. We’re genuinely excited to leverage Ninjacart’s technological prowess to empower Egyptian startups, catalysing innovation, and fostering growth. With a mission to build the most trusted, efficient, and inclusive AgriTrade Network, we collaborate with startups worldwide, generously sharing our technological expertise. This strategic alliance with Entlaq marks a significant milestone as we extend our commitment to drive positive change in the Egyptian Agri-Startup ecosystem”

Omar Rezk, Co-founder and Managing Director of Strategy and Consulting, Entlaq said “Our collaboration with Ninjacart marks a transformative step for Egypt’s agritech ecosystem, driven by our deep belief in technology’s potential to reshape agriculture. We are truly excited about the opportunities this partnership opens for startups, crucial to fostering economic growth in Egypt. With the agriculture sector employing 29.2 per cent of the workforce and contributing 11.3-13.6 per cent to the GDP (approximately EGP 400 billion), the scope for agritech is vast. Entlaq’s vision is to catalyse Egypt’s position as a regional innovation hub, empowering startups and contributing significantly to the thriving agritech landscape. This collaboration with Ninjacart has set us on the track to achieve this goal promising a future characterized by technological innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth achieving Egypt’s 2030 Vision.”

This partnership aims to empower Farm-to-Fork Agri

Agrotech, Company News, E-commerce, India, Start ups, Sustainability

Garuda and Ninjacart will also provide training and business opportunities to rural entrepreneurs in India’s villages.

Garuda Aerospace has partnered with Flipkart-backed agri-commerce start-up Ninjacart to bring disruptive tech innovation to the Indian agriculture sector. 

Through a strategic tie-up, both companies will offer short-term financing options to farmers, allowing them to access the latest drone technology at affordable prices. The use of drones in farmlands can not only help improve crop yields for farmers but also bring down input costs and increase farm-level efficiency. 

In addition to the technology, Garuda and Ninjacart will also provide training and business opportunities to rural entrepreneurs in India’s villages. The individuals will be trained on how to operate drones and made a part of pilots. Both start-ups claim that the rural youth can earn anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 per month through these opportunities.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, said, “This partnership will not only help farmers improve their yields and reduce costs, but it will also provide young entrepreneurs with skills and business opportunities. We believe that this collaboration will help in developing an ever-lasting impact on the agricultural sector in India.”

Kartheeswaran KK, Co-founder and CEO, of Ninjacart, said, “We believe in leveraging technology to make agriculture more efficient and profitable for farmers. The use of drones in agriculture will also help in soil analysis, water management, and precision agriculture.” 

Garuda Aerospace currently has a fleet of 400 ‘made-in-India’ drones and a team of over 500 pilots across 84 cities in India. Ninjacart, meanwhile, works with over one lakh farmers across 150 villages and helps them improve their yield and income. Since 2020, Flipkart and Walmart have pumped $175 million into Ninjacart even as it pivoted from B2C to a B2B model.

Garuda and Ninjacart will also provide training

Agrotech, Finance, Start ups

The startup will use the capital raised for its expansion to new markets and towards research and development to support more crops.

IAN, an existing investor, joined the US Million $ round in Fyllo, an agri-tech startup led by Triveni Trusts, Ninjacart and new investors Venture Catalysts, StarAgri, Kia Ora Ventures, Singualrity Ventures, Mastermind Capital and angel investors. The start-up will use the capital raised for its expansion to new markets and towards research and development to support more crops.

Founded in 2019, Fyllo brings certainty in quality and quantity of agricultural produce through its data-driven Agri-science platform. Their IoT system understands and measures precise requirements of plants on real-time basis and then Agri-science platform backed by AI provides timely advice to farmers. The startup has developed crop-specific models for irrigation, nutrients, diseases, pests, and weather management for each physiological stage of crop and soil.  Fyllo helps farmers grow export quality crops through its data-driven platform that is powered by IoT, AI, and Agronomy. Fyllo has expanded its services to 2000+ farmers and 10+ corporates across 4 states in India covering 20,000 acres.

Speaking on the latest development, founders Sudhanshu Rai and Sumit said, “Farmers have seen the impact of technology and the adaptability has increased. Having received the funding, we are looking to invest in expanding our brand to new markets and more crops.”

M.K Dhanuka, Managing Trustee, Triveni Trust said, “Fyllo’s specific, precise and AI-driven advise to farmers helps them increase their crop productivity and lower input cost. 100% customer retention reflects the farmer’s confidence in Fyllo’s offering. This will contribute to transforming India through agriculture. We are excited about our investment in Fyllo.”

Ninjacart co-led this round and Thirukumaran Nagarajan, Co-founder & CEO , of Ninjacart said, “ Fyllo provides actionable insights through a combination of technology, science and data. We look forward to working with Fyllo team to expand their distribution through Ninjacart’s farmer network across the country.”

Padmaja Ruparel, co-founder of IAN said, “IAN invests in changemaker-startups like Fyllo — which have witnessed continuous business growth. The founders bring both passion and leadership and we are excited to be a part of the Fyllo journey.”

The startup will use the capital raised

Agrotech, Supply Chain

Ninjacart will have access to Tecxprt’s technology suite which will accelerate the digitisation within the organisation

Agri-platform Ninjacart has acquired Tecxprt, which has extensive experience integrating SaaS-based end-to-end solutions, enabling the creation of powerful networks. Ninjacart will expand the opportunities for participants to flourish both individually and collectively, thereby contributing towards the enhancement of the agri–ecosystem.

As part of the acquisition, Ninjacart will obtain direct access to Tecxprt’s technology suite, which will accelerate the digitisation within the organisation’s ecosystem. With Tecxprt’s technology-focussed solution, agri participants can digitise the operations and communicate more efficiently with their stakeholders. On the other hand, their social network software will facilitate real-time communication across the food supply chain, from farmers, resellers, retailers, consumers to supply chain participants.

Ninjacart will have access to Tecxprt's technology