Apply Now: Agripreneurship Orientation Programme (NAVODAYA) – India

The interns will be given 1 month training cum hands on internship at the ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, guided by experienced technology and industry mentors to enable them to understand business concepts/nuances, strategy and gain practical insights into markets, challenges and develop strategies for the same.

During the one month’s orientation programme, IVRI R-ABI will facilitate incorporation of entities for selected interns if not already incorporated. The selected interns will be required to register their entities as Private Limited Company, Registered Partnership Firm or a Limited Liability Partnership before the SIC meeting and should file for the DPIIT recognition as startup.

Objectives

• To develop an innovative idea based on technology, service, business platforms etc. into prototype/product, services/platforms etc. and launching of a business based on that.
• To provide an opportunity to budding agripreneurs/students for venturing into the agribusiness arena as well as for minimizing risks involved in businesses based on innovation;
• To attract and retain a large number of enthusiastic and skilled youth in agriculture;
• To create a pipeline of innovative startups for incubators.

Funding Information

• Idea/Pre-Seed Stage Funding
  • Under this, subsistence grant of a maximum of Rs. 5 lakhs will be provided to interns who have successfully completed the initial one month of agripreneurship orientation programme and are aspiring to convert their innovative idea based on technology, service, business platforms etc. into a prototype/product.
• A maximum of 10 – 12 idea stage startups registered with IVRI R-ABI will be supported under this scheme in one fiscal year.

Eligible Activities

• Expenses for the following broad activities would be supported under Idea/Pre-Stage Funding:
  • Development of prototype/product
  • Expenses on data generation/Data acquisition for ideas working on IT side/AI side
  • Fees for technology commercialization and IP issues
  • Manpower for day to day operations
  • Day to day operational expenses like electricity bill, etc.
  • Any other area/activity as deemed necessary and recommended by the RIC of R-ABIs.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant has to be an Indian citizen
• The applicant should propose one innovative idea based on technology, service, business platforms etc. for increasing efficiency in agriculture and allied sector.
• Enrolled incubatees (before the release of funds) should fulfil the criteria as per the Start up Definition as per the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DPIIT) notifications from time to time.
• Enrolled incubatees (Pre-Seed Stage) should have a business idea to develop a product or a service with market fit/PoC/Prototype before funds recommendation from SIC and before signing of the MoU with the concerned RABI/KP.

Selection Criteria

• Selection Process of Startups for Idea/Pre-Seed Stage Funding:
  • After successful completion of the initial one month of the Agripreneurship Orientation Programme, the interested interns will make a presentation before RIC, the RIC will evaluate interns on the basis of progress made on their innovative idea in the one month of Agripreneurship Orientation Programme and recommend the interns to SIC for their final evaluation.
  • The SIC will evaluate and recommend the interns for Idea Stage Funding.
  • On the recommendation of SIC, the full funds of the sanctioned project for pre seed support will be released after the signing of the legal agreement between the incubator (RABI/KP) and the incubatee.
  • The terms of agreement with the incubatee startup shall be framed by the RABI linking the progress milestones, monitoring norms etc.
  • After completion of the milestones/project, a CA certified UC along with UDIN and other documents, expenditure statement, and milestones achievement report has to be submitted by the incubatee.

For more information, visit the ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute.