How to Apply
Eligibility
Interested DAT solution providers would have to meet all of the following criteria in order to apply for the SMART AgTech Integration Facility :
- The enterprise must be registered as a private or public limited company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 or a Limited Liability Partnership registered under LLP Act, 2009
- The enterprise should have been operational for at least a year as of April 1, 2021
- The enterprise must have operations in India and a registered office in India
- The enterprise should have a total annual revenue of at least INR 10 lakh in any of the last three years i.e. FY 2018-19, 2019-20 or 2020-21
- The enterprise should have a customer base of at least 1000 farmers, either individually or through CBOs
Benefits
Selected DAT solution providers of the Agtech Integration Facility will undergo a boot camp with CBOs operating in Maharashtra to present their DAT solutions and engage with them on a one-on-one basis. They will have the opportunity to work with shortlisted CBOs who could be provided support by SMART through an additional grant for adoption of innovative technologies
In addition, the selected DAT solution providers will also avail the following benefits:
Working closely with the Government of Maharashtra (SMART) and contributing to building the agriculture technology ecosystem in Maharashtra;
An opportunity to interact with CBOs operating in Maharashtra to understand their key needs and pain points in the adoption of agriculture technologies
Provision of support in showcasing their technologies with CBOs, as well as mentorship from a dedicated group of experts and mentors to customize their solutions to the context of rural Maharashtra
An opportunity to submit proposals to partner with CBOs supported by SMART which may lead to long-term engagements with CBOs
An opportunity to be showcased on key project platforms, including the SMART Agtech Integration Facility website and social media leading to increased visibility for them in the market, for potential customers as well as investors
Benefits
Selected DAT solution providers of the Agtech Integration Facility will undergo a boot camp with CBOs operating in Maharashtra to present their DAT solutions and engage with them on a one-on-one basis. In addition, the selected DAT solution providers will also avail the following benefits:
Working closely with a Government of Maharashtra agency (SMART) as well as an international development organization (World Bank) and contributing to building the agriculture technology ecosystem in Maharashtra
An opportunity to interact with CBOs operating in Maharashtra to understand their key needs and pain points in the adoption of agriculture technologies
Provision of technical support in integrating their technologies with CBOs, as well as mentorship from a dedicated group of mentors and experts along with the World Bank, SMART Project, and Intellecap teams
An opportunity to submit proposals to partner with CBOs supported by SMART which may lead to long-term engagements with CBOs
An opportunity to be showcased on the World Bank, Government of Maharashtra, and Intellecap platforms leading to increased visibility for them in the market, for potential customers as well as investors
May 17, 2022
Application Launch
June 24, 2022 at 5:00 PM Indian Standard Time
Deadline for submitting applications
First week of July 2022
Eligible applications are notified that they will proceed to the Technical Evaluation Stage
Last week of July 2022
Feedback on the evaluation and notification of select list of DATs for bootcamp stage
Third week of August 2022
Bootcamp for DATs to contextualize solutions for CBOs
Beginning of September 2022
Collaborative concept development of solutions for CBOs
Evaluation of applications
Interested DAT solution providers can apply on this website by the application deadline of June 24, 2022. As part of the application, DAT solution providers will be asked to provide basic details about their enterprise and the products or services that are a part of their offerings. They will also be asked to submit a short video presentation (7 minutes at most in Hindi/Marathi) detailing the challenges faced by smallholder farmer that they seek to address, their product or service, it’s relevance for Community Based Organizations their business model and cost structure for clients, and the measurable impact they have seen so far.
The evaluation of applications will be done by a Jury Panel consisting of senior leaders, practitioners, and investors from the agriculture technology space who have experience in enterprise development as well as working with farmer producer organizations in India. The Jury Panel will evaluate the business model, financial performance, and product/service alignment with the six themes. The video/ presentation will be evaluated directly by members from CBOs in Maharashtra, who will assess the potential of the DAT solutions in addressing the challenges faced by them.
Specifically, DAT solution providers will be evaluated based on the following factors: (i) the innovativeness and scale of the DAT solution, including the measurable impact of the enterprise since inception, (ii) the relevance of the DAT solution to the six themes, how well the product or service aligns with the theme, and how well the enterprise is placed to expand its existing offerings and scope, and (iii) past relevant experience of the enterprise in working with farmer organizations or government agencies within and outside Maharashtra.
Panel of experts and mentors
Shortlisted DAT solution providers will receive mentorship from a panel of experts and mentors who are leaders and practitioners in the agriculture technology space and have expertise in the above thematic areas. The experts and mentors will work with the DAT solution providers to help them contextualize their solutions to best meet the needs of CBOs in Maharashtra.