Anand Agricultural University starts non-profit arm to encourage agri startups

ENA Sectors 2023-05-16 13:49:28 Anand, May 16 (KNN) Anand Agricultural University (AAU) in Gujarat has set up AAU Incubation Centre (AIC Anand), a not-for-profit firm which will help with the promotion of agri startups. The aim is to strengthen innovation in agriculture and boost new agri-startups in Gujarat, reported TOI. <a href="https://bit.ly/3B9mZSj"><img alt="FOLLOW US on GOOGLE NEWS" src="https://knnindia.co.in//uploads/gallery/GoogleNews.jpg" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px; height:95px; margin:1px; width:299px" /></a> AAU has nurtured more than 100 startups under various programmes, said its vice-chancellor Dr K B Kathiria highlighting their support towards agri-entrepreneurs. This not-for-profit company is an important milestone that will bring all innovation and entrepreneurship support activities under one roof. It will work towards building a sustainable startup ecosystem which can empower many more entrepreneurs in coming years to turn their ideas into products and scalable businesses, said Kathiria. He said AIC Anand is the first company of its kind started by a state agriculture university that will exclusively promote new innovative startups focused on food, agriculture and allied sectors. The incubation facility, spread over a 12,000 square feet area, will support startups through the early stages of development with facilities like co-working space for initial business setup, eight food processing pilot plants for product development, administrative support, office equipment and access to AAUs testing labs and a network of expert advisers and mentors. The company will provide entrepreneurial training to students, entrepreneurs, startups and farmer producer organizations. It will act as a launching pad for new agri-ventures by providing them access to the resources they need, he said. AIC Anand also operates national startup programmes like the RKVY-RAFTAAR Agri-Business Incubator (RKVY R-ABI) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of Government of India and the state startup support schemes of Gujarat government. This provides an opportunity for startups to raise their seed funding in the form of grant-in-aid up to Rs 30 lakh. (KNN Bureau) 33346 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/sectors/anand-agricultural-university-starts-non-profit-arm-to-encourage-agri-startups 2023-05-16 13:49:28 knnindia.co.in Anand Agricultural University starts non-profit arm to encourage agri startups