Tokyo — ANEW Holdings Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, Representative: Yuji Fujinaga and Wataru Ito) hosted a Demo-day for ”Accelerator for AgriTech Start-ups to Globe”, a program jointly operated by India’s major stainless-steel manufacturer Jindal Stainless Limited (Head Office: New Delhi, Chairman & Managing Director: Ratan Jindal; hereafter “JSL”).

This program offers an “accelerator program” to select entrepreneurs, providing support in establishing networks and partnerships with Japanese companies, as well as inviting industry professionals from Japan/United States/India to provide intensive development.

The accelerator program was launched last October, with strategic cooperations from 3Lines Venture Fund investing in US start-ups, angel investors and major Japan/India corporations over a period of 3 months. 3 agri-tech start-up companies graduated from the program.

The Demo day saw participation from JSL’s Mrs. Jindal (chairperson of Jindal Stainless Foundation), JSL’s CSR team, the Embassy of Japan in India, venture capitals and angel investors, who actively interacted with the start-ups.

Companies supported through Accelerator for AgriTech Start-ups to Globe

Trithi (3Thi) Robotics (www.3thi.com)
Start-up that operates agricultural drone services in India. Working to resolve lack of workforce and productivity improvement for India’s farming industry. Provides pesticide spraying for 60-70 feet (18-21m) orchards and support for precision farming in southern Karnataka. Through strategic partnerships with governmental organizations like the Coffee Board of India, the company is establishing a platform to provide agricultural drone services in accordance to new drone laws being implemented in India. 3Thi’s founder is a serial entrepreneur who was born to a family of farmers, and is working to cultivate new business services by creating partnerships with both domestic and international companies.

Our Food (www.ourfood.net.in)
A start-up providing added value to harvested crops and streamlining processed for supply-chains in Hyderabad, Telangana. Working to tackle inefficient distribution and unstable crop deliveries in India’s farming industry. The company’s management have built units comprised of warehouses/small food-processing units, eliminating intermediate distributors to deliver crops (such as beans) directly to large retail chains. Our Food’s founder launched the company through personal funds and expanded business, working with an executive team of two co-founders to create distribution networks to large clients. Currently the company is seeking partnerships in areas of logistics and other food-processing devices/units.

Janani Food (www.jananiagriserve.com)
A start-up that is building an agricultural training/e-commerce/e-auction platform in Andhra Pradesh. Working to solve India’s problems in crop quality and pesticide usage. Janani Food is a government-authorized buyer of hot pepper (chilli), and is also creating networks with local farmers and administrative agencies. The company also acts as a purchasing agent (including initial food-processing and quality check for hot pepper) for crop exporters and food-processing companies. The founder has vast experience and knowledge in this field, and is creating partnerships beyond the industry with universities and administrations.

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１. Summary of the India-Japan mutual partnership with JSL
・ Match farmers and start-ups to create social impact from the AgriTech industry.
・ Work to improve income for farmers facing poverty, establish a sustainable farming system.
・ Develop social entrepreneurs to construct sustainable business models in areas of agriculture.
・ Promote and provide awareness campaigns on the concept of CSV (Creating Shared Value) in India.

2. About Jindal Stainless Limited Pvt., Ltd. (JSL) (www.jslstainless.com)
Established in 1970, JSL is a major stainless-steel manufacturer and is part of an India conglomerate that is considered the world’s top 10. Listed on both the National Stock Exchange of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange. Owns a stainless-steel manufacturing factory in Orissa, and supports the development of neighboring villages through their CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) efforts.

ANEW Holdings Media Contact: info@anewhd.com