Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
GreenMinds AgroHub Pvt. Ltd. and AVN AgroBharat Pvt. Ltd. emerged winners in the revenue and pre-revenue categories, respectively, at the Bharat Agri-Tech Innovation Challenge (BATIC) 2025 organised by Marathwada Accelerator for Growth and Incubation Council (Magic) at MGM University on Wednesday.
A total of 225 teams from 85 cities in 20 states participated. After evaluation, 16 startups reached the final round. The total prize pool was Rs 6.75 lakh along with incubation support. In the revenue category, GreenMinds AgroHub, founded by Tejas Limkar, won the first prize of Rs 2 lakh for developing a device to collect bee venom without harming honeybees. Ghode and Jadhav Agritech Equipments Industries, founded by Sagar Ghode, secured second place and Rs 1.5 lakh for an onion harvester. SmartU Innovation, founded by Sachin Patil, won third place and Rs 1 lakh for its GramIQ digital platform.
In the pre-revenue category, AVN AgroBharat, founded by Amit Chavan, won the first prize of Rs 1 lakh for its MilkPro milk testing device. Agritech Fusion, founded by Shivam Deokar, secured second place and Rs 75,000, while BSVS Farmtech, founded by Bhausaheb Shinde, won third place and Rs 50,000.
Chief guest Sachin Nandwana, co-founder of BigHaat, said agri-tech offers large opportunities and startups should focus on their goals. Jury members said startups presented solutions in farm equipment, data systems and supply chains. MAGIC convenor Rohit Dashrathi, CEO Makarand Kulkarni, managing director Prasad Kokil, director Suresh Todkar, Ritesh Mishra and other officials were present. The programme received support from government and institutional partners.
(with photos)