Startups with agritech solutions they’re hoping to take global have until this Sunday, September 15, to apply for the India Australia Rapid Innovation Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator run by national science agency, CSIRO
Kicking off next month, the Climate Smart Agritech cohort of the RISE Accelerator program will focus on businesses with technologies and solutions that enhance agricultural productivity and resilience in the face of growing climate variability, resource scarcity and food insecurity.
The program is particularly interested in ideas that prioritise farmer needs, priorities, and on-farm practices, helping the startups to validate, adapt and pilot their technologies in new markets.
It’s free and offers the chance to travel between Australia and India, as well as the startups potentially scoring up to $75,000 in non-equity grants.
Tamara Ogilvie, CSIRO’s RISE Accelerator program director, said the startups involved will be chosen based on how scalable, deployable, and innovative their agritech solutions are for the alternate country. Key areas of interest include boosting productivity, reducing emissions and optimising natural resource use.
“Our agricultural contexts share some commonalities, but the scale of farming operations and farmer livelihoods are very unique,” she said.
“Through the program, participants will have the opportunity to rapidly integrate into overseas innovation ecosystems they might otherwise not have access to, helping them achieve product-market fit for their technologies.”
Over nine months, the founders involved take part in self-paced online and in-person learning sessions, including in-country travel to gain deeper market insights. They also receive one-on-one coaching and mentorship from industry professionals.
givvable cofounder Naomi Vowels, part of the RISE circular economy cohort, said the program’s Immersion Weeks – one week of intensive learning, site visits and networking in Australia and another in India – was particularly valuable.
“Travelling to India has reinforced the immense value of face-to-face interactions,” she said.
“It’s a fantastic way for us, as an Australian business, to understand our market and connect with our customers.”
Applications for the RISE Accelerator program close this Sunday, September 15.
Find out more and apply here.
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