Upja
A programme by Pusa Krishi (ICAR-IARI)
A two-phase incubation programme for MVP-stage agri startups, with grant support for selected teams.
At a glance
| Best for | Indian MVP-stage agri startups in agriculture and allied sectors |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP – Early revenue |
| Duration | About 14 months across two phases |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Cost | Free |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
About Upja
Upja is a two-phase incubation programme for MVP-stage startups in agriculture and allied sectors. A two-month online learning and mentoring phase is followed by a one-year incubation, offering technology validation, mentoring, pilot opportunities, go-to-market support and grant support for selected startups.
What you get
- A two-month online learning and mentoring phase, then a one-year incubation
- Technology validation, mentoring and pilot opportunities
- Go-to-market support
- Grant support for selected startups
Who can apply
- Indian citizens with an idea, innovation or early-stage startup at MVP stage in agriculture and allied sectors
- Applicants who have previously received State or Central government grant funding may be ineligible; check the current page
- No application fee
How selection works: An open application round, followed by a selection committee interview and a pitch to a panel of experts; selected startups are onboarded into the incubation facility.
How to apply: Apply through the Upja programme page. Between intakes the page shows registration as closed.
Where to apply
Other Pusa Krishi (ICAR-IARI) programmes
- BEEJA fourteen-day online pre-incubation boot camp that takes a raw concept to an incubation-ready foundation.
- Her HarvestA five-day online workshop series for women founders, across business, design, finance and technology.
- AriseAn incubation programme for early-stage ideas and startups, with grant support for selected teams.
- SHITIJA year-long incubation programme for early-stage agri startups at Pusa Krishi, ICAR-IARI.
- ICAR SHITIJ 2.0An incubation programme under the National Agriculture Innovation Fund, run across the ICAR agribusiness incubation network.
- MAITRIA cross-border innovation partnership initiative, with an Indo-Brazil agri-tech line.
- SamarthA capacity-building programme for incubation managers and centres in Pusa Krishi's network, not an intake for individual startups.