A Series-A funding round led by Mistry Ventures brought in $4.5 million (roughly ₹39 crore) for the omnichannel farm-to-fork startup KisanKonnect. Notable investors like VC-Grid and Times Group’s Brand Capital, as well as current investor Shilpa Shetty, participated in this funding round.
With the new funding, the Mumbai-based startup plans to expand its operations in critical urban markets and upgrade its technology infrastructure. KisanKonnect plans to integrate artificial intelligence into its supply chain and farm sourcing procedures to improve efficacy and efficiency.
Founding of KisanKonnect
Vivek and Nidhi Nirmal founded the business in 2020. Since then, it has grown its network of over 5,000 farmers by emphasizing direct consumer sales without the involvement of intermediaries and sustainable farming methods. With a delivery model that has changed from 48 hours to as short as 30 minutes in some places, KisanKonnect has been expanding its business quickly to meet the rising demand for fresh produce in places like Pune and Mumbai.
KisanKonnect, an agritech startup established in 2020 by Vivek and Nidhi Nirmal, has achieved notable success in the farm-to-fork sector. The company procures agricultural products directly from 5,000 farmers through its direct-to-consumer app and farm stores. It distributes fresh fruits and vegetables to more than 100,000 customers in Pune and Mumbai. Under the brands “Village Staples” and “Mom’s Kitchen,” which are produced by rural women in a central kitchen, KisanKonnect also sells handcrafted snacks and carefully chosen agri-produce.
Funding in KisanKonnect Startup
Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty contributed an undisclosed amount to KisanKonnect’s angel funding round in May 2023. After that, the startup raised Rs 31 crore (roughly $3.7 million) in a pre-Series A funding round in January 2024. The round was led by climate technology fund Green Frontier Capital (GFC), with participation from Dhanuka Agritech Limited, VC Grid, and other family offices.
The money will be used to expand farm stores in Pune and Mumbai, enhance fresh-produce supply chain technology, and enhance climate-smart agriculture interventions.
KisanKonnect’s temperature-controlled, technologically sophisticated, and fully traceable supply chain aims to lower carbon emissions in the agricultural supply chain, guarantee fair prices for farmers and consumers, and minimize waste. The company works closely with farmers to encourage the production of crops free of pesticides and chemicals as part of its dedication to sustainable farming practices.
