Agri Business Incubator – ICRISAT-Agri-Biotech & Food Tech Startup Hub

The Agri Business Incubator at ICRISAT, established in 2003 with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is a premier platform for promoting agri-entrepreneurship in India. Located at ICRISAT’s Patancheru campus near Hyderabad, it operates under the Agri-Business and Innovation Platform (AIP) and helps convert scientific research into sustainable agribusinesses. It supports early-stage ventures and rural innovators working in agri-biotech, food technology, post-harvest solutions, and climate-resilient farming. Services include business mentoring, funding assistance, legal and IPR guidance, and access to field-testing infrastructure. A notable feature is the BioNcube Facility, a DST-BIRAC-supported biotech lab offering space for research, validation, and product scale-up. Entrepreneurs can apply for national schemes like BIRAC-BIG, Startup India Seed Fund, and NIDHI-SSP, and benefit from industry and investor connections. With over 200 startups supported, nearly $18 million USD in funding, and 194 commercialized technologies, the incubator has made a lasting impact. Its partnerships span key institutions such as ICAR, TNAU, and Villgro, as well as international incubators. Events like bootcamps, demo days, and training workshops further promote innovation and grassroots outreach across the agri-startup ecosystem.