Leadership Talk Series: Exclusive Chat with Mr. Harshit Gupta, Co-founder – Gramophone
“Farmers have started valuing the convenience of home delivery of agri products.”
— Mr. Harshit Gupta
Focus Agritech had an opportunity to interact with Mr. Harshit Gupta, Co-Founder of Gramophone. Mr. Harshit is a thought leader and a young entrepreneur who is an inspiration to millions of Indians. His vision has enabled Gramophone to transform agriculture by providing farmers with timely information, technology and right inputs to achieve better yields.
Mr. Harshit shared his views on how the agriculture sector has evolved over the years, the agritech startup ecosystem and his vision for Gramophone. He holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad specialising in Agribusiness. He has previously worked at OYO Rooms , TAFE- Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited and has recently featured in the Forbes India 30under30 list.
2025 Update: Gramophone’s Growth and Agritech Trends
Since this interview in 2021, Gramophone has scaled significantly, surpassing its goal of 10 lakh app users by mid-2023 and reaching 15 lakh users by early 2025. The company expanded its Gramodaya centers to 20 states, enhancing rural distribution. Its Super Fasal program now integrates AI-driven soil analytics and drone-based crop monitoring, boosting yields by 25% for enrolled farmers. The Indian agritech sector has also grown, with investments reaching $2.5 billion in 2024, driven by innovations in precision farming and fintech. Gramophone remains a leader, recently raising $50 million in Series D funding to fuel its franchise model.
How Gramophone Transforms Indian Agriculture
Focus Agritech: Congratulations on Forbes India’s 30 Under 30. How is Gramophone revolutionizing agriculture with technology?
Mr. Harshit Gupta: Indian farmers face weather uncertainties and income challenges. Gramophone provides advisory services to improve yields and soil health, leveraging affordable internet post-Reliance Jio’s disruption. We aim to digitize the agri-value chain, targeting 10 lakh app users by year-end, supported by our founding team: Ashish Rajan Singh, Nishant Mahatre, Tauseef Khan, and myself.
Challenges in Building an Agritech Startup
Focus Agritech: What obstacles did Gramophone face, and how is India’s agritech ecosystem evolving?
Mr. Harshit Gupta: As first-time entrepreneurs in Indore, we struggled to understand the region and earn farmers’ trust. Hiring talent and rural marketing were tough. However, 2020 was a golden year for agritech, with growing investments and innovations in supply chains, fintech, and IoT.
Gramophone’s Edge in Agritech Innovation
Focus Agritech: How does Gramophone stay competitive in delivering farmer-focused solutions?
Mr. Harshit Gupta: Our MyFarm feature offers personalized advisories using crop and weather data, promoting scientific farming. As an agronomy-focused company, we build trust through tailored crop protection and nutrition solutions, giving us a unique edge.
Navigating Covid-19’s Impact on Agriculture
Focus Agritech: How did the pandemic affect Gramophone’s operations?
Mr. Harshit Gupta: Demand for agri products remained strong. Our Gramodaya centers built trust and enabled efficient online sales during lockdowns. Farmers embraced home delivery, boosting our growth.
Scaling Distribution in Rural India
Focus Agritech: How does Gramophone distribute products in remote areas?
Mr. Harshit Gupta: Our hub-and-spoke model uses Gramodaya centers for trust and efficiency. Rural delivery agents ensure timely doorstep delivery, addressing urgent farmer needs like pest control.
Gramophone’s Vision for Agritech Growth
Focus Agritech: What’s Gramophone’s 3-5 year vision?
Mr. Harshit Gupta: We plan to scale via a franchise model and launch the Super Fasal program, offering soil testing, advisories, and market linkages to ensure farmers maximize returns.
Vote of Thanks!
Focus Agritech would like to thank Mr. Harshit Gupta for sharing his rich experiences at Gramophone, his vision for the company and his deep understanding of the problems faced by farmers in India. We wish him the very best for his future endeavours and we are very optimistic that Gramophone will continue its journey of transforming the agriculture sector in India.
Read the next article on our website ‘Gramophone: Increase your yield with this technology app’