Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge 2.0 Launched; Win Prizes Worth Rs 10 Lakhs

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in partnership with Startup India, launched the second edition of ‘Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge’ at an event celebrating ‘National Milk Day’ in Anand, Gujarat to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Varghese Kurien.

The event was organised in the gracious presence of Union Minister  of  Fisheries,  Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Information & Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan, and Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Dr. Sanjeev Balyan. 

What is Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge

Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge 2.0 has been launched by Union Minister for  Fisheries,  Animal Husbandry and Dairying,  Parshottam Rupala, to scout for innovative and commercially viable solutions to address six problems faced by the animal husbandry and dairy sector. The challenge is open for application on the Startup India portal – www.startupindia.gov.in – to all startups for the following problem statements: 

• Cost-effective, Long-term, and User-friendly Alternatives for Storage and Supply of Semen Doses

• Development of Cost-effective Animal Identification (RFID) and Traceability Technology

• Development of Heat Detection Kits

• Development of Pregnancy Diagnosis Kits for Dairy Animals

• Improvement of existing milk supply-chain from village collection centre to the dairy plant

• Development of Low-cost Cooling and Milk Preservation System and a Data Logger

Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge 2.0:  Prizes & Incentives 

The winning startups of the ‘Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge 2.0’ shall be provided with the following incentives: 

• Cash Prizes

For each of the 6 problem areas, a winner to be awarded with INR 10 Lakh and a runner-up with INR 7 Lakh each as cash prizes.  

• Incubation

Up to 12 winners to get incubation. The incubator would be responsible for virtual incubation of these startups for up to 3 months, mentor matchmaking, lab facility for POC development and testing facilities (on case-to-case basis), conducting business and investor workshops, and tracking the activities of the startups for up to 9 months after the completion of the program.  

• Virtual Master class

Up to 6 virtual masterclasses (one for each problem statement) will be organized for providing mentorship to all startups and innovators. 

• Mentorship

A dedicated mentor from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying would be assigned to each winner for 6 months. 

• Showcase Opportunity

The products/ solutions of the winners of the program would be showcased at Krishi Bhawan, in front on Minister’s office and the Secretary office, in New Delhi to ensure maximum visibility. 

• Demo Day

A virtual demo day meet would be organized for the top 30 startups selected from the applicant pool, across problem areas. These startups shall get the following opportunities: 

• To pitch in front of an audience constituting officials from Ministries, Government Departments, Cooperatives, Corporate bodies, Investors, etc.

• Showcase their product/ services at the individual virtual booths provided to them

• Get access to pilot, gain procurement orders, and funding.