Eeki, an Indian agritech startup, has raised US$7 million in funding from Sixth Sense Ventures.

The Kota-based company last received investment over three years ago.

The new funds will be used to expand Eeki’s climate-resilient farming operations across India.

They will also be used to develop its Gen 3 aeroponic growing chambers. Additionally, the funding will enhance research and development efforts.

In 2022, Eeki raised US$6.5 million in a series A round led by General Catalyst. This was along with an additional US$2 million earlier that year from Avaana Capital.

Founded by Abhay Singh and Amit Kumar, Eeki employs patented aeroponic technology to grow pesticide-free vegetables year-round.

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🔗 Source: Entrackr

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ India’s agritech sector rebounds after funding winter

Eeki’s $7 million raise reflects a broader recovery in India’s agritech funding landscape after a challenging period.

The agrifoodtech sector faced a significant funding crunch in 2023, with many startups experiencing long gaps between funding rounds similar to Eeki’s three-year interval 1.

This recovery aligns with recent data showing India emerged as a significant player in global agrifoodtech funding, raising $2.5 billion and experiencing a remarkable 215% increase in agritech investments 2, 3.

The timing is strategic, as the Economic Survey 2023 reported Indian agritech startups raised ₹6,600 crore (approximately $800 million) over a four-year period, demonstrating growing investor confidence in the sector 4.

Despite past challenges, industry projections suggest India’s agritech market could grow to $34 billion by 2027, driven by increasing digital penetration in agriculture and innovations in supply chain management 1.

2️⃣ Aeroponics presents compelling advantages despite high initial costs

Eeki’s aeroponic technology represents a data-backed approach to sustainable farming with quantifiable benefits over traditional methods.

Multiple independent sources confirm that aeroponic systems reduce water usage by 95-98% compared to conventional agriculture, directly addressing water scarcity concerns in regions like Rajasthan where Eeki operates 5, 6, 7.

Beyond water efficiency, aeroponics enables year-round production regardless of external climate conditions, with Eeki’s half-acre farm producing approximately 7,000 kg of vegetables monthly according to 2021 data 8.

The system’s controlled environment minimizes pest and disease issues, reducing or eliminating pesticide requirements while maintaining competitive pricing—Eeki sold vegetables at approximately ₹50 per kg in 2021, comparable to traditional market rates 8, 5.

Despite these advantages, aeroponic systems face challenges including higher initial setup costs and technical complexity, explaining why Eeki’s funding specifically targets their Gen 3 growing chambers and expanded R&D efforts 9.

3️⃣ Partnership-based business models create scalability in capital-intensive agritech

Eeki has developed an operational approach that addresses the capital-intensive nature of advanced farming technology.

Their partnership model allows individuals to provide land and capital while Eeki manages farm operations and shares profits, creating a scalable framework that reduces the company’s capital requirements while expanding its footprint 10, 11.

This collaborative structure has enabled Eeki to establish multiple farms across Rajasthan and Haryana despite the high upfront costs typically associated with aeroponic infrastructure 10, 8.

The model aligns with trends in the broader agritech sector, where startups increasingly focus on asset-light approaches to scale technology-intensive agricultural innovations without proportional capital investment 11.

By handling operational complexities while sharing financial benefits, Eeki addresses a fundamental challenge in agricultural innovation: combining technical expertise with distributed resource ownership to accelerate adoption of sustainable farming practices.

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