Indian Angel Network and Michelin launch incubator to support farm to market logistics

Agriculture has always been an important part of the lives of Indians, and we continue to be a major agrarian economy. YourStory has also been pushing the envelope on the subject.

Now Indian Angel Network (IAN) and Michelin, world’s leading automotive tyre manufacturer are starting an initiative to assist entrepreneurs in creating mobility solutions to improve efficiency of getting produce from farm to market.

The initiative, named Farm to Market Logistics (F2ML) is an incubator managed by IAN and supported by Michelin. It will seek ideas that will help make food supply chain generate less waste through new practices, behaviours and solutions. 

Saurabh Srivastava, co-founder, Indian Angel Network said, “In partnership with Michelin, IAN would like to focus particularly on the food supply chain. The challenge of moving food produce efficiently from the farms to tables, reducing the current level of waste creates many opportunities to invent and grow profitable businesses in India. IAN encourages entrepreneurs to come forward with ideas and solutions which will make a difference.”

Philippe Barreaud, Head of Innovation Incubation for Asia, Michelin said: “Michelin plays a direct role in the quest for sustainable mobility solutions. The capacity of the Michelin Group for Innovation is not limited to tyres and Michelin has been leading, for several years, initiatives to develop innovative mobility solutions.”

The F2ML initiative is open to individuals, teams or Indian start-ups and SMEs and will endeavour to encourage innovators to become entrepreneurs. The shortlisted applications will be assigned business mentors from the IAN mentor pool, comprising of successful entrepreneurs, investors and senior professionals.

“The tie-up with Michelin will be instrumental in the search for unique and scalable business ideas in the space of food supply chain,” said Ajai Chowdhry, IAN incubator board member. 

Shortlisted innovators and entrepreneurs of this initiative will receive assistance on designing their products or service, building prototypes, getting customer validation and preparing the foundation for commercialization of the idea.

Read here: about what ails agriculture start-ups in India