Bharat Intelligence Raises Rs 7 Crore, Gives Farmers Ownership
- Bharat Intelligence raises Rs 7 crore pre-seed led by Sahyadri Farms.
- 22,500+ farmers become shareholders with board representation.
- Uses AI to tackle farm labor shortage, expands in Western Maharashtra.
Agri-tech startup Bharat Intelligence has secured Rs 7 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by Sahyadri Farms. The company is focused on tackling the farm labor crisis by building AI tools that connect farmers with skilled workers, ensuring steady jobs and fair wages for laborers.
More than 22,500 farmers have joined as shareholders through Sahyadri Farms, giving them a voice in the company’s leadership. Bharat Intelligence’s board includes farmer representative Vilas Shinde, ensuring that decisions and profits benefit the farming communities directly.
Founded in 2024, Bharat Intelligence aims to strengthen its platform and scale operations across Western Maharashtra, particularly in the grape, banana, tomato, and pomegranate farming sectors. The startup’s AI-driven platform helps organize rural labor markets and supports dignified employment while addressing the nuances of India’s offline and deeply physical agrarian economy.
Azhaan Merchant, Co-Founder & CEO at Bharat Intelligence, explained that building AI for India requires understanding rural realities and trust networks. The startup prioritizes immediate, visible impact to address farmers’ daily challenges, even as it works to overcome cultural and digital barriers.
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Vilas Shinde, Sahyadri Farms, Chairman, emphasized that labor shortages are a critical issue for farmers. By investing in Bharat Intelligence, they aim to empower farmers through technology and shared ownership. The startup also plans to explore commerce and embedded finance to help farmers and laborers grow together on a unified platform.
