Farmtheory, a B2B agri-food startup, has secured $1.45 million in funding, spearheaded by Merak Ventures, an early-stage VC firm based in Gurugram. Prior to this round, the company had received $150,000 in March 2020 from Y Combinator, a prominent American startup accelerator.
The infusion of capital will fuel Farmtheory’s expansion plans, focusing on scaling its operations, bolstering its technological infrastructure, and fortifying its supply chain by engaging more farmers, thereby ensuring a sustainable source of produce.
Founded in 2019 by Arpit Agarwal and Sakshi Agarwal, Farmtheory adopts an innovative approach to reduce food waste at its root, leading to increased farm yields and the delivery of high-quality ingredients to commercial kitchens. The startup tackles the issue of unsold produce at the source by procuring “freeform” fruits and vegetables directly from farmers and supplying them to various businesses, such as cloud kitchens, catering companies, food processors, and restaurants.
Arpit Agarwal, Co-founder of Farmtheory, envisions a symbiotic relationship between farmers and consumers, emphasizing the platform’s role in fostering sustainability and enriching lives. With 3,000 partner farmers onboarded and over 1,500 kitchens served, Farmtheory aims to expand its reach, further benefiting farmer communities nationwide.
Through its innovative model, Farmtheory not only addresses food waste and farmer income challenges but also contributes to the broader goal of combating climate change, setting a sustainable precedent in the agri-food sector.
