Agritech firm ‘Pehle Jaisa’ raises Rs 12 crore to bolster R&D in improving soil health

Agritech startup Cropcoin (Pehle Jaisa) has raised the funds in Pre-Series A round led by Unicorn India Ventures. The round also saw participation from Climate angels

Pehle Jaisa held that the funds raised will be strategically deployed for geographical expansion for scaling operations from 10 districts to the entire 66 districts of Bihar and Jharkhand. Funds will also be directed towards product development to enhance R&D for bio-category products to improve soil health and reduce chemical usage along with building infrastructure to reach a Rs 100 crore ARR in the next 24 months.

Founded in 2022 by serial entrepreneurs Pankaj Pandey and Ehtesham Farooqui, alongside a team of industry veterans, Cropcoin (Pehle Jaisa) is an agritech startup dedicated to solving agricultural waste management and soil health degradation. The company transforms animal waste into organic fertiliser and bio stimulants at the source.

Commenting on the fund raise Uttam Kumar, Co-founder, Cropcoin (Pehle Jaisa), says, ” This investment from Unicorn India Ventures validates our decentralized approach, which not only improves soil health but also makes farming more profitable for the smallholder. We aren’t just building a supply chain; we are building a self-reliant agricultural ecosystem that restores the land to its original, healthy state—exactly as the name ‘Pehle Jaisa’ suggests.”

The company is helping to alleviate the adverse impact of chemical fertilizers by encouraging use of more sustainable and farming methods. By promoting organic practices and traditional techniques, it helps improve soil content and optimise soil health. This not only helps reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers but also in greenhouse gas emission, making the environment cleaner. Additionally, the company also supports the production of chemical-free food which helps in lower health risks related to hazardous residues and ensures safer and more nutritious produce for consumers.

Pulkit Mehrotra, VP, Unicorn India Ventures, stated, “We believe the company will build a bigger farmer community going forward and with such innovation coming out of India this will definitely promote sustainable and highly organic farming inputs and help lower the agriculture cost in India.”

Cropcoin (Pehle Jaisa) in the last 12 months claims to have grown its revenues 3X and expanded its farmer network to 70,000 from 20,000 across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Manipur.