Startup Profile
Team members:
Vihari
CEO & Co-Founder
Dr. Sairam Palicherla
CSO & Co-Founder
UrbanKisaan is revolutionizing farming by building local farms globally that use minimal resources while producing highly nutritious plants. Our proprietary technology includes hardware, software, seeds, and growing systems that enable us to grow fresh, pesticide-free produce anywhere, from urban centers to remote areas, making healthy food accessible to everyone. We're not just a farm, we're a sustainable solution for the future of food.
The problem we're solving
UrbanKisaan is addressing the challenges of traditional agriculture by making hydroponics & vertical farming more accessible & affordable. Traditional agriculture is often unsustainable, resource-intensive, and limited by land availability and additional reliance on long-distance transportation. Hydroponics & Vertical farming on other hand has issues like high capital expenditure, limited crop variety, and the need for technical expertise.
Our solution
UrbanKisaan's solution to the challenges of traditional agriculture is to develop and deploy advanced vertical farming technology that is more affordable and accessible. Their system uses 95% less water and 1/10th of the space compared to conventional farming, while also eliminating the need for pesticides. By focusing on reducing capital expenditure, expanding crop variety, and increasing automation, they are making vertical farming a viable and sustainable option for a wider range of growers.
Our differentiator
UrbanKisaan addresses the main challenges of vertical farming: high costs, limited crop variety, and the need for technical expertise. They differentiate themselves by offering a more affordable and accessible solution. Their technology is at least 50% cheaper than competitors, allowing them to build farms at 1/10th the cost. They also cultivate a wider variety of crops (68+) and have developed automation and AI to simplify farm management, reducing the need for specialized knowledge.
Biggest achievement
UrbanKisaan's biggest achievement to date is becoming the only profitable vertical farming company globally. In a nascent industry known for high costs and technological challenges, achieving profitability demonstrates the viability and scalability of their unique business model. The startup also has been selected Startup of the year by economic times, listed as Forbes 30 under 30, Top 40 social impact startup’s in India and many other awards.
