Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize

The Rapid Regen Challenge is a flagship CSR initiative launched by PepsiCo, designed and executed by the^delta prize (AIC NCORE Developmental Impact Foundation). It aims to transform India's agricultural landscape by empowering non-profit organisations and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to lead the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices that are farmer-centric, low-risk, and high-yield. The core mission is to regenerate soil health while significantly boosting the net incomes of smallholder farmers.

Over a 24-month period, selected participants must demonstrate impact in two phases. In Year 1, organisations must prove viability by covering 500 hectares with 500 to 1,000 farmers. In Year 2, they must scale up to 5,000 hectares and 5,000 to 10,000 farmers within 2–5 contiguous blocks per district. Key targets include doubling soil organic carbon from a baseline of 0.3% or less, and increasing smallholder farmer net incomes by at least 25% without raising cultivation costs.

Participants are encouraged to propose innovative practices such as composting, bio-inputs, crop rotation, intercropping, mulching, reduced tillage, agroforestry, and biological pest management. Technology-enabled models like remote sensing, digital advisory, and IoT systems are also supported, allowing non-profits to partner with agritech startups or research institutions if needed. The challenge provides a holistic support structure to foster sustainable agriculture across India.

• Prize fund up to ₹6.5 crore
• Milestone-linked grants over 24 months
• Focus on regenerative agriculture
• Targeting smallholder farmer income growth
• Mentorship & capital access
• Cohort of 5-8 challengers

Only non-profit organisations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Section 8 companies are eligible to apply as lead applicants. They must hold valid 12A, 80G, and CSR-1 registrations, and demonstrate prior experience working with smallholder farmers in agriculture, natural resource management, sustainable agriculture, or related sectors.

For-profit companies, agritech startups, and research institutions cannot apply as lead applicants. However, they may participate as partners in a consortium led by an eligible non-profit.

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Applications for Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize are open and the current deadline is 2 Aug 2026. Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.

The Rapid Regen Challenge offers up to ₹6.5 crore (INR 65,000,000) in milestone-linked grants. The funding is disbursed in three phases:

• A pilot/ground activation grant at kickoff.
• A deployment grant in Year 2 based on demonstrated progress.
• An outcome-linked scale-up grant for winners at the grand finale.

Beyond financial support, selected organisations receive:

• 1-on-1 mentorship from leading soil and livelihoods experts.
• Access to capital and philanthropy networks, including CSR, philanthropic, and impact-investor partners.
• Ecosystem connections with government bodies, tech partners, academia, and research institutions.
• Masterclasses and workshops on regenerative science, scaling models, and policy advocacy.
• Media coverage and visibility through demo days and storytelling support.

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize is offered by the^delta, a non-profit foundation. It is delivered directly by the^delta as a competition. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

The selection process is multi-staged to identify the most capable organisations. It begins with an initial application screening to filter proposals based on eligibility and alignment with the challenge's goals. Shortlisted applicants then undergo jury evaluations and interviews, where experts assess the project design, scalability, and team capacity. This is followed by comprehensive field evaluations and due diligence to verify on-ground capabilities. Finally, a cohort of 5 to 8 organisations is selected to participate in the 24-month program.

Before you apply to Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹6.5Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.