Open Challenge Program (OCP) 1.0 at SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai

The Open Challenge Program (OCP) 1.0 is a flagship initiative of the SmartAgri Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoE), Bhilai, which is promoted by the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) under the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India. The CoE operates in collaboration with the Agriculture Development & Farmer Welfare department and Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University (CSVTU), Bhilai, where it is located on campus. The program aims to identify and nurture promising AgriTech startups that can develop affordable and sustainable technological solutions for agriculture and allied activities, with a particular focus on serving farmers in Chhattisgarh. It provides a strong impetus to research, technology development, and entrepreneurship in the smart agriculture sector. Focus areas include Agriculture, Horticulture, and Floriculture. Selected participants gain access to infrastructure, mentorship, lab facilities, and seed funding to help bring their products to market.

• Up to ₹35L seed funding
• Incubation support with office space and lab infrastructure
• Mentorship, investor access, and go-to-market support
• Legal, IP, and fundraising assistance provided
• Open to registered and unregistered Indian teams in AgriTech, Horticulture, or Floriculture

Indian startups registered as a Private Limited Company, Registered Partnership Firm, or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) and not older than 10 years from the date of incorporation are eligible. Unregistered teams may also apply but must incorporate within 3 months of selection. There is no specific restriction on startup stage, industry sub-sector, state, DPIIT registration, or MSME registration. The program is open to all Indian startups working in AgriTech or related fields like Agriculture, Horticulture, and Floriculture.

Open Challenge Program (OCP) 1.0 at SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Applications for Open Challenge Program (OCP) 1.0 at SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai are open and the current deadline is Closes today. Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.

Selected startups can receive up to ₹35 lakh in seed funding. Additional support includes incubation support, office space, lab infrastructure, mentorship, go-to-market assistance, investor access, fundraising support, legal and intellectual property (IP) support, and networking opportunities. These benefits are designed to help startups prototype, develop, test, and market their innovations.

Open Challenge Program (OCP) 1.0 at SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai is offered by SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai, a government body. As a government-backed competition, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Before you apply to Open Challenge Program (OCP) 1.0 at SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai, 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.

Open Challenge Program (OCP) 1.0 at SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹35L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.