Six Kerala agricultural startups set for national honour
The programme, to be chaired by the RKVY Advisor, is aimed at honouring outstanding incubators and startups nurtured through the RKVY-RAFTAAR initiative. The Kerala team, led by K P Sudheer, mentor to Kerala's agri-startup ecosystem and head of KAU Agri-Business Incubator, will represent the selected ventures at the national platform.
'This is a proud moment for Kerala and a significant opportunity to present the innovation and impact emerging from our state's agricultural sector,' Sudheer said. The featured startups are Dr Jackfruit India, Zaphon Repurpose, TMJ Foods India, Eatery Malabarikus, Swojas Farms, and Bio-Arya Vedic Naturals.
Dr Jackfruit India, founded by Manas Madhu, has turned Kerala's banana chips into globally marketed, flavour-rich snack products through their brand Beyond Snacks, while Zaphon Repurpose, led by Saji Varghese, has developed eco-friendly straws made from coconut leaves under the brand Sunbird Straws. TMJ Foods, led by T J Thankachan, produces a vitamin D2-rich health drink from mushrooms.
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The Hindu
09-07-2025
- The Hindu
Kerala agricultural start-ups among top performers at national RKVY-RAFTAAR review meet
Six agricultural start-ups incubated at the Agri-Business Incubator of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) have been recognised among the top-performing ventures under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubation programme. The recognition came during a high-level national review meeting chaired by the RKVY advisor to evaluate the progress and impact of agri-business incubators and their associated start-ups. The meeting brought together representatives from RKVY-RAFTAAR Agri-Business Incubators across India, as well as emerging entrepreneurs who showcased innovations supported under the scheme. The Kerala-based start-ups presented unique agri-based solutions that have made significant strides in sustainability, product innovation, and rural livelihood development. K.P. Sudheer, Head of the Agri-Business Incubator at KAU, highlighted the significance of the event, stating it provided a rare national platform for start-ups to gain visibility and recognition. 'Such initiatives inspire a new generation of agri-entrepreneurs and help drive the growth of rural economies,' he said. Entrepreneurs from Kerala, including Vineetha A.K., Manas Madhu, Brijith Krishna, Saji Varghese, T. J. Thankachan, and Vidya K.S., shared their innovative products and business models. These start-ups have benefited from training and financial support through the Raftaar Agri Business Incubator program at KAU. Ms. Vineetha developed a cassava starch-based fabric care spray, winning the 'Woman in Change Award' from Startup India. Her eco-friendly innovation supports cassava farmers and promotes women-led agricultural enterprises. Mr. Madhu, founder of Doctor Jackfruit India Pvt. Ltd., created Beyond Snacks, a jackfruit snack brand that gained national attention through Shark Tank India, securing ₹5 million in funding and equity investment. Mr. Krishna of Eatery Malabarikus transformed the use of sprouted cashews into a line of healthy food products. His innovation, born during a market slowdown, won him national recognition, including the Best Cashew Entrepreneur award. Mr. Varghese, founder of Zaphon Repurpose, created Sunbird Straws — eco-friendly drinking straws made from coconut leaves. The venture now exports to 25 countries and has won global acclaim, including the Switzerland Mass Challenge Award. Mr. Thankachan of TMJ Foods India Pvt Ltd developed a mushroom-based health drink rich in Vitamin D2, helping mushroom farmers boost their income while offering a nutritious health product. Ms. Vidya, co-founder of Swojas Farms, promotes millet-based organic products such as dosa mixes, nutri bars, and flakes, now available in supermarkets and bakeries. Her venture supports sustainable farming and healthy eating. Growth of exports The main goal of the event was to chart a clear path for the growth of exports from local agricultural start-ups, in connection with the recently unveiled Central government scheme of ₹300 crore, aimed at supporting 100 promising export-ready agri-food start-ups in the country. Experts and policymakers from diverse sectors participated.
New Indian Express
07-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Six Kerala agricultural startups set for national honour
KOCHI: Six agricultural startups developed under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) at the Kerala Agriculture University will be honoured in New Delhi on Monday. These startups were developed at the varsity's RAFTAAR Agri-Business Incubator. The programme, to be chaired by the RKVY Advisor, is aimed at honouring outstanding incubators and startups nurtured through the RKVY-RAFTAAR initiative. The Kerala team, led by K P Sudheer, mentor to Kerala's agri-startup ecosystem and head of KAU Agri-Business Incubator, will represent the selected ventures at the national platform. 'This is a proud moment for Kerala and a significant opportunity to present the innovation and impact emerging from our state's agricultural sector,' Sudheer said. The featured startups are Dr Jackfruit India, Zaphon Repurpose, TMJ Foods India, Eatery Malabarikus, Swojas Farms, and Bio-Arya Vedic Naturals. Dr Jackfruit India, founded by Manas Madhu, has turned Kerala's banana chips into globally marketed, flavour-rich snack products through their brand Beyond Snacks, while Zaphon Repurpose, led by Saji Varghese, has developed eco-friendly straws made from coconut leaves under the brand Sunbird Straws. TMJ Foods, led by T J Thankachan, produces a vitamin D2-rich health drink from mushrooms.
India.com
23-06-2025
- India.com
Meet man, used to walk 1 KM daily for education, started with Rs 1,000 job, built business of Rs 27000000000, has offices are in countries like…, his business is…
Sudheer K was born in Kolayil which is a small village 25 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. In 1985, after 12th grade from a school in Dhanuvachapuram, walking 1 kilometer daily due to his family's financial problems. He graduated with a from VTM NSS College in 1988 and later did MA in English Literature at Sri Vidyadhiraja College but he didn't complete it. In 1991, he earned a PG diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Bhavan's School of Management in Trivandrum and also studied German at Kerala University. First Job Of Rs 1000 Salary Despite these qualifications, Sudheer struggled to find a job initially. In 1993, through a cousin's referral, he got his first job at Arebi Shipping Company in Tuticorin as an entry-level marketing executive with a salary of Rs 1,000 per month. After 18 months, he shifted to Kochi and joined A.V. Thomas & Company in the sales and marketing department, where he met his future wife, Anjali. Turning Point In Life For a better life, Anjali moved to Dubai in 1998 and began working in customer service. A year later, Sudheer joined her in Dubai and got a sales role. The couple faced major challenges initially. In 2007, Sudheer's career took a big turn when he joined Caravel Logistics as an assistant manager. The company's owner, Saju Chacko, found potential in Sudheer's and gave him independence. Over the next seven years, Sudheer became the general manager with experience in the logistics and shipping industry. Founding Own Company In 2014, Sudheer decided to establish his own logistics company. With support from an initial investor who contributed Rs 1 crore, Sudheer launched Navio Shipping LLC in Dubai and Navio Shipping Pvt. Ltd in Shipping handles cargo transport via sea, air, and land across the globe, managing a variety of goods. The company deals in different products: textiles, food products, metals, automobiles, electronics, and agricultural items. Navio has offices in countries like Oman, Singapore, Malaysia, Spain, China, Thailand, Japan, Germany, the USA, France, and Italy. With a turnover exceeding Rs 2,700 crore and a team of over 500 employees in multiple countries, Navio Shipping is working well globally.
