IIT alumni ditch corporate careers to build clean-tech farm machinery startup

Founders and Journey

IIT Bombay alumni Aishwarya Ramakrishnan and Kedar Gokhale left high-profile corporate roles to launch the agri-tech startup Higher Orbit Agritech Private Limited. Aishwarya completed her MBA from Harvard Business School and worked in Mahindra Group's farm equipment sector alongside co-founding the education NGO Avanti Fellows. Kedar cleared the UPSC exam twice before working in the corporate sector, eventually reaching the position of VP of Operations at Swiggy. Driven by a shared interest in social impact and climate-friendly agriculture, the two classmates joined forces in February 2023 and registered their company in February 2024, later securing pre-seed funding from angel investors.

The Product and Technology

After talking directly with local farmers, the founders identified major challenges like labor shortages, physical fatigue from traditional tools, and rising operational costs driven by expensive machines and diesel. To solve these issues, the startup introduced the Balisto 130 Pro, a 13 HP electric multipurpose power tiller. The machine is designed for crops like sugarcane, cotton, paddy, turmeric, and ginger, handling tasks like ploughing, weeding, and earthing up with an adjustable width ranging from 2 to 5 feet. It operates as an eco-friendly and sturdy alternative to diesel equipment. The Balisto 130 Pro features two detachable 4.6 kWh LFP lithium-ion batteries that charge even faster than their usage time. A smart machine control unit automatically adjusts speed and torque according to the soil conditions in the field. The machine is built to be vibration-free for operator comfort and safety, and includes an emergency safety lever. Furthermore, IoT sensors transmit machine data to a server to make remote monitoring and servicing much easier.

Business Model and Revenue

Instead of a direct-to-consumer approach, the startup adopted a dealer-led business model to ensure farmers receive reliable after-sales support locally. The company currently has 15 dealers in Maharashtra, and through these dealers alongside rental entrepreneurs, it has reached hundreds of farmers. The startup has recorded a revenue of 70 lakh rupees in the past fifteen months. Looking ahead, the founders plan to develop remote-controlled machines, sprayers, and trolley attachments while exploring a battery-as-a-service model.

Context

India's agricultural sector faces mounting pressure to adopt sustainable technologies as traditional diesel equipment drives up input costs and environmental concerns. Startups founded by engineering and management graduates are increasingly turning their attention to farm mechanization to address deep-seated labor and productivity challenges. This trend combines advanced engineering with localized distribution networks to reach smallholder farmers across rural regions.