Nimble Growth Organics is a startup that has been making a significant impact in the organic farming sector in India. Founded in 2017, the company has a clear vision to promote healthy eating and support farmers in adopting organic farming practices. Here is a look into the company's foundation and the background of its founding team.
Nimble Growth Organics was founded with a vision to ensure people eat healthy, organic foods while securing sustainable incomes for farmers. The founders, Rahul Saria and Nagendra Kalkuli, left their corporate jobs to pursue this mission. They aimed to transform chemical farming into organic farming, which they believed would have multi-fold benefits for society[1].
The early days involved a lot of learning and interaction with experts. Rahul and Nagendra spent months understanding the best practices in organic farming by meeting leading agricultural scientists and farmers. This process helped them create a unique proprietary knowledge bank called the "package of practice" (PoP)[1].
The PoP outlines the steps from soil content testing to harvesting of organic produce. This comprehensive approach was crucial in convincing farmers to adopt organic farming methods, despite the initial challenges such as a dip in production yields in the first two years.
Rahul Saria and Nagendra Kalkuli bring a diverse set of experiences to Nimble Growth Organics. Rahul, a chartered accountant, had a successful career as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for startups like Rentomojo and Vedantu. Nagendra, on the other hand, comes from an agricultural family and had a two-decade-long career in the software industry, working for global giants like Microsoft and Dell[1].
Nagendra's background in agriculture provided a deep understanding of the ground realities of farming in India. This combination of corporate and farming experience has been instrumental in the success of Nimble Growth Organics[1].
Other key members include Pradeep Kumar, who heads sales, and Abhishek Bhagchandka, an expert in Operations and Analytics. Their collective expertise has been crucial in the startup's growth and operational efficiency[1].
Nimble Growth Organics has evolved significantly since its inception in 2017. From its initial concept to its current state, the company has made substantial strides in the organic farming sector. Here is a look at its business evolution and key growth milestones.
The startup began by engaging with farmers to adopt organic farming practices. Initially, convincing farmers was a challenge due to past experiences and the initial dip in production yields. However, by offering to buy produce at predetermined prices, Nimble Growth managed to mitigate these challenges.
Today, Nimble Growth is cultivating about 150 tonnes of organic produce per month and is engaged with over 250 farmers across 500 acres in various locations in Karnataka. The produce is sold in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, catering to a significant demand from B2B customers, including large format retail stores and online marketplaces[1].
The company's focus on ensuring quality and traceability has been key to its success. They use various technologies to monitor the entire process, from sowing to harvesting, and ensure that the produce meets high standards[1].
Nimble Growth has achieved several key milestones since its inception. Here are some notable ones:
These milestones reflect the company's commitment to growth and its impact on the organic farming sector in India.
Nimble Growth Organics has a diverse product portfolio that includes fruits, vegetables, exotics, and greens. The company is looking to expand its product range and market reach.
They plan to increase their SKUs and market reach by exporting fruits and medicinal plants. Additionally, they aim to expand their operations to five neighboring states.
The focus on expanding the product portfolio and market reach is part of the company's strategy to grow with strong fundamentals and ensure long-term sustainability.
Nimble Growth Organics leverages technology to enhance its operations and ensure the quality of its produce. Here is a look at its core platform architecture, security and compliance framework, and innovations in the industry.
The company uses advanced technologies to monitor the entire farming process. From soil content testing to harvesting, every step is tracked to ensure traceability and quality.
Rahul Saria mentioned that through their laptops in Bengaluru, they can monitor the progress in the farms. This real-time monitoring helps in managing the production and supply chain efficiently.
Data science plays a pivotal role in their operations, from annual demand prediction to breaking down harvesting plans at an SKU level. This involves crunching numbers on variables such as SKU, farmer location, production capacity, soil quality, and pricing.
Nimble Growth Organics ensures that its farms are certified organic by accredited agencies under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). This stringent certification process is a testament to the company's commitment to quality and compliance.
The company's focus on traceability and quality standards is backed by its technology infrastructure. This ensures that the produce meets the required standards and is free from any contaminants[1].
Nimble Growth Organics has introduced several innovations in the organic farming sector. The unique "package of practice" (PoP) is a proprietary knowledge bank that lists out the steps for organic farming, from soil testing to harvesting. This approach has been instrumental in convincing farmers to adopt organic methods[1].
The use of technology to monitor and manage the farming process is another significant innovation. This approach ensures that the produce is of high quality and that the entire process is transparent and traceable[1]).
Nimble Growth Organics, a Bengaluru-based startup, has made a significant impact on the market since its inception in 2016. Founded by Rahul Saria, Nagendra Kalkuli, Abhisek Bhagchandka, and Pradeep Kumar, the company has focused on promoting organic farming and ensuring sustainable incomes for farmers.
Nimble Growth Organics has seen substantial growth in its user base, particularly among consumers looking for healthy and organic food options. The startup engages with over 250 farmers, helping them transition from conventional to organic farming practices. This shift has not only improved the farmers' incomes but also increased the availability of organic produce in the market.
The startup's user base includes health-conscious consumers, independent organic stores, large format retail stores, and online marketplaces. This diverse user base has helped Nimble Growth Organics expand its reach and influence in the organic food sector.
According to Rahul Saria, "Our customer base didn’t stop eating but ate more when at home" during the COVID-19 pandemic, which further boosted the demand for organic fruits and vegetables[6][8].
Nimble Growth Organics has successfully expanded its market share in the organic food sector. The company primarily serves the Bangalore and Hyderabad markets, with a significant share in the organic food supply.
The startup's market expansion is driven by its unique production methodology, which is "scientific and original, made in consultation with the award-winning organic farmers of India"[6].
Here are some key markets they serve:
These channels help Nimble Growth Organics reach a wide audience and maintain a strong market presence[6][8].
Nimble Growth Organics has implemented several financial inclusion initiatives to support its farmer partners. The startup ensures that farmers receive a fair and stable income by purchasing their produce at predetermined prices.
The startup commits to buying the farmers' produce at a minimum support price (MSP) even before the sowing season. This ensures that the farmers do not face financial losses during the transition period from conventional to organic farming[6][8].
Some farmers have seen significant income increases, with some earning up to Rs 1.5 lakh per month. This financial stability is a key factor in the success of Nimble Growth Organics' model.
Nimble Growth Organics has had a promising financial journey since its inception. Here’s a look at their revenue growth, path to profitability, and investment rounds.
The startup has experienced steady revenue growth. In FY21, Nimble Growth Organics achieved a revenue of more than $1.2 million. The company is aiming for a significant increase in the next 18-24 months, targeting $5 million to $7 million in revenues.
The revenue growth is driven by the increasing demand for organic produce and the startup's efficient production and supply chain management. Data plays a crucial role in predicting annual demand and breaking it down into seasonal, monthly, and weekly harvesting plans[6][8].
Here are some key revenue milestones:
Nimble Growth Organics has achieved an EBITDA break-even with healthy gross margins. This financial health is a result of their well-structured business model and efficient operations.
The startup's focus on contract farming and pre-determined pricing for farmers has helped in maintaining profitability. Additionally, the premium prices fetched by organic produce contribute to their financial stability[6][8].
Rahul Saria notes, "We have already achieved an EBITDA break even with healthy gross margins"[8].
Although Nimble Growth Organics started as a bootstrapped venture, it has begun to raise angel funding from investors. This funding is crucial for their expansion plans and further growth.
The startup has received angel funding from leading startup founders, which will help in scaling their operations. The organic produce market in India, estimated to be around $1 billion in 2020, is growing at 20-25% annually, providing a promising growth trajectory for Nimble Growth Organics[6][8].
Here are some key investment highlights:
Nimble Growth Organics has formed several strategic partnerships to enhance its operations and reach.
While specific details on banking collaborations are not provided, the startup's financial inclusion initiatives suggest strong relationships with financial institutions to support farmer payments and other financial transactions.
Nimble Growth Organics ensures that farmers receive fair and stable incomes through predetermined pricing. This likely involves collaborations with banks or financial institutions to facilitate these transactions smoothly[6][8].
The startup has partnerships with various merchants, including independent organic stores, large format retail stores, and online marketplaces. These partnerships are crucial for the distribution of their organic produce.
Nimble Growth Organics sells its produce to a variety of merchants. Here are some key partners:
These partnerships help in reaching a broad consumer base and ensuring the availability of organic produce in different market segments[6][8].
Nimble Growth Organics leverages various technologies to monitor and manage its operations efficiently. This includes using laptops to monitor farm progress and implementing data science for demand prediction and supply chain management.
The startup uses technology to ensure the traceability of its produce and maintain quality standards. Here are some key technology alliances:
Rahul Saria mentions, "Through our laptops in Bengaluru, we can monitor the progress in the farms"[8].
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