Agritech startup Bharat Intelligence has raised INR 7 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by Sahyadri Farms.
The platform, which addresses the farm labour shortage, also shared that over 22,500 farmers have become shareholders through Sahyadri Farms.
The startup will use the funds to improve its product and expand operations across Western Maharashtra’s horticulture regions, helping grape, banana, tomato, and pomegranate farmers integrate technology into their value chains.
Under this partnership, farmers will hold equity in Bharat Intelligence but also have a direct voice in its leadership. “Our board includes their representative, Chairman Vilas Shinde, who will safeguard farmer interests at every level,” said Azhaan Merchant, cofounder and CEO of Bharat Intelligence
“This ensures that profits, governance, and key decisions flow back into the very communities we serve. Beyond financial participation, the deeper benefit is voice and ownership—farmers are not just users of our technology, they are co-creators shaping its future,” he told Outlook Business.
Bharat Intelligence, founded in 2024 by Azhaan Merchant and Gourav Sanghai, addresses the farm labour shortage using advanced AI to organize rural labour markets.
The platform helps farmers get skilled workers on time and provides workers with steady, respectful jobs. It can predict labour needs and connects farmers with crews through easy-to-use local language interfaces.
By integrating technology into rural workflows and considering trust, seasonal patterns, and community networks Bharat Intelligence makes its AI solutions practical and relevant for farmers.
This approach ensures that the AI accurately reflects the real dynamics of India’s agricultural economy.
Bharat Intelligence aims to address pressing issues in farming while also fostering long-term improvements for the agricultural sector.
The company focuses on a “context layer” for AI, making sure artificial intelligence stays connected to the real-life experiences of India’s billion users.
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