Agri Startup Surge, a high-impact Hackathon and Pitch Fest organised by Yi Madurai in association with NABARD MABIF, was held at the MABIF, Agricultural College & Research Institute, Madurai, on 23rd and 26th January 2026. The initiative was designed to take rural agri innovations from Madurai to the NSE Mainstage in Mumbai, while also offering exposure at IMMA’s 6th National Crop Nutrition Summit, along with expert mentorship, training, and masterclasses.
The event witnessed an inspiring response, with 15 agritech startups screened for the Pitch Fest, including 10 startup teams and 5 student innovation ideas. The innovations presented focused on strengthening rural agriculture and agribusiness ecosystems.
Among the participating startups, Sea Eden, Zulsi Foods, and Simplify Agri emerged as the top performers, highlighting the strong potential of homegrown agritech innovations to scale beyond regional boundaries and reach the national stage.
