Applications Invited for Land Accelerator India

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About the Organization

WRI India, an independent charity legally registered as the India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data and expertise to catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our work focuses on improving people’s lives, protecting and restoring nature, and addressing climate change. To enable progress at the pace and scale needed, we also engage with the economic, finance and governance systems that are key to enabling this change.

About the Fellowship

The Land Accelerator India (LA India) is a catalytic initiative to strengthen India’s restoration economy. The program identifies and supports early traction stage entrepreneurs—or ‘Restoration Champions’—who are pioneering innovative landscape restoration solutions across the three central Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Focus Areas

LA India works at the intersection of restoration, business, and innovation. The program focuses on enterprises driving impact through:

• Sustainable agriculture and smart agri-tech systems
• Circular economy and waste-to-value solutions
• Organic land management and soil restoration
• Non-timber forest produce (NTFP) value chains (forest-based livelihoods)

What the Program Offers?

As a structured 14-month accelerator program, LA India will nurture ten high-potential Restoration Champions, providing them with future-ready skills, to scale their restoration solutions and thrive in the sustainable restoration economy. Targeted support will be provided, particularly to women, underrepresented minorities, and rural innovators.

Incentives for all selected cohort members:

• Core capacity building training (through virtual and in-person sessions) based on the Land Accelerator curriculum and tailored to the cohort needs
• Dedicated facilitation for women entrepreneurs/leaders and rural innovators
• Peer learning and networking opportunities with fellow Restoration Champions
• Travel and accommodation support for in-person sessions
• Certificate of completion subject to successful participation
• Media and communication support to amplify visibility for their business
• No registration or participation fee
• No equity stake expected in exchange for support

Top five cohort members will further receive:

• Advanced capacity building (through virtual and in-person sessions)
• Dual mentorship by industry/government + internal experts from WRI India and program partners
• Tailored support for pitch development and investor engagement
• Investor pitching opportunities at the LA India Demo Day
• An innovation prize of approximately INR 17 lakhs (~USD 20,000) each

Who Can Apply?

LA India welcomes applications from for-profit enterprises that:

• Are working to restore farm or forest landscapes through market-driven approaches focused on the following areas: sustainable agriculture, smart agri-tech systems, circular economy solutions, organic land amendment and management, and non-timber forest produce (NTFP) value chain development.
• Have significant operations in at least one of these states - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Are at the early traction stage (launched products/services and focused on scaling in terms of customer base, revenue, product offerings, geographical expansion, etc.)
• Are raising or planning to raise capital for growth.
• Can commit sufficient time for active program participation
• Are registered in India as a for-profit entity (including DPIIT-recognized startups, MSMEs, or other registered companies/enterprises)

How to Apply

Apply by December 7 2025

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Environment and Sustainability Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Others