What is the primary objective of the Rapid Regen Challenge?

The challenge aims to deploy farmer-centric, low-risk, high-yield regenerative agriculture pathways to regenerate India's soils and improve smallholder farmer net incomes across at least 5,000 hectares and 5,000–10,000 farmers within 24 months.

Who is eligible to apply for this challenge?

Only non-profits, CSOs, and Section 8 companies with valid 12A, 80G, and CSR-1 registrations are eligible to apply as lead applicants. They must also have prior experience working with smallholder farmers in relevant sectors.

Can for-profit companies or agritech startups participate?

For-profit companies, agritech startups, and research institutions cannot apply as lead applicants. However, they are welcome to participate as partners in a consortium led by an eligible non-profit organization.

What kind of financial support is provided?

The program offers a total prize fund of INR 6.5 crore, distributed as milestone-linked grants. This includes a pilot/ground activation grant at kickoff, a deployment grant in Year 2, and an outcome-linked scale-up grant for winners at the grand finale.

What kind of non-financial support can participants expect?

Beyond funding, participants will receive 1-on-1 mentorship, access to capital and philanthropy networks, ecosystem connections to government bodies and tech partners, masterclasses and workshops, and media coverage with storytelling support.

What is the expected scale of impact for successful projects?

Over 24 months, projects are expected to cover 5,000 hectares and benefit 5,000–10,000 farmers, aiming to double soil organic carbon and increase smallholder farmer net incomes by at least 25% without increasing cultivation costs.

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize

By the^delta

ClosedUp to ₹6.5CrNo equity taken

Share on WhatsApp

Make it preferred on Google

Text size

Manus Pro — 1 year through Startup Grants India

Grant providers

Provider

the^delta

India

the^delta is a social incubator based in India that works with early-stage nonprofits and social enterprises focused on building resilient livelihoods for underserved communities. The organization provides incubation support to social ventures that operate outside the…

Learn more

Business Loan

Instant Loan in 48 hours

Business loans up to ₹2 Cr — often without collateral

Instant Loan

Application Process

1
Submit Application
Applicants submit their detailed proposals online by the specified deadline.
You
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

How to apply

Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.

1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
2
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
3
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
4
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.

Get AWS credits — free for select Indian startups via an authorised partner. Check eligibility

Sources

Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.

the^deltaProvider

Webinars

Grants closing soon

PIEDS Womenpreneur for Bharat 4.0

by PIEDS

Up to ₹15L

AIC-SKU Prototype Support Grant 2026

by Atal Incubation Centre - Sri Krishnadevaraya University (AIC-SKU)

Up to ₹3L

TANUH - C-CAMP Innovations Program: AI in NCDs

by Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP)

₹15L – ₹50L

iDEX Open Challenge

by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)

Up to ₹1.5Cr

Subsidies

Patent Assistance

under Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022

by Department of MSME, Government of Madhya Pradesh

Up to ₹5L

Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022: Investment-Linked Assistance

under Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022

by Department of MSME, Government of Madhya Pradesh

Up to ₹15L

Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022: Margin Money & Interest Subsidy Scheme

under Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2022

by Department of MSME, Government of Madhya Pradesh

Up to ₹47L

Punjab Startup Policy: Interest Subsidy Scheme

under Punjab Startup Policy

by Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab

Up to ₹5L

Debt programs

Seed Fund Scheme - Kerala Startup Mission

by Kerala Startup Mission

Up to ₹15L

Bihar Startup Policy 2022 Seed Grant for Validation-Stage Startups

under Bihar Startup Policy 2022

by Department of Industries, Government of Bihar

Up to ₹10L

Scaleup Seed Fund

by Kerala Startup Mission

Up to ₹25L

Soft Loan Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs

by Kerala Startup Mission

Up to ₹15L

Competitions closing soon

NexHack 2.0

by Institute of Information Technology & Management (IITM)

Up to ₹37,000

RevenueCat Shipaton 2026

by RevenueCat

Up to ₹3.8Cr

Young Inventors Prize 2027

by European Patent Office

₹4.8L – ₹19L

MIDC Innovation Grand Challenge 2026

by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC)

Up to ₹2Cr

Equity closing soon

First Bite 2026 by Better Bite Ventures

by Better Bite Ventures

Up to ₹2.5Cr

GENESIS Investment 2.0

by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Up to ₹50L

Assam Startup Funding Support 2026

by Department of Innovation, Incubation and Start-ups, Government of Assam

Up to ₹40L

The Foundery Venture Builder Cohort 02

by The Foundery

Up to ₹4Cr

The Rapid Regen Challenge, a flagship CSR initiative by PepsiCo and expertly designed and executed by the^delta prize (AIC NCORE Developmental Impact Foundation), aims to revolutionize India's agricultural landscape. This challenge is specifically crafted to empower non-profit organizations and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to spearhead the deployment of farmer-centric, low-risk, and high-yield regenerative agriculture practices. The core mission is to significantly regenerate India's soil health while simultaneously boosting the net incomes of smallholder farmers.

The program sets ambitious goals for its participants over a 24-month period. In Year 1, selected organizations will focus on demonstrating the proof of viability, targeting 500 hectares across 500 to 1,000 farmers. Building on this success, Year 2 will scale up to prove scalability across 5,000 hectares and involving 5,000 to 10,000 farmers, organized within 2-5 contiguous blocks per district. The challenge targets key outcomes, including doubling soil organic carbon from a baseline of 0.3% or less, increasing smallholder farmer net incomes by at least 25% without escalating cultivation costs.

Participants are encouraged to propose innovative and context-specific regenerative practices, such as composting, bio-inputs, crop rotation, intercropping, mulching, reduced tillage, agroforestry, biological pest management, and precision nutrient management. The program also supports technology-enabled transition models, including remote sensing, digital advisory, and IoT systems, allowing non-profits to partner with agritech startups or research institutions for in-house tech capabilities. This holistic approach ensures comprehensive support for the selected organizations, fostering a sustainable and prosperous future for Indian agriculture.

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize

Grant providers

Application Process

How to apply

Sources

Webinars

Can Your Startup Win Grants?

Introduction to Grants, Subsidies and Incentives

Grants closing soon

Subsidies

Debt programs

Competitions closing soon

Equity closing soon

Frequently Asked Questions

About this grant

Eligibility

Timelines & Process

Benefits & Funding

Webinars

Can Your Startup Win Grants?

Introduction to Grants, Subsidies and Incentives

Grants closing soon

Subsidies

Debt programs

Competitions closing soon

Equity closing soon

Startup Software Credits

Reclaim.ai

Warp

Semrush

Manus

Bolt

Higgsfield

Notion

Hostinger

Replit

Huawei

Google

Microsoft

Results & next round