Revolutionizing Agriculture: How Agrograde is Transforming Post-Harvest Technology in 2026

INTRODUCTION

In the realm of agriculture, post-harvest technology plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and consistency of produce. Despite its importance, the sector still relies heavily on manual sorting and grading, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies. Agrograde, operating under the name Occipital Technologies, aims to change this narrative by introducing advanced optical sorting platforms tailored to the unique needs of Indian crops.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Founded: 2017 (legal entity Occipital Technologies Private Limited)

Founders: Kshitij Thakur, Rakeshkumar Barai

Headquarters: Pune; manufacturing facility at Chakan

Sector: Post-harvest technology, agricultural robotics

Team Size: 11 to 25 employees

Funding Raised: About ₹1.5 crore ($170,000) across three rounds; latest funding in July 2022; raising a pre-Series A as of July 2026

Key Investors: Social Alpha, Villgro, CIIE.CO, Aligned Partners Venture Services

Products: Vector Series optical sorting platform; WaveMotion onion grading; GradePlus Pro

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS

Agrograde's primary focus is on developing machinery that can precisely sort and grade agricultural produce without damaging it. Unlike global manufacturers, Agrograde's systems are designed to handle the unique physical characteristics of Indian crops. For instance, their WaveMotion system uses a wave motion to grade onions without damaging their delicate outer skin. The Vector Series optical sorting platform analyzes texture, boundaries, and context to detect defects accurately.

The company has invested four years and six product iterations to perfect its grading technology, leveraging eight years of data to train its models. Agrograde aims to create an autonomous packhouse, starting with the grading stage where quality decisions are made.

FUNDING AND GROWTH

Agrograde has raised approximately $170,000 across three funding rounds, with the latest round in July 2022. Its investors, including Social Alpha, Villgro, CIIE.CO, and Aligned Partners Venture Services, are focused on development rather than conventional venture funding. The company is now seeking pre-Series A funding to expand its manufacturing capabilities and develop autonomous packhouse operations, starting with the onion and potato chains where its machines are already operational.

IMPACT AND RECOGNITION

Agrograde's efforts have not gone unnoticed. The company has been recognized among the top agritech startups in Mahindra's Startup Leap in 2023, included in NITI Aayog's compendium of 75 agricultural innovators, and placed as the national runner-up in the MANAGE Samunnati awards in 2022. With 130 machines deployed across 14 states, Agrograde is making significant strides in transforming the agricultural sector.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

To achieve wider adoption of post-harvest automation, Agrograde believes that grading capacity needs to be closer to farm gates, smarter storage intake systems are required, and better financing options must be available for farmer-producer organizations and mid-sized packhouses. The company's vision is to create an efficient, scalable, and sustainable post-harvest system that benefits all stakeholders in the agricultural supply chain.

FAQs

**Q: What is Agrograde's primary focus? A: Agrograde's primary focus is on developing advanced optical sorting platforms to revolutionize post-harvest technology in agriculture.

**Q: How much funding has Agrograde raised? A: Agrograde has raised about $170,000 across three funding rounds.

**Q: What are some of Agrograde's key products? A: Some of Agrograde's key products include the Vector Series optical sorting platform, WaveMotion onion grading system, and GradePlus Pro.

CONCLUSION

Agrograde is at the forefront of transforming post-harvest technology in India's agricultural sector. With its innovative solutions and significant recognition, the company is poised to make a substantial impact on the efficiency and consistency of agricultural produce grading and sorting.

CALL-TO-ACTION

For more information on Agrograde's solutions and to learn how you can benefit from their technology, visit blogy.in.