MANAGE Centre for Innovation and Agripreneurship (MANAGE-CIA)

MANAGE-CIA Saturday Webinar Series on Agri-Startups Ecosystem

Learning is MORE effective when it is ACTIVE rather than a passive process

-Kurt Lewin

The MANAGE-CIA Saturday Webinar Series, launched in October 2020 by MANAGE – Hyderabad is an innovative digital initiative designed to strengthen agricultural entrepreneurship education. Developed in response to the shift towards online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the series focuses on key areas of the agri-startup ecosystem, including growth strategies, digital marketing, sustainability, and funding opportunities.
It aims to raise awareness of new developments, inspire aspiring agri-entrepreneurs through success stories and expert insights, facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, and provide practical tools and strategies for overcoming entrepreneurial challenges. By ensuring access to valuable content regardless of location, the series also promotes sustainable agricultural practices and serves as a dynamic platform for knowledge sharing and innovation in the sector.

Key Principles of the Saturday Webinar Series

Accessibility for All: Reach customers through mobile phones using different strategies.
Relevance and Timeliness: Focus on topics that are current and relevant, addressing emerging trends, pressing challenges, and new opportunities within the agri-startup ecosystem.
Expert Engagement: Involve knowledgeable and experienced speakers who can provide valuable insights, share real-world experiences, and offer practical advice.
Flexibility and Responsiveness: Maintain flexibility and responsiveness to the evolving needs and feedback of the agri-startup community, continually adapting content and delivery approaches as required.
Commitment to Continuous Learning: Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement among both organizers and participants, ensuring they remain updated and competitive in the fast-evolving field of agricultural entrepreneurship.

Objectives of the Saturday Webinar Series

To enhance awareness of the latest developments, opportunities, and challenges within the agri-startup ecosystem.
To ignite passion and provide inspiration to aspiring agri-entrepreneurs through success stories and expert insights.
To establish a comprehensive digital knowledge repository that offers participants cutting-edge insights, practical skills, and innovative approaches in the agri-startup ecosystem.
To create a dynamic platform that facilitates connections and collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
To equip participants with practical strategies, tools, and resources necessary for overcoming the challenges of agricultural entrepreneurship.
To showcase successful case studies and best practices within the agri-startup ecosystem, serving as models for others to follow.
To ensure access to valuable content and expert insights, regardless of participants’ geographical locations.
To promote sustainable agricultural practices and innovations that contribute to environmental and social well-being.

Eligible Participants

Agri-Startups
Idea stage/Pre-Idea Stage Entrepreneurs
Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Student, Youth or Individuals passionate about Agripreneurship
Professionals in Agri-Startup Ecosystem
Agricultural Extension Professionals
Anyone with a keen interest in the agri-startup ecosystem

Benefits of the Saturday Webinar Series for the participants

Access to Expert Knowledge: Participants gain direct insights from experienced entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors, helping them understand real-world challenges and solutions in the agri-startup ecosystem.
Updated Awareness: Regular sessions keep participants informed about the latest trends, emerging opportunities, and policy developments in agriculture and entrepreneurship.
Skill Development: Practical strategies, tools, and techniques shared during webinars help participants build essential entrepreneurial skills like digital marketing, fundraising, business development, and sustainability practices.
Networking Opportunities: The platform enables aspiring entrepreneurs to connect with a broad network of startups, investors, researchers, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers, fostering collaboration and partnerships.
Inspiration and Motivation: Success stories and journeys of established agripreneurs shared during the webinars inspire participants to pursue and sustain their entrepreneurial ambitions.
Flexible Learning: Being an accessible, location-independent, and adaptive digital initiative, participants can conveniently enhance their knowledge and skills without geographical or time barriers.

Milestone achieved so far
Since its launch in October 2020, MANAGE-CIA has successfully conducted 240 webinars (as on May 10, 2025) under the Saturday Webinar Series.
Between October 2020 and November 2024, MANAGE-CIA organized a total of 214 webinars, each featuring esteemed resource persons from various domains within the agri-startup ecosystem. These webinars covered a wide range of essential topics for agri-startups, including innovative farming techniques, sustainable agricultural practices, agri-tech solutions, market access strategies, and funding opportunities for agricultural entrepreneurs.
To celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Saturday Webinar Series, MANAGE-CIA dedicated 22 webinars, held between November 2024 and April 2025, exclusively to Women Startup Founders & Mentors in the Agri-Startup ecosystem, highlighting their contributions, experiences, and leadership.
Currently, as part of the series, MANAGE-CIA is conducting a special set of webinars on “Government Schemes of India to Support Agri-Startups.” These sessions focus on introducing and explaining various government initiatives aimed at supporting the establishment, growth, and development of agri-startups across the country.

Timing of Webinar: The webinars are conducted every Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM IST.

Application Link: https://www.manage.gov.in/trgModule/emailRegn-webi.asp

Download our Good Practice Bulletin, Click here: Saravanan, R. and Raahalya, S. 2024. Agri- Startup Ecosystem Webinars for Multi-Stakeholders. MANAGE Good Practice Bulletin, Extension NEXT, Bulletin No 4, 2024, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad, India. https://www.manage.gov.in/publications/extnnext/MANAGE%20-%20Extension%20NEXT%202024.pdf

Download our Good Practice Note, Click : https://www.manage.gov.in/publications/extnnext/MANAGE%20Good%20Priactice%20Note%20-%20brief.pdf

Access our published Article, Click here: Raj, Saravanan., &Raahalya, S. (2025). Agri startup ecosystem webinars: factors influencing learning outcome of the participants. Interactive Learning Environments, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2025.2454446

Watch our earlier webinars anytime – just click here: https://www.manage.gov.in/managecia/Webinars.aspx