IIT Kanpur-Incubated ScaNxt Raises Funds to Expand Climate-smart Agritech and EV Solutions
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ScaNxt Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd, an IIT Kanpur-incubated deep-tech agritech startup, today announced that it has joined the portfolio of Rainmatter, Zerodha’s investment arm focused on climate and deep technology. The company has raised an undisclosed sum from Rainmatter, along with investments from the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank).
The investment strengthens ScaNxt’s ability to scale its deep-tech platform for soil health, AI-powered pest detection, and climate-resilient farming solutions. The fresh capital will be directed towards accelerating product development, deepening research and development, expanding the company’s network of channel partners, and scaling the deployment of its climate-smart solutions for small and marginal farmers and other stakeholders across India and in international markets.
ScaNxt’s flagship product, Bhu-Parikshak, delivers chemical-free soil testing using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and machine learning. The company’s patented Detect technology and AgroLens platform together provide real-time pest detection and crop advisory. Alongside these, ScaNxt is advancing affordable precision agriculture through indigenous electric mechanisation and smart solar drying solutions. The company has registered close to 90,000 farmers and serves more than 200 B2B customers across over 21 states in India, while continuing to expand its international presence.
“Our association with Rainmatter, SIDBI and Exim Bank is a strong validation of the work we have been doing to build climate-smart, technology-driven solutions for India’s smallholder farmers,” said Rajat Vardhan, Founder and CEO, ScaNxt. “Rainmatter’s patient, long-term approach is particularly well-suited to deep-tech agritech. We look forward to working with Rainmatter, SIDBI and Exim Bank as we scale our impact and make precision agriculture more accessible for farmers and stakeholders.”
“The true measure of indigenous innovation lies in its ability to move beyond technological validation to sustained commercial relevance. ScaNxt’s evolution from research-led innovation to a diversified agritech enterprise with an expanding national and international footprint reflects this transition. Investor validation represents an important step in strengthening the pathways between technology, capital, and markets. We are proud to see ScaNxt advance this journey,” said Dr Ashutosh Agnihotri, CEO, FIRST, IIT Kanpur.
Speaking on the partnership, Abhinav Singh Negi, Lead, Climate and Deeptech, Rainmatter by Zerodha, said, “Soil degradation and unpredictable crop losses from pests are massive, quiet crises for Indian farmers. ScaNxt is tackling this structurally by moving advanced technology directly to the field, delivering instant, chemical-free soil testing, AI-powered real-time pest detection and affordable electric farm mechanization. We partnered with ScaNxt because they aren’t just building software; they are combining hardware, AI, and engineering to solve tough, physical agricultural problems. Rajat and his team have shown incredible grit, taking deep-tech research from IIT Kanpur and scaling it to 90,000 farmers. Their patient, multi-layered approach to soil health and rural decarbonization is exactly the kind of long-term utility we want to back.”
Sailesh Prasad, General Manager, heading the Ubharte Sitaare Programme at Exim Bank said, “ScaNxt’s strong technology foundation, growing international presence, and focus on developing scalable agritech solutions create promising export opportunities for the company. Exim Bank sees a lot of potential to take indigenous, climate-smart technologies to global markets and strengthen India’s agri-tech exports”
As ScaNxt looks to expand its presence across India and international markets, the company will continue to focus on developing accessible, technology-led solutions that address key challenges in agriculture. With a growing portfolio spanning soil health, pest detection, electric mechanisation and post-harvest solutions, ScaNxt aims to support the transition towards more sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices.
