MUMBAI, 10 June 2024: The ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai, in collaboration with the Bhoomiputra Foundation and supported by IP&TM, ICAR, organized the ABI Cohort - One on May 30-31, 2024.

Dr. S.P. Shukla, Principal Scientist and ABI-ITMU In-charge, welcomed all the guests and participants, providing an overview of the two-day cohort theme.

Santanu Bhadkamkar, Managing Director of ATC Group, followed with his remarks. Dr. N.P. Sahu, Joint Director of ICAR-CIFE, also delivered a lecture. Dr. Ravishankar C.N., Director and Vice-Chancellor of ICAR-CIFE, gave the final remarks.

Padma Bhushan Shri Ram Naik, a veteran Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party and former 19th Governor of Uttar Pradesh, shared his insights on Cohort-One. The vote of thanks was given by Vikas Motiram Koli, Founder of the Bhoomiputra Foundation.

Session I of Day One, titled "Startup Spark," was initiated with coordination by Dr. Paramita B. Sawant and moderated by Vikas Motiram Koli. The session included several insightful talks:

1. Manoj T.P., GM, OFDD, NABARD, Mumbai: He discussed "NABARD's Initiatives for Promoting Start-ups and Entrepreneurship," highlighting various programs and support mechanisms available for emerging businesses.
2. Atul Sathe, MPEDA, Regional Office, Mumbai: His talk focused on "Seafood Export Potential and Opportunities for Startups and Aquapreneurs," providing valuable insights into the export market and opportunities within the seafood industry.
3. Ganesh Nakhawa, CEO & Founder of Blucatch: As an industry expert, he shared his views and experiences, offering practical advice and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in the seafood sector.

In the Session II^nd of the ABI Cohort - One at ICAR-CIFE, registered incubatee startups introduced themselves and presented their ventures. The following startups participated in this session:

1. Amey Naik (Longshore Technologies LLP)
2. S. Jena (Gambero Foods)
3. Apurva Salvi (Matsya Ruchi)
4. Akshay Jadhav (Raft Tech Pvt. Ltd.)
5. Bhushan Koli (Fish for Fish)
6. Amit Patil (Aquadore Ventures Private Limited)

All the participants actively engaged in the discussions and enjoyed the activities of the first day of the cohort.

The second day of the cohort began with an insightful session showcasing the institute's extensive facilities available for startups, incubatees, and farmers. The event commenced with an address by Mr. Tejomai Ghadge, the District Resource Person (DPR) under the PMFME Scheme from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI), Agriculture Department. Mr. Ghadge highlighted various government schemes designed to provide financial support for the upliftment of entrepreneurs and startups, detailing funding opportunities and resources to help new businesses thrive.

This was followed by a session on communication and networking skills for aquapreneurs and startups, presented by Dr. Amol Bhalerao, a Scientist at ICAR-IVRI, Pune. Dr. Bhalerao provided valuable insights into effective communication strategies and networking techniques essential for building successful business relationships in the aquaculture industry.

The second session focused on funding opportunities and was coordinated by Dr. Layana P. and moderated by Mr. Vikas Motiram Koli. The panel discussion included Ms. Prakruti Mukul from 100X.VC, who spoke about funding opportunities for budding entrepreneurs and startups in the fisheries sector. Mr. Abhishek Katre, a Chartered Accountant, highlighted the importance of intellectual property rights for emerging startups, emphasizing how IP protection can drive innovation and business growth.

After lunch, a group discussion was carried out, coordinated by Dr. Shivaji Argade. The discussion covered various key areas:

1. Fish Processing and Value Addition: Led by Dr. Layana P.
2. Aquaculture & Quality Seed Production: Led by Dr. Paramita B. Sawant.
3. Aqua Feed: Led by Dr. Manish Jain.
4. Seaweed: Led by Dr. Madhuri P.
5. Spirulina: Led by Dr. S.P. Shukla.

These sessions provided in-depth knowledge and collaborative opportunities for participants to explore innovative solutions and advancements in their respective fields.

Padma Bhushan Shri Ram Naik ji, a veteran Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party and former 19th Governor of Uttar Pradesh, actively participated in Cohort-One, attending the two-day program with great enthusiasm.

Overall, the second day was rich with practical knowledge and resources aimed at empowering startups and entrepreneurs with the tools they need for success, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.