The Student Accelerator's next call for applications has opened.
The fourth season of the accelerator for students, college students, graduate students, and university researchers has begun. Startups offering innovative solutions in agritech, fintech, and game development can submit applications until February 20 on the program's website.
The Russian Agricultural Bank's Student Accelerator aims to identify agritech, fintech, and game development projects for the "Svoe" ecosystem and the country's agro-industrial complex.
"Participation in the accelerator is an opportunity for young talented people beginning their professional careers in the agricultural sector to present their ideas for improving the industry, refine and add value to innovative solutions, learn to see the practical application of developments capable of driving the digital transformation of agriculture, and find support for their business ventures from investors. "We see that previous years' winning projects are successfully implemented not only within the bank's framework, but have also developed independent product strategies, are competitive in the market, and are scaling and developing, strengthening the country's technological sovereignty," noted Elena Baturova, Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board of Rosselkhozbank.
Accelerator participants will have the opportunity to gain expertise from market leaders, test their solutions within the bank's ecosystem, become a resident of the Rosselkhozbank Venture Studio, and attract investment. Finalists will present their projects at a demo day to the bank's business clients, representatives of Russia's largest agricultural holdings, and the investment community. The program is offered online and is free for all participants.
Experts will select 12 of the best projects from the applications submitted to the accelerator. These projects will receive access to a unique course on running an innovative business in the agricultural sector and, under the guidance of experienced mentors, will refine their innovative solutions into an effective, commercially attractive product. Not only established teams are eligible to participate in the accelerator. Applicants without their own projects are given the opportunity to join teams of other participants.
Previous seasons of the accelerator attracted over 900 applications. During the program, all participants were able to refine their solutions and discuss the possibility of a pilot project with the bank and partner agricultural holdings, as well as present their projects to interested investors.