I am starting up with a venture called Transfarm India where the aim is to lease conventional (read chemical) farms into organic, natural farms.
The actual transformation of the farm will be done by a successful organic farmer who wants to scale up. So, with 60:40 financial investment by Transfarm India and Successful farmer (hereafter called Transfarmer), the Tranfarmer has to replicate his farm model in the leased farm with 50:50 share in profits. Leasing will be done across different geographies to spread the climatic risk. The value addition by Tranfarm India will be as follows:
1. Curating and hand-picking the organic farmer who is both entrepreneurial and doesn’t compromise on organic farming practices. Due diligence will be done to select the farmer who would be a right fit for the company based on on 3 factors viz. how strong is the organic/natural farming foundation, how commercially profitable it is and “X” factor which is the connect, trust with the farmer, etc
2. Restoring the soil health and ecological balance of the leased farm
3. Demonstrating a commercially viable organic farm to the farmer whose farm is leased. After the lease period, he may continue with the organic farm model. Moreover, if the conventional farmer whose farm is leased is in debt, he can start repaying with the lease rent.
4. Eventually, providing market linkages to the farmers by branding and marketing the farm produce in the urban areas.
Following are my questions:
1. How to get a mentor for the above idea who can give time in fine-tuning the business plan?
2. How to get seed funding?
3. Do VCs ask for business plan or should the pitch deck suffice?
Thanks,
Binal Joshi
binal@transfarmindia.in
Mobile:9821526878
Twitter handle: @beingbinal