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IIT Kanpur-Incubated ScaNxt Secures Investment from Zerodha’s Rainmatter, SIDBI and Exim Bank to Scale Climate-Smart Agritech and EV Mechanisation

Incubated ScaNxt

IIT Kanpur-Incubated ScaNxt Secures Investment from Zerodha’s Rainmatter, SIDBI and Exim Bank to Scale Climate-Smart Agritech and EV Mechanisation

Kanpur , 7 November 2026

Source: Information and Media Outreach Cell, IIT Kanpur

NOIDA, India, 5 November 2026 — 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."

About ScaNxt
ScaNxt Scientific Technologies is an IIT Kanpur-incubated agritech company developing indigenous hardware and IoT- and AI-powered solutions for soil health, pest monitoring, crop advisory, electric farm mechanisation, and post-harvest processing. For more information, visit www.scanxt.com.

About Rainmatter
Rainmatter, the venture investing arm of Zerodha, provides patient capital to startups in climate, health, fintech, and deep tech.

About SIDBI
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the principal financial institution for the promotion, financing, and development of the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector in India.

About Exim Bank

Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) is the principal financial institution for coordinating the working of institutions engaged in financing exports and imports. It plays a catalytic role in facilitating India’s integration with the global economy by promoting, financing and facilitating India’s international trade and investment.

About FIRST, IIT Kanpur
The Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST) is a Section 8 company promoted by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. It serves as the institutional vehicle for IIT Kanpur’s technology business incubation activities and supports deep-tech startups in translating research into scalable commercial impact across sectors including agriculture, healthcare, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 21 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialised schools. With over 580 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in