Fodder ecosystem builder Cornext raises $2.2M in funding from Omnivore

Cornext, a Hyderad-based startup building a fodder ecosystem to support dairy cattle farmers, has raised $2.2 million in a seed funding round from Omnivore. 

The startup aims to solve the fodder deficit through its patented silage baling technology. Silage is a preservation technique where nutrient-rich green fodder is cut fresh, chaffed, and tightly packed, allowing it to be used year-round without spoilage.

Patented technology brings affordable nutrition to dairy farmers

Silage has struggled to take hold in India due to the high costs of infrastructure, which is ill-suited for smallholder dairy farmers. Cornext's baling technology makes compact 50-kg silage bales, which are sold to dairy farmers through a network of village-level fodder entrepreneurs.

Madhav Kshatriya, Co-founder of Cornext, highlighted the company's strategic goals: “Cornext aims to be the go-to company for all things silage. With this round of funding, we aim to ramp up the yearly silage production to 1 million MT by 2026 and invest in R&D in baling technology. Our institutional clientele to date includes AMUL, SUMUL, BANAS, MILMA, KMF, and many other large dairies and cooperatives."

Scaling up and exporting innovative technology

Founded in 2015 by Madhav Kshatriya and Feroz Ahmed, who have over three decades of combined experience in dairy cattle management and logistics. 

Cornext claims to have launched over 400 fodder entrepreneurs across India and has begun exporting its silage baling machines across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 

In 2020, the startup received the National Best Startup Award in Agriculture-Allied Sectors from the Government of India.

Aiming to transform the fodder ecosystem

Cornext plans to ramp up its yearly silage production to 1 million metric tons by 2026 and invest in R&D in baling technology. The startup has already made significant strides by launching over 400 fodder entrepreneurs across India and exporting its silage baling machines globally.

Cornext’s technology makes compact 50-kg silage bales, which are sold to dairy farmers through a network of village-level entrepreneurs. As the company continues to innovate and expand, it aims to make a significant positive impact on smallholder incomes and cattle health across India and beyond.