“I always wanted to do something on my own, and I got the push after taking up the Entrepreneurial Mindset course with Professor Suresh Bhagavatula in Term IV of my PGP programme at IIMB”.
Bharat Khanna, Co-Founder, ErbGro and PGP Class of 2018.
Bharat Khanna at ErbGro’s first exhibition in a residential society on Bangalore’s Kanakpura Road
Bharat Khanna, who graduated from IIM Bangalore’s Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) in 2018, has co-founded ErbGro, the ‘Zero Maintenance Garden’, as a Student Run Venture (SRV) of NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL), IIMB’s innovation and entrepreneurship hub. As part of the venture, Khanna has developed a unique plant capsule after thorough testing. His team is in the process to develop a suite of ‘zero maintenance products’ for every gardening need. The core to the design philosophy is simplicity and functionality, coupled with affordability. His NSRCEL-associated start-up aims to help people in pursuing gardening and promoting farm-to-fork, the zero-maintenance way.
ErbGro’s prototype
According to Khanna, their product range includes high quality seeds and engineered soil, free of pesticide and harmful chemicals, which would be zero-hassle and dirt-free (60-second setup), suited for indoors, balconies and offices, all designed and made in India for the Indian climate. “The plant capsule fits into any mug and covers an area less than that of a human palm. It’s a brand-new concept in India.”
ErbGro’s Zero Maintenance Desktop and Indoor garden
Describing the inspiration to launch this venture, Khanna says: “It was in October 2016, when I saw my father struggling to manage the small garden he had in our home. I tried to sort things out for him and it was then that I realized that pursuing gardening was not only a time-consuming hobby but an expensive one too. I decided to work on the concept of a ‘Zero Maintenance Garden’ with my father, and later with my friend, who subsequently joined me to become the co-founder. My choice of start-up was based on my belief that the company I form should be solving a real problem and ErbGro does just that.”
About his decision to become an entrepreneur, he says, “I always wanted to do something of my own, but I got the push after taking up the Entrepreneurial Mindset course with Professor Suresh Bhagavatula (Chairperson, NSRCEL) in Term IV of my PGP programme at IIMB”.
He goes on to say that the support he received from NSRCEL for ErbGro was immense. “I prototyped the product as part of the coursework and was motivated by my peers to take it to next level. I launched the product for sale in December 2017 and have been profitable from Day 1. After I registered my venture as an Student Run Venture at NSRCEL, I was invited for presentations to potential investors and mentors.”
What next for ErbGro?
“Our customers have asked us for more variety in indoor plat types and also outdoor products. We are the process of testing out the ‘Zero Maintenance’ outdoor garden solution and expecting the launch in May 2018. We see ourselves as the leading company in urban gardening and home farm solutions in the coming year.”
ErbGro Cardboard Planter
Hi This is interesting. I am interested in your concept. Would like to get in touch with you.