Ayekart, an integrated supply chain platform that addresses the needs of the food and agri value chain, has appointed Rajesh Jain as its president for partnerships and programs. With over three decades of expertise in developing and implementing large-scale projects across various sectors, he will lead initiatives aimed at driving scale and impact at the start-up. 

Jain will enhance the scope and engagement with both new and existing partners, develop and implement impactful programs to achieve shared goals and establish effective communication channels to nurture productive and mutually beneficial relationships. Additionally, he will oversee all activities aimed at strengthening these connections in alignment with Ayekart's overarching objectives and strategic goals to lead to a more inclusive digital empowerment journey for the rural community within the start-up’s purview. 

Debarshi Dutta, co-founder and CEO of Ayekart said, "Jain’s understanding of technology's transformative potential and his unwavering commitment to social impact align seamlessly with Ayekart's vision of empowering businesses and enriching communities."

Rajesh has over 30 years of diverse professional experience spanning not-for-profits, consulting firms, corporate foundations, institutes, and government roles. During his career, he spent 15 years in government, gaining profound insights into social issues at both macro and micro levels in urban and rural communities. 

His expertise in leveraging artificial intelligence for social good offers a global perspective on technology's potential for creating rapid, large-scale impacts and promoting development, further enhanced by his holistic 360-degree view of development models during his tenure at Swades Foundation. He also led the FPO movement in Rajasthan at ACCESS Development Services and was the state coordinator for SFAC.

Expressing his commitment to his new position, Jain said, “Ayekart's commitment to innovation and positive social impact aligns with my passion for harnessing technology to create meaningful change. I look forward to contributing to Ayekart's journey in revolutionizing the food and agriculture value chain."

Ayekart addresses the needs of the food and agri value chain, enabling traditional businesses technologically and financially while retaining and enhancing trust in their ecosystem by delivering efficiency and convenience. The platform aligns with the government's objectives to bring the desired change in the MSME and Retail segment by empowering traditional businesses and helping bring transparency and credibility to the entire ecosystem.

Ayekart reported a Gross Trade Value (GTV) of Rs 657 crores in its financial year 2022-23 annual general meeting, which was a 5X growth compared to the previous year. Starting in 2022, the company said it has processed over 70,000 transactions and has over 16,000 MSME partners registered on its platform. It has traded 135k metric tons of goods and impacted 75,000 farmers so far. 

In May, the Caspian Debt and Siply-backed agritech picked up a minority stake in Nature's Fresh Express, a supplier of fruits and vegetables. This was to strengthen its own product portfolio and expand its retail offerings while supporting the supplier's growth.