Delhi-based solar irrigation services company Oorja Development Solutions closed its Pre-Series A funding round, raising $1.5 million from six investors.

The company plans to use the funding to deploy agri-energy infrastructure for irrigation and milling and deepen operations in the existing and new states. It also plans to launch a B2B2C vertical to deliver solar irrigation solutions to agribusinesses and SMEs who engage with smallholder farmers for procurement.

The $300,000 grant from the Swiss Re Foundation will be used to deliver climate-smart farmer advisory services to help farmers diversify to high-value crops, reduce dependence on chemical inputs, and increase crop yields.

The company received $1.2 million in equity finance from five Acumen, elea (a family trust advised by Artha Impact), Echoing Green Signal Fund, Partners Group via its employee-run impact investment association PG Impact, and 1to4 Foundation, and $300,000 in non-dilutive funding from the Swiss Re Foundation. These investors would join Oorja’s existing investor, Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia.

Oorja co-founders Amit Saraogi and Clementine Chambon said, “We are delighted to welcome on board reputed impact investors and funders who are aligned with our mission to decarbonize agriculture while putting the needs of smallholders first. Their support comes at a crucial time as we get ready to scale up from the regional to the national level, putting us on a path to profitability.”

Paraag Sabhlok, Associate Director, India Portfolio, Acumen, said, “We are optimistic about Oorja’s pioneering Pay-Per-Use approach to make solar technologies accessible and affordable for such farmers. We believe that Oorja’s solar-based agri solutions have the potential to drive higher farm output and better livelihood opportunities. At scale, the asset-sharing model will be critical in facilitating a just energy transition by reducing the use of diesel generators.”

Oorja was recognized as the Best Off-grid Project for its innovative Pay-Per-Use Irrigation services for smallholder farmers at the Mercom India Renewables Summit 2023.

In 2021, Oorja secured $1 million in seed funding from Schneider.