Ruchit Garg, a former Microsoft employee, made the decision to leave his lucrative job earning Rs 1 crore per year to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations. Feeling dissatisfied and disconnected after six years at Microsoft, Garg departed from the tech giant in 2011, citing boredom as a significant factor.
Having harboured a desire for entrepreneurship since 2004, Garg observed the startup surge in the US in 2011 and decided to re-enter the entrepreneurial realm. Coming from a family with a farming background, Garg aimed to create a meaningful impact in the agricultural sector. His startup, Harvesting, is focused on aiding small-scale farmers in India by providing them with necessary resources and facilitating the sale of their produce through online and offline channels.
Describing Harvesting as a platform to boost the income of small-scale farmers, Garg envisions it as a modern-day equivalent of Amul, offering comprehensive support for farmers in crop cultivation and sales.
Initially based in Hyderabad for three years, Garg later moved to Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond. Despite the substantial income he earned, his passion for entrepreneurship and commitment to agricultural development prompted him to resign. Inspired by his grandfather's farming roots in Uttar Pradesh, Garg founded Harvesting, which claims to have positively impacted over 37 lakh farmers in India.
Garg's journey from a corporate professional to an agricultural entrepreneur illustrates resilience and determination, shaped by early struggles and financial limitations. His entrepreneurial drive was nurtured during his time at the Indian Railways library in Lucknow, where he immersed himself in reading Harvard Business Review case studies.
Garg's achievements include an invitation to speak at Harvard University in 2018 on financial inclusion for small-scale farmers, a milestone he views as deeply rewarding and emblematic of his journey from financial constraints to entrepreneurial success.
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