A Story of Grit, Ground, and a Dream Sown in Bihar
May 15, 2020. During the lockdown, while the world paused, Abhinav Das lit a spark in Patna, Bihar. He registered Patnakart—a small MSME born from crisis, built to uplift Bihar’s farmers and heritage.
May 15, 2020. The world was in lockdown. Streets were silent, businesses shuttered, and livelihoods across India stood still. But in Patna, Bihar, a quiet fire was lit. Abhinav Das, a young entrepreneur with deep roots in rural Bihar, decided to turn the crisis into a calling. That day, amid the chaos of the first COVID-19 wave, he registered a modest MSME—Patnakart.
Watching helplessly as farmers dumped produce, artisans packed away their crafts, and local products vanished from the markets, Abhinav had one mission: to revive Bihar’s soul—its farms, its art, its heritage. And even though the newly born Patnakart existed only on paper at first due to lockdown restrictions, the vision was already alive.
Then came the second wave. Urban India turned digital. People began looking online for authenticity, for trust, for something real—and they found Patnakart. Even with its minimal setup, the platform crossed 10,000 users, proving that the idea had wings.
But Abhinav knew the soil needed more hands.Watching helplessly as farmers dumped produce, artisans packed away their crafts, and local products vanished from the markets, Abhinav had one mission: to revive Bihar’s soul—its farms, its art, its heritage. And even though the newly born Patnakart existed only on paper at first due to lockdown restrictions, the vision was already alive.
Then came the second wave. Urban India turned digital. People began looking online for authenticity, for trust, for something real—and they found Patnakart. Even with its minimal setup, the platform crossed 10,000 users, proving that the idea had wings.But Abhinav knew the soil needed more hands.In July 2020, Dilip Kumar, a CRPF personnel and a close family friend, joined the mission. Together, they expanded operations to nearby districts, launching “BhagalpurKart,” “GayaKart,” “MuzaffarpurKart”—a decentralized approach to connect farmers and local sellers to district-level buyers. It was ambitious, heartfelt, and impactful.
But reality struck. The lack of rural logistics, last-mile delivery challenges, and erratic supply systems made wide expansion tough. The duo made a bold call—to consolidate and focus their energies into one unified platform: Patnakart.On January 18, 2021, they officially registered Patnakart Agro Farms Private Limited. The name was now more than a brand—it was a responsibility.
Backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision, the team applied to SABOUR AGRI INCUBATORS (SABAGRIS) and was selected for the prestigious Agripreneurship Orientation Program (AOP) 2020–21. The training, guidance, and community of agri-innovators sharpened their model. Soon after, they were granted support under the Startup Agribusiness Incubation Programme (SAIP-V)—a critical boost that funded key initiatives like the “Kisan Connect Card”.Through this, Patnakart empowered farmers with direct market access, eliminating exploitative middlemen. Inspired by the global “Save Soil” movement, they also launched a Soil Health Card campaign, helping farmers understand and care for their land scientifically—nurturing both crops and consciousness.Meanwhile, the platform blossomed with GI-tagged gems—Bhagalpuri silk, Madhubani and Manjusha paintings, Bawan Buti sarees, Sikki and Sujani craft*—all offered through a curated, culturally proud, Bihar-first digital store.Their motto rang true:
