KBCols Sciences, GreenPod, and Cropin to pilot scalable sourcing tech for Walmart’s U.S. market in 2025; Latest pilots announced coming out of the successful Walmart Growth Summit in India.
BENGALURU, India and BENTONVILLE, Ark., – Jan. 20, 2025 —Walmart, the world’s largest omnichannel retailer, today announced strategic pilots with India-based startups to provide solutions for the company’s U.S. supply chain and sourcing operations.
The three startups selected for pilot programs include Pune-based KBCols Sciences, Chennai-based GreenPod Labs, and Bengaluru-based Cropin. These companies participated in the Walmart Growth Summit last year.
Solutions from each will help drive innovation at scale across Walmart’s supply chains. The pilot programs will test solutions that augment the availability of better and more fresh products for Walmart’s consumers in the U.S. and around the world, reduce product waste, and create sustainable alternatives for intermediate products used in manufacturing processes such as synthetic textile dyes to reduce environmental impact.
Here are innovative solutions piloted by each startup:
- [Textile dyes made from agricultural waste] KBCols Sciences, based in Pune, India, manufactures non-GMO natural dyes by fermenting microbes from agricultural waste across India. These natural dyes can be used for various textiles, promoting more efficient manufacturing by reducing water and energy usage in the dying process. As a more sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes, this innovation paves the way for more regenerative methods in mass-produced clothing. The pilot will evaluate KBCol’s dyes and their properties, testing them on woven materials and jersey cotton.
- [Extending freshness for natural produce] GreenPod Labs, a Chennai-based company, produces small sachets filled with plant extracts that activate the natural defense mechanisms of fruits and vegetables, slowing down ripening and mimicking the state when it is still on the vine. This extends travel times in the supply chain, enabling produce to stay fresh longer. This innovation has the potential to unlock new sourcing geographies for Walmart, enable cost-effective shipping, and improve quality & freshness for customers. In collaboration with UC Davis, Walmart will pilot GreenPod sachets to evaluate their effectiveness.
- [AI-driven crop yield insight platform] Cropin, based in Bengaluru, India, offers an AI-driven AgTech platform that provides valuable insights into crop yields, enhancing productivity, optimizing resource use, and ensuring consistent harvest quality. The pilot will test this technology on the produce supply chains to gain a deeper understanding of yield estimations, crop health, and seasonal transition timing. Improved data accuracy can help Walmart source perishable commodities more effectively, potentially improving quality and availability for customers while reducing waste. This pilot launches in collaboration with Walmart Global Tech’s Sparkubate program , empowering start-up innovators to scale their ideas and tackle the most pressing challenges in retail.
“Tech innovation is what drives real-world solutions to move forward a globally resilient supply chain. By collaborating with global innovators, we’re leveraging fresh ideas to build a more resilient supply network.” said Kyle Carlyle, Vice President, Sourcing Innovation & Surety of Supply, Walmart. “As a people-led, tech-powered company, we are always looking for new ways to innovate. These three brands demonstrate our innovation goals across both the food and textile industry.”
The Walmart Growth Summit in India is part of a global series designed to connect entrepreneurs, suppliers, and innovators with Walmart’s extensive supply chain network. Held in countries like India, Mexico, and Chile, these summits provide a platform for participants to present technologies and solutions that align with Walmart’s focus on sustainability, efficiency, and innovation. Through one-on-one pitch sessions and educational discussions, entrepreneurs can showcase their products and explore opportunities to scale within Walmart’s global supply chain.
“The collaboration between KBCols Sciences and Walmart marks a pivotal step towards transforming the textile industry with more sustainable dyeing solutions,” says Dr. Vaishali Kulkarni, CEO, KBCols Sciences. “This project reflects our shared commitment to addressing environmental challenges while delivering high-quality, more responsibly-produced products, supporting a future where fashion and sustainability coexist harmoniously.”
Deepak Rajmohan, CEO, GreenPod Labs shares, “Engaging with Walmart during the Walmart Growth Summit India and progressing towards a product pilot has been a great experience for our team. Working with a global player like Walmart revalidates the importance of our work in reducing fruits and vegetables post-harvest losses/ quality degradation. It’s been a great learning experience to interact with the sourcing and innovation team to understand the current challenges.”
“At Cropin, we leverage next-generation technologies, from climate models to AI-driven solutions, to tackle these challenges head-on,” says Krishna Kumar, CEO of Cropin. “By working with Walmart, a leader in tech-driven transformation, we aim to build resilient and sustainable food systems. Together, we are committed to redefining sourcing strategies amidst evolving climate scenarios, ensuring a more reliable and secure future for the agri-food industry.”
These latest pilot programs build upon a portfolio of innovation work including collaborations with Agritask, unspun, and Rubi Laboratories. Sourcing innovation pilots are designed to help Walmart make more informed sourcing decisions, enhance resource efficiency, and drive measurable progress toward a more resilient global supply chain.
