Pune Slum Kid Making Farming Tech for 72 Lakh Farmers

Vishnu Dhas was 12 when he made himself a promise while living in a Pune slum with 10 relatives crammed into one room. He would find a way out of poverty, no matter what it took.

Today, the agricultural technology entrepreneur has co-founded three platforms that have served over 7.2 million Indian farmers. His latest venture, TractorNext, launched in October 2024 to solve a problem he witnessed firsthand: farmers buying expensive machinery that doesn't fit their needs.

Dhas grew up in drought-stricken Solapur district, where his parents worked as farm laborers. After severe droughts in the 1980s forced his family to relocate to Pune, young Vishnu moved in with his maternal uncle's joint family to continue school while reducing expenses at home.

He started working odd jobs while still a student. He shelled peanuts for 50 paise per kilogram, bent steel rods for Rs 80 a week, caddied at golf courses, and sold vegetables whenever he could.

After Class 10, Dhas enrolled in evening college so he could work days. His first formal job involved sweeping and mopping a medical store at KEM Hospital for Rs 800 a month. He gradually worked up to counter sales and basic accounting over five years.

His father wanted him to become a software engineer during India's IT boom. The family sold their village house and borrowed money to pay for his engineering course, accumulating Rs 1 lakh in debt in 1998. The course didn't work out, but Dhas kept working and eventually landed a corporate job at Rs 12,500 monthly.

Eight years later, he became an associate director. In 2013, he resigned and finally repaid his father's education debt.

After a brief stint as director of global affairs at Mason Group of Companies, Dhas decided to build his own venture. He spent nine months facing constant job rejections before launching a consulting firm in 2015.

In 2016, he met Pravin Shinde, who came from a farming family and had an idea about farm mechanization. Together they launched KhetiGaadi, a platform where farmers could find information about tractors and agricultural equipment, plus buying, selling, and renting options.

For 18 months, they approached businesses one by one. Gradually, dealers and manufacturers started joining. KhetiGaadi expanded into full e-commerce for agricultural equipment.

In April 2022, they launched KhetiGuru as a free agricultural advisory service. The combined platforms now serve over 7.2 million farmers across India.

Why This Inspires

Dhas never forgot where he came from or the farmers he grew up around. His latest platform, TractorNext, addresses a critical gap: helping farmers choose machinery that actually fits their specific crops, land, water access, and budget.

A farmer using equipment only for personal use needs different machinery than someone planning to rent it out. Someone with reliable irrigation has different needs than a farmer dependent on uncertain rainfall.

TractorNext asks detailed questions before recommending options. The platform is free for farmers and earns revenue through manufacturer leads and advertising.

From mopping floors to helping millions of farmers make smarter equipment choices, Dhas proved that your starting point doesn't determine your finish line.