Walmart, the world’s largest omnichannel retailer, has announced pilot projects with three Indian startups—KBCols Sciences, GreenPod Labs, and Cropin—to enhance its US supply chain and sourcing operations.
These collaborations aim to improve product quality, reduce waste, and promote sustainability.
These startups, selected during last year’s Walmart Growth Summit in India, offer unique innovations. Their solutions are expected to benefit Walmart’s global supply chain while ensuring fresher and more sustainable products for consumers.
Highlighting this commitment, Kyle Carlyle, Walmart’s vice president of sourcing innovation and surety of supply, said, “By collaborating with global innovators, we’re leveraging fresh ideas to build a more resilient supply network.”
Pune-based KBCols Sciences is among the selected startups. It produces natural, non-GMO textile dyes from agricultural waste. These dyes require less water and energy during production and offer an eco-friendly alternative to the synthetic ones. The pilot will specifically test these dyes on fabrics like woven materials and cotton.
“This project reflects our shared commitment to addressing environmental challenges while delivering high-quality, more responsibly-produced products,” said Vaishali Kulkarni, CEO of KBCols Sciences.
Similarly, GreenPod Labs, a Chennai-based startup, creates sachets filled with plant extracts that slow down the ripening of fruits and vegetables by mimicking their natural defences. These sachets extend the freshness of produce, enabling cost-effective shipping and reducing waste.
To test this innovation, Walmart is collaborating with UC Davis. GreenPod Labs CEO Deepak Rajmohan expressed his excitement, saying, “Working with a global player like Walmart revalidates the importance of our work in reducing post-harvest losses and improving quality.”
The third on the list is Cropin, a Bengaluru-based startup that offers an AI-driven platform designed to improve crop yield predictions, optimise resources, and ensure consistent harvests. Walmart plans to leverage this technology to gain deeper insights into crop health, yield estimations, and seasonal transitions.
Cropin CEO Krishna Kumar highlighted the potential impact of this collaboration, saying, “By working with Walmart, we aim to build resilient and sustainable food systems.”
The Walmart Growth Summit, part of a series held in countries such as India, Mexico, and Chile, connects entrepreneurs with Walmart’s extensive supply chain network. These latest pilots build on Walmart’s ongoing work with innovators such as Agritask, unspun, and Rubi Laboratories.
Last year, Walmart partnered with IIT Madras to launch the Walmart Centre for Tech Excellence. The centre aims to empower MSMEs in the manufacturing and retail sectors by developing AI and digitisation solutions to drive operational efficiency and profitability and upskill them.
Moreover, the company is looking to triple its sourcing from India to $10 billion annually by 2027 as part of its commitment to supporting Indian MSMEs and fostering job creation while leveraging initiatives like Walmart Vriddhi to modernise local suppliers and expand its global supply chain.
