Superplum

High-Level Overview

Superplum is an agritech startup that has built India's first fully digital fruit supply chain, connecting local farms directly to consumers via retail and e-commerce channels.[1][2][5] It delivers high-quality, safe-to-eat fresh fruits—over 20 varieties from farms across 20 states—using proprietary software like Freshmanager™ for end-to-end traceability, tracking farmer details, 10+ quality parameters (e.g., weight, sugar levels, acidity), pesticide tests, and cold-chain logistics to ensure chemical-free produce with minimal wastage.[1][3][5] Serving B2B2C customers including retailers in cities like Delhi and Bangalore, Superplum solves critical problems in India's fragmented fruit market: poor traceability, unsafe ripening practices, mis-selling, high post-harvest losses, and unfair farmer payouts by enabling consumer verification via QR codes and direct farmer bonuses.[2][3][4] With 61-100 employees, $5.2M revenue, and funding including a $15M round and $3.8M pre-Series A, the company shows strong growth momentum through innovations like tamper-proof mango pouches launched in 2025.[1][2][4]

Origin Story

Founded in 2019 by Shobhit Gupta as CEO, Superplum (legal name: Freshcore Provisions Private Limited) emerged from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, to address India's inefficient fruit supply chain, where farmers lose significant income to middlemen and consumers face quality and safety issues.[1][2][3] Gupta's vision focused on digitizing the entire process from farm to fork, starting with custom software for traceability and partnering with farmers for better practices, including collaborations with BAYER for advanced tools.[1][5][6] Early traction came from building refrigerated transport ("Fresherator") and cloud platforms, expanding to 20 states and launching consumer features like QR-based pesticide reports and farmer bonuses by 2023, followed by major funding rounds that fueled scaling.[1][3][4]

Core Differentiators

• End-to-End Traceability and Quality Control: Tracks over 10 parameters (e.g., pesticide residues, sugar/acidity levels, temperature) via Freshmanager™ software, enabling consumers to scan QR codes for farm details, test reports, and journey maps—unique in India's fruit market.[1][3][5][6]
• Advanced Cold-Chain Tech: Custom "Fresherator" remotely controls temperature, humidity, oxygen, and ethylene for optimal freshness during transport, reducing wastage and supporting chemical-free ripening.[2][4][5]
• Farmer Empowerment: Provides tech, infrastructure, and transparent profit-sharing; partners with BAYER for best practices, boosting farmer earnings and enabling consumer-direct bonuses.[3][5][6]
• Consumer Transparency and Engagement: Tamper-proof packaging (e.g., mango pouches), fruit ratings, and feedback loops build trust, differentiating from traditional supply chains prone to mis-selling.[2][6]
• Scalable Operations: Works across 20 states with 20+ fruits, B2B2C model serving retail/e-commerce, backed by $15M+ funding for rapid expansion.[1][2][4]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Superplum rides the global agtech wave—part of 2,313 companies innovating in farm management, drones, and supply chains—tailored to India's $10B+ fruit market plagued by 30-40% post-harvest losses, unsafe chemicals, and opacity.[2][3][5] Its timing aligns with rising consumer demand for traceable, sustainable food amid urbanization, e-commerce growth (e.g., quick commerce), and government pushes for digital agriculture, amplified by post-2020 supply chain disruptions favoring tech like IoT cold chains.[1][4] Market forces like retail expansion in Tier-1 cities and farmer tech adoption work in its favor, while Superplum influences the ecosystem by setting standards for transparency (e.g., QR bonuses), partnering with corporates like BAYER, and enabling women entrepreneurs indirectly through supply networks—potentially reshaping 20% of India's agritech logistics.[3][5][6]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Superplum is poised to dominate India's premium fresh fruit segment by expanding its digital supply chain nationwide, launching more innovations like AI-driven quality prediction, and deepening retail partnerships amid quick commerce booms.[2][4] Trends like sustainability mandates, blockchain traceability, and direct-to-consumer models will accelerate its growth, potentially capturing 5-10% market share as consumer awareness rises. Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to ecosystem leader, empowering millions of farmers and redefining safe food access—tying back to its core mission of farm-to-fork excellence that started with a single digitized chain.[1][3][5]