At just 17, Baki Srundhan Reddy from Hyderabad has already done something most people only dream about — he’s founded a company, built a team, and started signing retail partnerships.
As the founder of Spark AgriVentures Pvt. Ltd., Srundhan is on a mission to bridge gaps in India’s agricultural ecosystem through two brands: AgriSpark, an investment platform connecting investors and farmers, and Retail Spark, a retail-tech solution helping supermarkets manage fresh produce.
What makes his journey remarkable isn’t just his age, but the clarity and conviction that brought him here, shaped by his family’s influence, his early exposure to entrepreneurship, and the Bower LEAD program, which turned his ambition into action.
A Family Business Sparked the Entrepreneur in Him
“I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship,” Srundhan begins. “My father runs a company called Rythu Rakshana Rural Development Limited. It connects farmers directly with consumers, removing the middlemen.”
Watching his father’s business shaped his understanding of what it means to build something from scratch. “I saw how employees worked, how payments and vendors operated, and what kind of freedom entrepreneurship gives you. The workload may be higher, but the independence and sense of ownership make it worth it.”
That exposure at home gave him his first taste of real-world business, something he aspired to create for himself, too. Therefore, in grade 11, he chose commerce with entrepreneurship as a focus, learning concepts, terminology, and business fundamentals. But soon, he wanted more than classroom lessons.
Discovering Bower
That’s when he came across Bower’s entrepreneurship workshops and masterclasses. “I started attending Bower workshops and masterclasses, and the people who came there inspired me,” he says.
Those sessions gave him direction and his first encounter with a real entrepreneurial community. “One day, I wanted to do more than what was happening in those masterclasses,” he remembers. “That’s when I got to know about the Bower LEAD program. It encouraged me to take my first step towards my dreams. The classes equipped me with insights that couldn’t have cracked alone as a teenager.”
The Turning Point: Bower LEAD
When he joined the LEAD program, he thought it would just be about learning. It turned out to be much more. “When I started, I thought it would be basic entrepreneurial learning. But in the first lecture, our mentor, Praveen Dorna, encouraged us to start working directly on the ideas we were passionate about. That’s how my journey really began.”
Encouraged by that moment, Srundhan began shaping his business idea and soon registered his company, Spark AgriVentures Pvt. Ltd.
Under its umbrella, he built two verticals:
- AgriSpark, an investment platform that lets investors fund agricultural projects while ensuring farmers receive a stable income.
- Retail Spark, a retail technology solution providing grocery stores with simple inventory management tools, in exchange for in-store placements for farm produce.
“This way we connect the entire value chain — from farmers to stores, from investors to consumers,” he explains.
Within months, he had already secured two MoUs one with Rythu Rakshana stores and another with Joy Supermarkets in Hyderabad, and begun hiring a team to scale operations. “Our goal is to expand to 25 stores in this region,” he says confidently.
The Youngest in the Room
As one of the youngest members of the LEAD cohort 2, Srundhan was initially hesitant to share his age. “At first, I didn’t tell anyone I was 17 because I didn’t want to be treated differently,” he recalls. “But when my classmates found out, they were actually more curious and encouraging.”
In a class full of entrepreneurs — some with years of experience — he found not competition, but collaboration. “Everyone in the cohort is different. Some are married, some already run companies, and others just graduated. But everyone supports each other,” he proudly highlights.
He even partnered with a fellow cohort member, Keerthana, the founder of Akta, a retail-tech company. “I approached her and said, ‘You’re already building inventory solutions. Can we collaborate?’ She agreed, and it helped both of us grow faster. One of our batchmates has also offered me to use his co-working space at a discounted price,” he says. “That’s the kind of ecosystem LEAD builds.”
Building and Leading a Team
Recently, Spark AgriVentures held its first employee orientation. “I rolled out job applications and got around a hundred responses,” he says. “I interviewed people with experience, but I realised recent graduates were more open to new ideas.”
His team now includes six members — four women and two men — working across agricultural operations and sales. “We’re all young,” he says with pride. “The age gap isn’t much, which makes teamwork smoother. We’re growing together.”
What LEAD Taught Him
Through LEAD, Srundhan says he learned how to think like a founder — not just a student. “It helped me understand how to build two verticals simultaneously,” he explains. “The classes helped me separate their strategies instead of mixing them up.”
He also credits the program’s rhythm for developing his entrepreneurial discipline. “During weekends, we validate and think about our ideas. Then, during the week, we just go do things. Even if something fails, you learn by executing.”
That simple philosophy, “go do it,” has become central to how he works.
The Road Ahead
By the end of this year, Srundhan hopes to work across 150 acres of farmland and connect with at least 100 stores across Telangana. His long-term goal is to secure SEBI and RBL approval for his investment platform, making AgriSpark a legitimate, large-scale investment model for agriculture.
And after school? He plans to continue his journey at Bower, joining the undergraduate BBA program next year. “It feels like a natural extension,” he says. “Bower has already given me so much: mentorship, structure, and a community that keeps pushing me forward.”
When asked what advice he’d give to future LEAD students, his answer is simple and honest:
“Go and participate. Even if you don’t understand everything, just sit and listen. When you start understanding, start doing. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. LEAD gives you a space to validate your ideas and take real steps forward.”
A Spark That Keeps Growing
From watching his father connect farmers and consumers, to building his own ecosystem that ties together investors, farmers, and retailers — Srundhan’s story is a full-circle moment.
He sums it up with quiet certainty:
“LEAD didn’t just teach me business. It gave me the confidence to build something real — even at 17.”
