Mangaluru Technovanza 2026 brings together 600+ delegates, 70 startups, 60 GCCs and 20+ investors; growing technology ecosystem records 60+ new companies and 13,000 additional jobs in three years

Mangaluru is emerging as one of Karnataka’s strongest technology and innovation hubs beyond Bengaluru, with a growing ecosystem of technology companies, startups, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), skilled talent and new-age industries.

The momentum was highlighted at Mangaluru Technovanza 2026, the flagship initiative of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), which brought together more than 600 delegates, 70 startups, 60 GCCs and 20+ investors at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre today. The region currently has 300+ technology companies, 400+ startups and a technology workforce of more than 50,000. Over the last three years, more than 60 new companies and 13,000 additional jobs have been added, while over 1 million sq. ft. of Grade-A office space is under construction.

Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Home, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and EGovernance, Government of Karnataka, said “Mangaluru is proving that Karnataka’s next wave of technology-led growth can come from beyond Bengaluru. The city has the talent, institutions and entrepreneurial ecosystem to build a globally competitive technology cluster. The growth of startups and GCCs, along with emerging opportunities in DeepTech, data centres, electronics and medtech, is strengthening this ecosystem further.”

“This is exactly what our Beyond Bengaluru vision seeks to achieve – taking investment to where talent is and creating strong technology ecosystems across Karnataka. Mangaluru Technovanza demonstrates the momentum that is building around the region. Our focus now is to build on this momentum, attract more companies and investment, support startups in scaling and create highquality jobs. Mangaluru has the opportunity to establish itself as Karnataka’s Silicon Beach and as an important technology gateway to global markets.

” The event also highlighted Mangaluru’s growing talent base. The Silicon Beach Skills Report 2026, developed with Xpheno, noted that the wider Silicon Beach region has 280,000 active accessible white-collar talent, while Mangaluru’s talent pool has grown 20% year-on-year to 55,000.

The region has more than 25 engineering colleges, with around 15,000 engineers graduating annually. The programme also saw the launch of K-Combinator Cohort 1, bringing together startups and investors, along with the Beyond Bengaluru Cluster Seed Fund, Silicon Beach Angels and Karnataka Acceleration Network (KAN). The initiatives are aimed at strengthening access to capital, mentorship and market opportunities for startups in the region.

The event also brought together industry and technology leaders to discuss Mangaluru’s potential as a GCC destination and the role of industry, academia, capital and government in shaping the next phase of the region’s growth. Mangaluru’s infrastructure and connectivity are further supporting this expansion, with 60+ GCCs and satellite offices, eight companies employing more than 1,000 people each and over 1 million sq. ft. of Grade-A office space under construction.

Mangaluru Technovanza 2026 reflects Karnataka’s broader Beyond Bengaluru approach to building multiple technology-led growth centres across the State, creating opportunities for companies, startups and talent to scale from emerging technology hubs.