Karnataka is preparing to position Mangaluru as the state’s next big technology hub. Proposals for the largest tech park in the coastal city will be placed before the cabinet for approval this week, minister for electronics, IT, and BT Priyank Kharge announced at the Mangaluru Technovanza 2025 on September 24.
“The park will be developed over 3.25 acres of land with a built-up area of 3.5 lakh square feet. It will operate with a working capacity of 3,500,” Kharge said. He further added that the project is designed to accelerate Mangaluru’s rise as a strategic complement to Bengaluru’s dominance in the state’s IT sector.
The minister made the announcement while also unveiling plans for the Future Makers Conclave, to be hosted as part of the Bengaluru Tech Summit from November 18-20. The summit is expected to draw 20,000 entrepreneurs from across India, with a strong focus on AI innovation.
Tracing Karnataka’s flagship Elevate programme, Kharge recalled its rapid growth. “When we conceptualised Elevate, we made it Elevate 100. When we saw the response from the public, we made it Elevate 500,” he said. In 2017, the initiative drew 1,738 startup applications from Karnataka within 90 days.
Building on that momentum, Kharge pitched the Future Makers platform as a bold step. “My intention is to get at least 20,000 entrepreneurs under one roof from all over India. And we can have a section for AI – Elevate AI 500 or 100, whatever industry decides. I’m ready to pledge ₹5 crore for it,” he said.
He urged venture capital firms to match the state’s commitment. Replying to a question from Mohandas Pai, former Infosys CFO, Kharge said, “Get me the top 25 VCs across the country. Let them pledge another five crore rupees with me.” He added that early discussions had been positive. “I was having a chat with Accel, and they are ready to commit ₹5 crore.”
Kharge also invited startups to anchor themselves in Karnataka. “If they want to tap into my front, they just have to have their GST registration here, shop and establishment registrations. And we are game for that,” he said.The outcomes of the Future Makers Conclave will be unveiled on November 20, with Karnataka projecting itself as the funding and mentoring hub for India’s startup and AI ecosystem.
Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the Tech Park cost Rs 3500 Cr. This has been updated to clarify that 3500 is its working capacity. We regret the error.
