A festival to restore Bangalore as top startup capital

Bangalore, March 5: A private-government initiative to make Bangalore, a known outsource hub, an attractive destination for startups kicks off March 7 here.

The four-day "StartUp Festival - Bangalore" is intended to make the city "the next big destination for entrepreneurs to come and realize their dreams", its organizers said in a statement.

The festival comes against the backdrop of a survey that shows Bangalore slipping to 19th place from the 9th place as a startup capital. The survey was conducted by StartupGenome, a group of startup communities in the various cities across the world.

The festival is anchored by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)-Bangalore and 'Unstoppable.In', a group of entrepreneurs. It is supported by Karnataka government.

The festival "is a one of a kind entrepreneurial celebration" that will bring "together 5,000 people and 100 partners under one brand to celebrate Bangalore's Rise as the Startup Capital of India," the statement said.

The festival "is to push the city into the top 10 (in the world). We believe that gradual and sustained effort can take us there - the event is a kick-starter and a preview of many more exciting initiatives to come".

The events will be held in three upscale areas of Indiranagar and Koramangala in east Bangalore and Jayanagar in south. The other location is the Palace Grounds in north Bangalore.

The festival wants to "create an ecosystem that connects entrepreneurs (established, early-stage, beginners and everyone in between), academia, investors, the government and the citizenry, on one platform," the statement said.

IANS