Mangaluru should not aspire to be an extension of Bangalore. Instead, it must define itself as a sustainable, inclusive, culturally rooted, coastal AI-first city. This was the common ground among panelists at Technovanza 2025 as they discussed Mangaluru’s technology identity.
Industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem enablers gathered at Technovanza 2025 to discuss the future of tech in Mangaluru, on September 24.
Not Another Bangalore
Bhaskar Verma, regional director–South, NASSCOM, noted that while the city is seeing new organisations and revenue, branding is still missing. “When we talk about Mangaluru, how many of you are coming forward as brand ambassadors?” he asked.
Verma stressed that development must be inclusive, as he urged the ecosystem to bring more women entrepreneurs into the fold. He also highlighted NASSCOM’s role in connecting startups with investors and mentors, scaling talent through the Future Skills program, and working with the government on GCC and ER&D policies.
“The city has the opportunity to plan, not just react,” said Gurudatta Shenoy, managing partner at Vertex Workspace. He emphasised the importance of sustainable infrastructure, well-managed workspaces, and a deliberate effort to strike a balance between professional opportunities and quality of life.
Shenoy said these factors could help attract startups and retain skilled workers. Over the last two decades, academia in the region has supplied more than two lakh professionals to the tech industry, he said, adding that 90% of the 2,250 people accommodated in Vertex spaces over the last three years are locally rooted.
“That attachment to the city ensures they deliver value back to Mangaluru,” he said.
AI-First by Design
Nethaji Rajendran, founder of Creolay, stressed on Artificial intelligence, saying, “If we can’t even use current AI compute power, then investing in new infrastructure is wasteful.”
His argument was that Mangaluru must be deliberate in its investments — embedding AI into its planning from the start rather than treating it as an add-on. According to him, this approach would allow the city to leapfrog others that are still retrofitting AI into outdated infrastructure.
Banking, Education as Anchors
Mangaluru’s historic strengths in banking and education came up repeatedly. Anand G Pai, president of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said these legacy sectors could serve as anchors for future growth. “Fintech and BFSI are natural growth verticals for us,” he said, pointing to the region’s strong track record in producing banking talent and institutions. Pai also highlighted the need for closer industry-academia collaboration to retain local talent, which usually leaves for metro cities.
The discussion also touched on the need to connect Mangaluru to the global technology ecosystem.
Vijaykrishna Shetty, CEO of ThoughtGenesis, pointed to the undersea cable project near the city as a critical enabler of digital connectivity. He argued that such infrastructure, combined with global capability centres, could make Mangaluru a serious contender in the global services market.
On branding, Shetty suggested positioning the city as the “Silicon Beach of India,” in an attempt to capture both its coastal geography and technological ambitions.
Blue Economy as Low-Hanging Fruit
Sunil Padmanabh, industry ecosystem expert, steered the conversation toward the region’s maritime strengths. He described the blue economy, including fisheries, ports, and marine exports, as a natural sector for AI deployment.
From reducing spoilage in seafood exports to optimising port logistics, he argued, Mangaluru could showcase tangible results by applying deep tech to areas it already dominates. “Start where we already have strength. Prove value here, and the world will take notice,” Padmanabh said.
While each speaker emphasised different aspects of infrastructure, AI, legacy sectors, or branding, a clear consensus emerged. Mangaluru’s future identity lies in fusion: combining traditional strengths with deep tech, balancing sustainability with growth, and ensuring cultural roots remain intact while engaging global markets.
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