Startup convention in Mangaluru on January 16

TiECon Mangaluru 2026, the startup convention of Mangaluru, will take place at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre on January 16. It is set to attract around 500 delegates from India and abroad, according to Rohith Bhat, president of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Mangaluru.

Addressing press persons on January 8, Mr. Bhat said the delegates will comprise entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, policymakers and innovators.

TiE Mangaluru will organise the convention, supported by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), on the occasion of National Startup Day to showcase coastal Karnataka as an emerging destination for innovation and investment, he said.

“TiECon Mangaluru 2026 will showcase 30 of the region’s best statrups,” he said.

Mr. Bhat, who is also the founder of 99Games and Robosoft, noted that TiE’s Mangaluru chapter was established in April 2023 with a vision to galvanise the startup ecosystem in Mangaluru, Udupi and Manipal (now referred to as the Silicon Beach of India). The chapter has organised over 40 startup programs, reached over 400 entrepreneurs and built a member base of more than 130 founders employing over 20,000 people, he said.

“With over 15 angel investors and three recent tech exits valued collectively at $250 million, the region has demonstrated strong early traction and has the potential to become Karnataka’s next major startup hub. The goal is to enable 4,000 startups by 2034 with at least five unicorns emerging from the region,” he said.

“Prashanth Rao Aroor, Chair of the TiECon Organising Committee 2026, said that Priyank Kharge, the State’s Minister for IT and BT; S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Sharath Bache Gowda, Chairman of KEONICS; N. Manjula, Secretary of IT and BT, Karnataka; Suniel Shetty, entrepreneur and actor; and B. V. Naidu, Chairman of KDEM, will be among those who will speak at the convention.”