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The 29th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) will be held from November 17-19 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) under the theme ‘AI & Beyond’ The Summit expects 60K+ business visitors, 25K+ delegates, 1,800+ exhibitors, 700+ speakers and participation from 75+ countries Over 1,000 startups from 100 cities will showcase at the Startup Pavilion, alongside pitching, mentoring, investor connects, and India’s first state-backed invention showcase India’s startup ecosystem is the fourth most valuable startup ecosystem in the world and spans from fintech and consumer technology to AI and deeptech sectors. As founders look beyond domestic markets to build globally competitive businesses, access to capital, talent and technology infrastructure has become increasingly important. Bengaluru has long brought these ingredients together. For close to three decades, the Silicon Valley of India has been the yardstick against which India’s tech ambitions are measured. The city now ranks 15th among global startup ecosystems and 12th among the world’s largest tech talent hubs. Meanwhile, Karnataka accounts for 42% of India’s IT exports and leads the country in software exports, biotech, and aerospace and defence manufacturing. As AI changes how products are developed and businesses operate, the opportunity is expanding – build from Bengaluru and reach the world. This ambition will take centre stage at the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2026. Organised by the Karnataka government’s Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, the Summit returns for its 29th edition from November 17-19 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru. Under the theme ‘AI & Beyond’, the three-day event will bring together founders, investors, technology leaders, researchers, and policymakers to explore emerging technologies and the businesses being built around them. Billed as Asia’s largest integrated technology event, BTS 2026 expects more than 60K business visitors, over 25K delegates, 1,800+ exhibitors and 700+ speakers across 120+ sessions. Participation is expected from over 75 countries and 30+ Indian states and Union Territories. It will also feature more than 20 country pavilions and over 175 international exhibitors on the floor. The summit will span 18 thematic tracks, covering IT and deeptech, frontier technologies, electronics and semiconductors, electric mobility, health and biotech, data centres, cybersecurity, global capability centres (GCCs), fintech, and the orange economy, which encompasses creative industries. A dedicated India-USA Tech Conclave will also be part of the programme. The speaker line-up announced so far includes Sandeep Sahai, chief executive officer, Clear Water Analytics, Vivek Raghavan, cofounder, Sarvam AI, Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran, chief economic advisor (CEA), Govt. of India, Ranjani Mani, director and country head – generative AI, Microsoft, Rangesh Raghavan, corporate vice president and MD, Lam Research, Dr Sowmya Swaminathan, chairperson, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, and Dr Velislava Petrova-Chamova, minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. For founders, the programme extends beyond conference sessions to product showcases, investor meetings, and practical guidance on building and scaling businesses. A Global Startup Showcase The Startup Pavilion will host more than 1,000 startups, incubators, and accelerators, with startup participation spanning 100 cities. These will include cohorts from the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission’s (KDEM) ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative and the Software Technology Parks of India’s ‘Sayuj’ programme. Eighteen thematic pavilions will cover sectors including AI, agritech, D2C, fintech, semiconductors, robotics, and SaaS. By grouping startups within their industry segments, the exhibition aims to help founders connect with relevant buyers, customers, and potential partners. Two dedicated startup stages will focus on ‘Deeptech For Business’ and ‘Consumer Tech For Billions’. Both stages will host workshops and masterclasses on topics such as go-to-market strategies, investor readiness, product management, cybersecurity and AI. Connecting Founders With Investors On the sidelines of BTS 2026, the three-day ‘Investor Connect Programme’ will offer curated, sector-specific matchmaking between startups, investors, and corporates. At the pitching arena, tech founders will get a shot at presenting to global VCs. The three-day initiative is shaped in a way to bring startups face-to-face with investors, corporates, and key ecosystem stakeholders who can unlock collaborative projects, build investor relationships and connect young businesses with potential customers. The programme will also host a reverse pitching session that will turn the tables, with investors explaining their investment theses, portfolio focus, and the businesses they want to back. Startups will also have access to one-on-one mentoring sessions with entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and domain experts. Celebrating India’s Future Makers Another addition to the broader BTS 2026 umbrella is the Future Makers Conclave, a platform to celebrate India’s next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. The conclave will bring together founders, entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders to exchange ideas, share experiences, and discuss emerging opportunities across the technology and startup ecosystem. The day will feature the BTS Unicorn Felicitation, where the state government will honour Indian startups that have entered the unicorn club since the previous edition. The conclave will also mark 10 years of the Karnataka government’s Elevate programme, which supports startups in the state. The Bengaluru Tech Summit will also host key industry players, including Infosys, Biocon, QpiAI, Bosch Global Software Technologies, Clearwater Analytics, Booking Holdings, ZS, SAP, eBay, ACT Enterprise, Applied Materials, Fujitsu Ltd, Cloudflare, Qualcomm, Intel, JetBrains, Antithesis, PLAUD, Kyndle IT and many more as sponsors, alongside international partners like Business Sweden, Italian Trade Agency, Australian Trade & Investment Commission, Poland and more. Together, the startup exhibition, investor programmes, and the Future Makers Conclave aim to make BTS 2026 a meeting point for ideas, capital, and commercial opportunities – giving founders a platform to take their next step towards global growth.
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