8 months ago
Mangaluru Emerges as Tech Hub Beyond Bengaluru
Mangaluru, a city in Karnataka, is becoming a big place for technology, just like Bengaluru.
It has many IT companies, startups, and even big names like Infosys and Cognizant.
The city has lots of colleges that produce many engineers every year.
People are moving back to Mangaluru because it's cheaper to live there, and the city offers a good balance between work and life.
The government is also helping by building new tech parks and supporting local businesses.
This makes Mangaluru a great place for technology companies to grow.
Mangaluru is evolving as Karnataka’s coastal technology gateway with strengths in Fintech, logistics-tech, Deeptech, and AI infrastructure.
The city has over 250 IT companies, including 200 startups and 50 mid-sized firms, employing nearly 25,000 IT professionals.
Major IT companies like Infosys, Cognizant, and EG have significant operations in Mangaluru, with Infosys having a 360-acre campus.
Mangaluru offers lower operating costs, lower real-estate costs, and attrition rates below 1%, making it attractive for companies.
The city has over 25 engineering colleges and 150+ colleges, producing a large talent pool of engineers and graduates annually.
- Who
- Mangaluru's tech ecosystem, including IT companies, startups, and educational institutions
- What
- Mangaluru is emerging as a significant tech hub with a growing GCC ecosystem, startups, and deep tech
- Where
- Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
- When
- Recent years, with rapid growth in the past three years
- Why
- Due to lower operating costs, high quality of life, strong talent pool, and strategic initiatives like Karnataka’s ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ strategy
Pro-Mangaluru Development
Critics of Premium Lending
Economic Focus
Pro-Mangaluru Development
Mangaluru's blend of tradition and technology, along with government support, makes it a prime location for technological growth and investment.
Critics of Premium Lending
The shift towards higher-value retail loans may exclude smaller and first-time customers, pushing them towards costlier informal credit.
Key facts
- IT Companies
- 250+ (200 startups, 50 mid-sized firms)
- IT Workforce
- 25,000 professionals (target: 100,000 by 2028)
- Annual IT Revenue
- ₹4,500 crore
- Engineering Colleges
- 25+ (15,000 engineers annually)
- Total Colleges
- 150+ (40,000 graduates annually)
- Major Institutions
- NITK Surathkal, MAHE Manipal, Nitte, Sahyadri, MITE
- Key Companies
- Infosys, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra, Mphasis, Hexaware, Riskonnect, Bose Professional, EG
- Operating Costs
- 20–30% lower than Bengaluru
- Attrition Rate
- Below 1%
- Housing Costs
- 40–50% lower than Bengaluru
Quotes
Rohith Bhat
Founder of Mangaluru-based wrkwrk and 99Games
“Post-COVID, companies began realising that operations no longer needed to be confined to metros. Since Mangaluru has historically supplied talent to cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, organisations started seeing value in setting up centres here, especially as many senior professionals were keen to return and take on leadership roles locally.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“We call Mangaluru the ‘15-minute city’— the airport, railway station, office, and even the beach are all within 15 minutes. This balance between work and life is a major draw.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sanjeev Kumar Gupta
CEO of KDEM
“Mangaluru contributes over 5 per cent to Karnataka’s GDP. With strong port and airport connectivity, reliable power, coastal cooling advantages, and a high quality of life, Mangaluru offers metro-grade capabilities without metro-level congestion, positioning itself as a complementary hub to Bengaluru.”
thehindubusinessline.com
