The 'Silicon Valley of India' is also known for its lush parks and microbreweries, but where do you meet startups and where are the best cafés? Shelly Mittal of Chrysalix VC tells all.
Bengaluru, or Bangalore, is India’s third largest city, but it’s picked up a reputation not only as the ‘Garden City of India’ for its lush parks and tree-lined avenues, but also as India’s Silicon Valley, hosting some of the country’s largest IT firms and the regional headquarters of several tech giants.
As we prepare for the upcoming GCV Connect: India event in the city in a few weeks’ time, we spoke to Shelly Mittal of Chrysalix Venture Capital about its startup scene, where you should go to meet local founders, and which neighbourhoods have the best food.
What makes Bengaluru’s startup scene stand out?
The city blends deep tech talent with entrepreneurial energy, making it a magnet for global investors and innovators alike. Bengaluru has the largest base of engineering, science and design talent in India, and it ranks among the top five AI talent cities, globally.
The city’s startup DNA runs deep. It is the birthplace of ecommerce giant Flipkart and remains strong in large-scale consumer tech, ecommerce and last-mile innovation, and that strength is supported by a robust logistics and warehousing infrastructure. A supportive ecosystem holds it all together, including a dense network of VC and corporate investors and a collaborative culture that favours partnerships over rivalries.
Where are the hotspots in the local tech scene?
The suburb of HSR Layout is a rapidly growing hub for SaaS, AI and tech startups, with modern co-working spaces, and it is home to many incubators. Also in southeastern Bengaluru, Koramangala is a historic startup cluster packed with cafés, accelerators, early-stage VCs and regular founder meetups.
The Indiranagar neighbourhood is dense with co-working spaces, elite startups and a buzzing café and restaurant scene. It also has a vibrant nightlife spot for informal networking. Finally, Electronic City and Whitefield are the original IT hubs, and they host the corporate campuses of IBM, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and Google.
Where’s the best place for a coffee meeting?
Concu, in Indiranagar, is a stylish patisserie-café with artisanal desserts and an intimate ambiance. Down the road, Paper & Pie is work-friendly, energetic and popular with founders and investors. Beanlore Coffee Roasters, in HSR Layout, provides specialty brews with co-working vibes, and Third Wave Coffee Roasters has multiple locations across Bengaluru.
Where would you take a founder you wanted to impress to dinner?
For a vibrant, upscale atmosphere, Toit Brew Pub in Indiranagar and The Biere Club on Vittal Mallya Road are examples of Bengaluru’s celebrated microbrewery culture, and other brewery favourites are Biergarten Brewery & Kitchen, Bier Library Brewery Kitchen and Brewski Brewing Company.
For authentic sophistication, Karavalli (below), at the Gateway Hotel, is iconic for coastal Indian cuisine and its heritage-inspired setting, and it’s ideal for trust-building conversations. And for a classic high-end option, The Reservoire in Koramangala has chic interiors, crafted cocktails and premium small plates.
What are the best events for meeting local founders and investors?
Bengaluru Tech Summit in November is Asia’s largest technology summit and an essential platform for understanding government policy direction, connecting with senior officials and engaging with large enterprises and international delegations. The agenda covers a wide range of topics, from AI and biotech to spacetech and fintech.
YourStory’s TechSparks is widely regarded as India’s most definitive startup tech conference, the premier event for discovering high-potential, early-stage companies. Its annual Tech30 showcase has a proven track record of identifying future unicorns like Freshworks and Chargebee, and the event features keynotes and fireside chats with India’s most successful founders and investors.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) hosts several high-value, sector-specific summits in Bengaluru throughout the year. They include the Nasscom Future Forge, which focuses on deep tech, the Design & Engineering Summit and the GCC Conclave, and the events provide deep dives into specific technology verticals and are excellent for targeted networking.
The local chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a vital part of the ecosystem’s fabric, focused on fostering entrepreneurship through mentorship. TiE Bangalore organises a regular calendar of events including Mentor Connect sessions, workshops and summits focused on sectors like healthcare, providing valuable opportunities to connect with seasoned entrepreneurs, mentors and angel investors
There are also recurring VC-led networking events like eChai Club, Vinnie’s Kitchen, IIT Delhi Startup Club and Global Startups Club.
What’s the one thing every visitor should see while they’re here?
Bangalore Palace, with its Tudor-style architecture and royal heritage, offers a glimpse into the city’s regal past. For nature lovers, Cubbon Park and Lalbagh Botanical Garden provide lush green escapes in the heart of the city and both are perfect for a morning walk. And for a dose of political grandeur, don’t miss the Vidhana Soudha, the iconic seat of the state legislature.
Photo courtesy of NSRCEL
Who in the VC/CVC/startup scene should people make sure to meet while they’re here?
NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore (above) is one of the country’s leading academic incubators, with a strong focus on social entrepreneurship and fintech. Another key player is Axilor Ventures, founded by Infosys co-founders Kris Gopalakrishnan and SD Shibulal, which operates as a seed fund and an accelerator, offering deep mentorship to early-stage startups.
The city also hosts some of the most active venture capital firms in India: Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India), Accel and Lightspeed India Partners have backed the likes of Flipkart, Swiggy, Druva, Curefit, Oyo and Urban Company between them.
Bengaluru’s startup ecosystem is enriched by influential individual investors including Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath, who invests through the Rainmatter foundation; Kunal Shah, founder of fintech unicorn Cred, who is one of India’s most prolific angel investors; and Anjali Bansal of Avaana Capital, who is well known for her climate-focused and purpose-driven investments.
Lastly, what’s a secret only the locals know about?
In Bengaluru, traffic can throw surprises any time of day – even a quick 5km trip can feel like a mini road trip. And be prepared for the famously changeable weather – “four seasons in a day” is not an exaggeration.
