Apple’s made-in-India iPhone: This is what makes Bengaluru so special

By Anirudh Regidi /  30 Dec 2016 , 13:25

The news that Apple has decided to start manufacturing phones not just in India, but specifically Bengaluru, is interesting, to say the least. It begs the question, why Bengaluru? Why not Hyderabad or Noida or even Chennai?

The answer to that question is neither easy to give, nor is it definitive; all I have to offer are pointers.

Startup heaven

Bengaluru is the only city from India and the second city from Asia to make it to the Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking. This is a list compiled by Compass and ranks cities on their ability to produce and support great startups. In fact, judging by the report, Bengaluru only ranks behind Berlin in terms of growth in the startup space and is the seventh largest investment destination in the world!

Image: Huffington Post

Other Indian cities haven’t even made it to the list.

The report also explains that Bengaluru has some of the youngest tech entrepreneurs in the world. In fact, the average age of an engineer in the city is much less than that of Silicon Valley (25 vs 36).

Nasscom’s 2016 Startup Report also states that Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR account for 70 percent of startups in the country. India is also home to the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, and this is led by Bengaluru, with Delhi-NCR close on its heels and Mumbai a distant third.

Image: Nasscom

Bengaluru is also reported to be the “biggest investment destination”, accounting for over 40 percent of overall funding in the startup space in India. If you’re looking to start something new, Bengaluru is certainly the place to be.

As one entrepreneur explains, “I find this space more exciting. I find the energy and the sheer number of people starting up here are far more”, when comparing Bengaluru’s startup scene to Silicon Valley’s.

Government support

The Nasscom report goes on to state that the Karnataka government is “leading the wave of Indian startup ecosystem.” That’s saying something.

Image: Nasscom

Karnataka’s permanent secretary of e-governance has been quoted as saying, “Silicon Valley will be Bangalored!” With statements like that, and the amount of work the state government is putting in to back startups and the necessary ecosystem, the government’s commitment is in no doubt.

There’s a dedicated startup cell to implement the government’s startup policy, government grants and a great deal of supporting infrastructure.

Where else will Apple go?

Considering what these reports suggest, where else will Apple go? The company’s already investing in a massive, 40,000 square foot complex in Bengaluru for the development of apps; the engineers are there, the money is there and the manufacturing is coming up.

Image: Nasscom

Microsoft, Amazon and IBM are also investing heavily in Bengaluru. In fact, data centres are already being set up there. It’s not without reason that Bengaluru is being called the Silicon Valley of India.

If you’re an engineer fresh out of college, would you rather be in Bengaluru or Chennai/Hyderabad? For most, the choice is obvious.

From that perspective, there’s no reason for Apple to want to go anywhere else.

T-Hub launches program to network startup ecosystems

  16 Oct 2016 , 12:10

T-Hub, one of India’s largest startup ecosystem builder, in partnership with Uber and TiE Silicon Valley has announced the launch of T-Bridge — a unique initiative to connect startup ecosystems from around the world to India. The programme will connect Indian startups with global market opportunities, and help bring global startups to India. T-Bridge will help startups access UberEXCHANGE — Uber’s flagship startup mentorship program and TiE Silicon Valley’s mentor network.

Telangana’s Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao, who is currently on a visit to the US, inaugurated T-Bridge at Uber’s headquarters in San Francisco. He opened T-Hub’s first outpost in the US in association with Uber and TiE Silicon Valley. T-Bridge will enable startup communities in India and around the world to cross-pollinate ideas, innovate and create channels for knowledge transfer.

It will also create a network of mentors, VCs, incubators and accelerators that is advantageous to the Indian startup ecosystem, said a statement released from the minister’s office here on Saturday. T-Bridge will provide a platform for such fast-track tech companies looking to tap into India’s huge consumer market for technology. “We have a strong vision to make Hyderabad one of the top 10 startup cities in the world. T-Bridge is one such move towards opening a channel of investment from the world to the state of Telangana,” said Rao.

“The Telangana government has been one of India’s most progressive states. The vitality and transformational mindset of its leadership gained quick notoriety within the startup world. TiE Silicon Valley is pleased to host the first T-Bridge outpost in Silicon Valley,” said TiE Silicon Valley’s incoming President Ram K. Reddy. “Today more and more people around the world want to build something themselves. Through initiatives like UberEXCHANGE, our mentorship program for Indian startups, we hope to spur entrepreneurship,” said Uber’s senior Vice President for policy and communications, Rachel Whetstone.

Creative partnerships like T-Bridge will strengthen ties between India and the global startup scene, Whetstone said. T-Hub’s CEO Jay Krishnan said since the launch of T-Hub last year, Hyderabad witnessed a threefold increase in startup activity, and added “The city is abuzz with over 30 incubators and co-working spaces. There is something happening in every corner.” “We’re committed to enabling and growing this community and helping Indian entrepreneurs access global resources. T-Bridge is one such initiative in that direction,” Krishnan said.

T-Hub is a unique public/private partnership between the government of Telangana, three of India’s premier academic institutes (IIIT-H, ISB and NALSAR) and key private sector leaders.

IANS