HUBBALLI – The entrepreneurial landscape of North Karnataka is undergoing a significant transformation, moving beyond its traditional roots to become a formidable hub for high-growth startups.
At the recent Hubballi Huddle, organized by Deshpande Startups, a “dual-circle” session titled “Building from North Karnataka: Struggles, Signals, and Scale” brought together the region’s most successful founders to map out the future of the local ecosystem.
The Hubballi–Dharwad–Belagavi Corridor: A Rising Startup Region
The huddle underscored a growing trend: locally rooted founders are increasingly building solutions that are not just regional, but nationally relevant. This momentum is evidenced by the recent surge in Elevate Karnataka winners originating from the Hubballi–Dharwad and Belagavi clusters.
Industry leaders noted that North Karnataka offers a unique “Building for Bharat” advantage—providing startups with the ability to optimize operational costs while staying close to deep-rooted problems that need innovative technological interventions.
Expert Insights: Struggles, Signals, and Scale
The session featured a powerhouse panel of founders and ecosystem leaders who have successfully scaled businesses from the region:
- Sasisekar Krish: Founder and CEO of nanoPix, a pioneer in VLSI algorithms and automated grading technology for the agriculture sector.
- Ajay Kabadi: CEO and Founder of DocketRun Tech, an AI startup providing deep-tech video analytics and smart wearable solutions.
- Akshay Kulkarni: Founder of The Tea Toast Co. and a prominent angel investor focusing on food and agriculture.
- Umesh Rudrapatna: Director at Gridflow Technologies, contributing to the region’s hardware and tech-services sector.
- Allahbaksh Asadullah: Principal Technical Architect at Infosys and a key mentor within the Hubballi innovation ecosystem.
The dialogue focused on the three pillars of regional growth: Struggles (navigating infrastructure and talent), Signals (identifying early signs of product-market fit in Tier-2 cities), and Scale (taking a Hubballi-born idea to a pan-India level).
Turning Dialogue into Action
The Hubballi Huddle is designed as a community-led learning platform. By bringing together veteran founders and early-stage entrepreneurs, the initiative aims to:
- Identify Early Signals: Spotting promising startups before they hit the mainstream.
- Strengthen Community Learning: Creating a “pay-it-forward” culture where successful founders mentor newcomers.
- Actionable Growth: Translating high-level discussions into practical strategies for fundraising and hiring.
Key Statistics
Startup Impact: Deshpande Startups has supported over 517+ startups.
Regional Growth: 43% of all Elevate 2025/2026 winners are now located outside of Bengaluru (Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, etc.).
Funding Milestone: These incubated startups have collectively raised over ₹128 Crore in funding.
Job Creation: Over 3,000+ local jobs have been generated by this North Karnataka startup corridor.
Government Support: The new Elevate NxT fund has allocated ₹150 Crore for deep-tech startups in 2026.
Why It Matters for North Karnataka
As the Karnataka government pushes its “Beyond Bengaluru” mandate, Hubballi is positioning itself as the primary alternative for tech innovation. With the Deshpande Startups campus serving as a nerve center, North Karnataka is no longer quietly shaping founders—it is loudly announcing its presence on the national stage.
Stay tuned to PanAsiaBiz for more updates on the Hubballi startup ecosystem and local business breakthroughs.