Government is committed to supporting startups in Kalyana Karnataka: Priyank Kharge

KALABURAGI The Karnataka government will extend all necessary support to entrepreneurs in Kalyana Karnataka to establish and expand startups by facilitating access to investment, mentorship, technology and market linkages, Minister for Home, Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT-BT) and E-Governance and Kalaburagi District In-charge Priyank Kharge said on Saturday (November 14, 2026).

GoK opens entrepreneurship centre in Kalaburagi to boost startup culture across Kalyana Karnataka: Priyank Kharge storyline 1 Speaking at the ‘Kalyana Karnataka Startup Dialogue-2026’ in Kalaburagi, he urged young entrepreneurs to come forward with innovative ideas and pursue their business ventures with determination. Referring to his government’s policies and schemes for encouraging start-ups, Mr.

Kharge urged the young entrepreneurs to study the initiatives and identify the support available for their ventures. “If existing policies do not address their specific requirements, they should bring the gaps to the government’s notice. We are ready to formulate suitable new schemes and stand by young entrepreneurs,” he said. Beyond Bengaluru: Spreading the digital bet Beyond Bengaluru: Spreading the digital bet The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission launched the Beyond Bengaluru Mission in 2021 to drive a distributed growth of digital economy outside the State capital.

Shilpa Elizabeth reviews the situation five years down the line and finds that despite teething issues, the overriding feeling is that the mission is making slow but sure progress Beyond Bengaluru: Spreading the digital bet storyline 1 ELEVATE programme Pointing out that Bengaluru contributed around 41% to the State’s GDP, he said Kalaburagi’s contribution was estimated at 1.9%.

“The government aimed to increase this to 3%, which would require concerted efforts across sectors, including education, agriculture and manufacturing. Startups would play a significant role in accelerating the economic growth of Kalyana Karnataka,” he added. Mr. Kharge said the State government’s ELEVATE programme had supported the establishment of around 1,500 startups over the past 10 years.

“Selected startups were eligible for financial assistance of up to ₹50 lakh. Startups based outside Bengaluru currently accounted for around 28% of the total, and the government was working to increase this proportion by encouraging entrepreneurship across the State,” he said and added that a scheme was also being planned to provide selected entrepreneurs working in the deep-tech sector with financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore over the next 10 years.

Local Economy Accelerator Programme Emphasising that startups should not remain confined to Bengaluru but expand to tier-II and tier-III cities, Mr. Kharge said the government had introduced the Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP) to strengthen local economies and encourage young people to become job creators rather than job seekers. Kalaburagi to emerge as a major IT–BT hub under LEAP initiative: Priyank Kharge storyline 1 “Young entrepreneurs needed to understand market demand, business management, product positioning and customer outreach.

Having an innovative idea alone was not be sufficient; they also needed the skills to turn it into a sustainable business. Interaction and mentoring programmes involving entrepreneurs and industry experts are being organised to help them acquire these skills,” Mr. Kharge said. The minister said that the government was also taking up several initiatives to promote artificial intelligence (AI) in Kalyana Karnataka and incubation centres were being established to encourage startups.

KrishiKalpa Centre of Excellence to boost industrial growth in Kalyana Karnataka KrishiKalpa Centre of Excellence to boost industrial growth in Kalyana Karnataka The facility will significantly contribute to strengthening industrial and entrepreneurial growth in the region KrishiKalpa Centre of Excellence to boost industrial growth in Kalyana Karnataka storyline 1 Medical Education Minister Dr.

Sharan Prakash Patil, Srikrishna Sridhar Murthy of Sattva Consulting and Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner of Accel India, shared their views and experiences at the interaction. KrishiKalpa Foundation CEO C.M. Patil moderated the discussion. Earlier, K. Ullas Kamath, founder of UK&Co, delivered a special address on the growth of local entrepreneurship and the skills required to build successful businesses.

Photo: Startup_Dialogue_Priyank_Kharge_(1); Startup_Dialogue_Priyank_Kharge_(2)