Mangaluru Gears Up for the Emerge Beachside Startup Festival 2025

Mangaluru is set to host the second edition of the IDFC First Bank Emerge Beachside Startup Festival from January 31 to February 2, alongside the Mangaluru Beach Festival, under the theme ‘Silicon Beach of India’. The event will highlight the rise of coastal cities as innovation hubs, bringing together startups, investors, and industry leaders for three days of networking, expert-led discussions, and funding opportunities. The festival will feature startup showcases, investor meetups, panel discussions, and workshops focusing on sectors such as tech, fintech, healthtech, and green innovation. Live pitch sessions will offer promising startups the chance to secure investments and mentorship, further solidifying Mangaluru's position as an emerging startup destination.

A major highlight this year is the ‘Investor Connect Program’, which will facilitate one-on-one meetings between select startups and venture capitalists. This initiative is expected to open doors for early-stage entrepreneurs seeking funding and industry insights. Speaking about the event, Vishwas US, founder director of Section Infin8, and Umesh Ramalingachar, chief event convenor, emphasized the growing role of India's coastal cities in the startup ecosystem, drawing parallels with global tech hubs. As India’s startup boom extends beyond metro cities, Mangaluru is poised to become a key player in tech, tourism, and sustainability-driven entrepreneurship, making this festival a must-attend for innovators and investors alike.