Bengaluru has emerged as India’s leading hub for young entrepreneurs, with 21 founders from the city securing places on the Avendus Wealth-Hurun India U30 List 2026, compared with just seven in the previous edition. The significant increase highlights Bengaluru’s growing dominance in India’s startup ecosystem and reinforces its position as the country’s innovation capital.
Priyank Kharge, Minister of Home, e-Governance, Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, shared the findings while highlighting the state’s expanding innovation landscape. According to the Avendus Wealth-Hurun India U30 List 2026, which recognizes 102 outstanding business leaders aged 30 years and below, 18 companies featured on the list are headquartered in Bengaluru, the highest among all Indian cities.
The report includes first-generation entrepreneurs who have built startups valued at USD 25 million or more, along with next-generation business leaders managing family-owned enterprises valued at USD 50 million or more.
Priyank Kharge, Minister of Home, e-Governance, Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, said, “The list reflects how Bengaluru continues to lead from the front. This is a testament to Bengaluru’s entrepreneurial spirit, world-class talent, and collaborative innovation ecosystem.”
The latest report also highlights a strong shift toward DeepTech and HardTech startups. Nearly one in every four founders featured on this year’s list represents sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Electric Vehicles (EVs), Auto Components, SpaceTech, Aerospace & Defence, and Cybersecurity.
Furthermore, the number of entrepreneurs building AI and Machine Learning companies nearly doubled to eight this year. The SpaceTech sector contributed six founders from startups, including Pixxel, Digantara, and Apolink, while the Automobile and Auto Components category also doubled to seven entrepreneurs, all of whom focus on electric vehicles and EV component manufacturing.
Kharge emphasized that the findings align closely with Karnataka’s long-term innovation strategy.
He said, “As we continue to invest in deeptech, R&D, skilling, and founder-friendly policies, our focus remains on ensuring that Karnataka is the best place for ambitious entrepreneurs to build globally competitive companies.”
The report also revealed that India’s startup ecosystem continues to become younger and more diverse. The average age of entrepreneurs featured on the list stands at 28 years, while 84% of them are first-generation entrepreneurs, reflecting the growing strength of India’s independent startup ecosystem.
At just 20 years old, Onkar Singh Batra of Apolink and Dhravya Shah of Supermemory emerged as the youngest entrepreneurs featured in this year’s rankings.
Meanwhile, entrepreneurship continues to spread beyond metropolitan cities. The report found that 40 founders come from non-metro cities, highlighting the rapid expansion of India’s startup ecosystem across emerging innovation hubs.
Collectively, companies represented on the Hurun India U30 List 2026 have achieved a combined valuation of approximately ₹2.9 lakh crore and employ more than 75,000 professionals across multiple industries.
Additionally, the top 10 companies led by entrepreneurs on the list have collectively raised more than USD 3.5 billion in funding. Startups such as Zepto and BharatPe continue to lead this group, demonstrating strong investor confidence in India’s next generation of technology-driven businesses.
Congratulating the entrepreneurs, Priyank Kharge, Minister of Home, e-Governance, Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, said, “Congratulations to all the young founders shaping the future from Karnataka.” He also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure, research capabilities, and policy support for DeepTech, AI, and hardware innovation.
The report further reinforces Bengaluru’s leadership in India’s startup landscape as the city continues to attract entrepreneurs, investors, and technology talent. Backed by a robust innovation ecosystem, government support, and increasing investments in emerging technologies, Bengaluru remains at the forefront of India’s journey toward becoming a global startup and technology powerhouse.
