Kalaburagi to be developed as regional start-up hub under LEAP

Deputy Commissioner Ikram Shariff addressing a media conference at the Centre of Excellence for Agri-Allied and Rural-Focused Start-ups in Kalaburagi on Thursday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI The State government has decided to develop Kalaburagi as a major regional start-up destination under its ambitious Local Economy Accelerator Program (LEAP) initiative aimed at expanding the IT, biotechnology and start-up ecosystem beyond Bengaluru, Deputy Commissioner Ikram Shariff said here on Thursday.Addressing a media conference at the Centre of Excellence for Agri-Allied and Rural-Focused Start-ups, Mr. Shariff said that the initiative includes the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for rural innovation and agri-start-ups through the KrishiKalpa Foundation, for which an estimated grant of ₹12 crore to ₹12.5 crore has been earmarked.“The State government is taking steps to provide start-ups with mentoring, networking opportunities and support in mobilising investments. It is also planning to establish LEAP Labs, offering modern co-working facilities near the High Court, and develop a fully equipped IT park on the outskirts of Kalaburagi,” Mr. Shariff said.KrishiKalpa Foundation CEO C.M. Patil said that the foundation will inaugurate its new incubation centre premises in the heart of Kalaburagi on Saturday.To mark the occasion, it will organise the first Kalyana Karnataka Start-up Dialogue-2026 under the theme, Unlocking entrepreneurial possibilities beyond Bengaluru and showcasing the entrepreneurial potential of Kalyana Karnataka.As per the details he provided, the day-long event will be held on the KrishiKalpa Foundation premises from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.More than 300 registered start-ups, entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, industry leaders and policymakers from the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka are expected to participate.“A special Solveathon initiative will also be organised in collaboration with the local administration. It will provide students an opportunity to identify practical challenges faced by government departments and develop solutions using their skills and knowledge,” Mr. Patil said.Prominent industry leaders expected to participate in the event include Chief Agri Business Officer of BigBasket Vipul Mittal, Co-founder and Managing Director of DeHaat Adarsh Srivastava, Co-founder and Director of BigHaat Sachin Nandwana, CEO and Director of C-CAMP Taslimarif Saiyed and CEO of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) Sanjeev Kumar Gupta.The initiative aims to create a supportive ecosystem for young people to establish successful enterprises in their home region instead of migrating to metropolitan cities in search of employment, he said. Published - November 12, 2026 09:01 pm IST