Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Bengaluru - statistics & facts
Once a major British military cantonment, Bengaluru merged with the city areas of the former Kingdom of Mysore post-independence, evolving into one of India’s largest urban centers. Officially renamed from "Bangalore" to "Bengaluru" in 2014 to honor its Kannada name, it hosts major tech companies like Infosys, Wipro, IBM, and Microsoft. The city’s diverse economy also supports high-growth startups like Byju's, Swiggy, and Ola, making it a key hub for innovation despite its notorious, record-breaking traffic congestions in recent years.
Bengaluru’s entrepreneurial culture, IT infrastructure, supportive government policies, and a pool of highly skilled professionals all combine to make it a hotbed for innovation. The city’s startup ecosystem spans various sectors, including e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and deep tech. These startups collectively raised over 7.5 billion dollars in venture capital investments in the first half of 2022 alone.
Notable startups from India’s IT capital include Flipkart, an e-commerce marketplace that was incidentally Amazon’s biggest competitor in India, and Swiggy, a food delivery platform. The latter’s market valuation exceeded ten billion dollars and was one of the country’s leading unicorns.
With the bustle of multinational employees, the South Indian city successfully meets the needs of the contemporary Bangalorean and its visitors. A diverse experience of traditional and modern art & culture from the Kannada film industry (commonly called Sandalwood) to regional and national theatre showcases, along with classical and western dance and music across coveted venues in the city are on offer for all inhabitants.
Sports enthusiasts cheer on various home teams represented in cricket through the Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League and, more recently, the Women’s Premier League, in football through Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League, and the Bengaluru Bulls in the Pro Kabaddi League.
The Silicon Valley of India
Bengaluru has been a prominent beneficiary of India’s position as a global offshoring destination for numerous IT companies, providing a wide range of IT services. The city’s economic success extends beyond IT, embracing other critical sectors such as the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a state-owned aerospace and defense company, plays a vital role in India’s defense preparedness.Bengaluru’s entrepreneurial culture, IT infrastructure, supportive government policies, and a pool of highly skilled professionals all combine to make it a hotbed for innovation. The city’s startup ecosystem spans various sectors, including e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and deep tech. These startups collectively raised over 7.5 billion dollars in venture capital investments in the first half of 2022 alone.
Notable startups from India’s IT capital include Flipkart, an e-commerce marketplace that was incidentally Amazon’s biggest competitor in India, and Swiggy, a food delivery platform. The latter’s market valuation exceeded ten billion dollars and was one of the country’s leading unicorns.
India’s cosmopolitan melting pot
Despite its megacity status, Bengaluru managed to retain its reputation as the ‘Garden City of India,’ thanks to its numerous parks and gardens. Locations such as the iconic Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Cubbon Park all offer respite from the urban chaos. Being a sought-after culinary destination in India, the city is known to have the country's most micro-breweries, which arguably took off with the success and popularity of UB Group’s Kingfisher brand.With the bustle of multinational employees, the South Indian city successfully meets the needs of the contemporary Bangalorean and its visitors. A diverse experience of traditional and modern art & culture from the Kannada film industry (commonly called Sandalwood) to regional and national theatre showcases, along with classical and western dance and music across coveted venues in the city are on offer for all inhabitants.
Sports enthusiasts cheer on various home teams represented in cricket through the Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League and, more recently, the Women’s Premier League, in football through Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League, and the Bengaluru Bulls in the Pro Kabaddi League.
