No, we’re not kidding at all! Statistics say that Bhubaneswar is and has been one of the fastest growing IT hub in India for quite some time, just that all the hustle and bustle might have missed your eyes!
Bhubaneswar, or more commonly known as a city of temples that’s both scenic and quiet in nature is a pit stop for tourists enroute to Puri. But all that has changed now. From being the fastest growing software hub of Eastern India, to numerous possibilities for startups by the government, this slumbering city ranks 3rd in the nation in terms of ease of business and potential growth according to the World Bank. Speaking of which NASSCOM has also upgraded this city to Tier-II city that can promise a 30% growth in the IT space of India! Not an everyday affair, is it? Well, it’s just the beginning.
Bangalore became the silicon valley of India and is now followed by Pune, but Bhubaneswar is catching up to all of it quiet aggressively since it has the most stable government (with the fourth time in a row) that wants startups to flourish. In 2017, Naveen Patnaik started an initiative that comprises of a series of incentives for startups and many startups have been chosen for the same. Till now Odisha has only exported talent and Bangalore is a living example, where you keep bumping into Odia software engineers, CEOs and Directors.
Subroto Bagchi, the co-founder and former chairman of Mindtree and a graduate from Utkal University is now the chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority and a cabinet minister of the state who has taken up the agenda of putting exposure, talent and technology into one place to emerge as a global brand out of being “trained in Odisha”. Ritesh Agarwal, the founder of Oyo Rooms, the highest funded startup in India also belongs from Rayagada, Odisha and has framed the Odisha Startup Policy and set up a Oyo Training Facility in Odisha. Other successful startups like Venturesity, Explara, Appknox, DocEngage, Milk Mantra are headed by native entrepreneurs who are now in the major contributing startups of the nation.
Hon’ble Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
The startup culture is in its epitome in Bhubaneswar and currently has a lot of new and bigger opportunities than in the past. Gaining reference from big-time technology firms like Tatwa technologies, Mindfire Solutions who started in Bhubaneswar and stayed back to make it large, many IT giants like Infosys, TCS, Mahindra Satyam, Wipro have all been here for a while. According to reports, STPI bhubaneswar turnover has grown from nil to staggering Rs. 1800 crores in 2012-13 and looking into the current scenario, things are going to get better. With proper policies and transparent operations that contributes to technology and business from the government, incorporating the educational belt of the city from being a primary option for engineering, pure science, business management in the eastern India – institutes like IIT, NISER, XIMB, KIIT, Odisha can finally stop the brain drain and cater to the development of its own tech space, because of its affordable cost of living, lesser traffic as well as low crime rate making it one of the most preferred city for a flourishing IT industry.