Bengaluru vs San Francisco: Where to Launch Your AI Startup

San Francisco, the hub for tech talent, investment, and trends, has long been the go-to destination for founders looking to build the next big thing. But now, the Indian city of Bengaluru is quickly emerging as the next major startup hotspot.?

Nick Linck , an X user, recently shared an insight: “Your startup’s runway can stretch five times longer if you choose Bengaluru over San Francisco.”?

But how??

For starters, you can get a place to live and hire a cook for just $500 a month. Compare that to San Francisco ’s sky-high living costs, and it’s no wonder that early founders are starting to rethink their options.?

The reality is that most startups fail because they run out of money. This tip may help founders buy more time to build by cutting down on living expenses. And so, now is the time to consider this massive savings potential.?

En route to Bengaluru

What also sets the city apart is the potential for substantial venture capital funding. In 2020 , Bengaluru attracted over $10 billion in venture capital investments, surpassing leading hubs like San Francisco and London.?

Linck also pointed out a major milestone. South Park Commons , a community of founders and engineers, just opened its third global office in Bengaluru, after San Francisco and NYC. Seems like the big players are taking note of this emerging ecosystem.

Another example is Indian-origin entrepreneur Hardeep Gambhir . In February 2024, moving to Bengaluru wasn’t on his radar but looking at India’s growing concentration of startup builders, he flew out of SF in May and now finds himself torn between two cities.?

AI Startups in Namma Bengaluru?

Coming down to AI startups, the emergence of companies like Sarvam AI , which focuses on developing advanced AI models, reflects Bengaluru’s commitment to technological innovation.

Krutrim AI , led by Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal , has raised $50 million in funding at a $1 billion valuation and is now India’s first AI startup to attain unicorn status.?

Innovation in AI isn’t limited to corporate giants. Startups like KOGO are disrupting the market with their AI operating systems, offering modular AI assistants tailored for diverse industries. Meanwhile, Karya AI is pioneering in the rural employment sector, leveraging AI to create job opportunities through tasks in local languages, with notable partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft and Google.

These home-grown initiatives underscore Bengaluru’s status as a hub for AI innovation, promising transformative impacts across multiple sectors.

Speaking to AIM at the IGIC event 2024, Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, the CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, mentioned, “There are over 1,000 AI startups in Bengaluru. With initiatives like Beyond Bengaluru, we are also promoting AI startups in Mysuru, Hubli, and Mangaluru.”??

Evidently, the city is abuzz with startup energy. While places like San Francisco, New York, Beijing, and Shanghai lead the global startup ecosystem, Bengaluru , often dubbed as India’s Silicon Valley, ranks 33rd among global startup hubs, according to PitchBook’s October 2023 survey .?

Recent statistics highlight Bengaluru’s burgeoning startup landscape, boasting over 10,000 startups valued at approximately $50 billion. These figures underscore the city’s entrepreneurial vigour and its ability to foster an environment conducive to startup growth.

Bengaluru’s HNIs?

Bengaluru’s rise isn’t limited to startups alone. According to Henley & Partners’ 2024 list, it is one of the world’s wealthiest cities with its millionaire population more than doubling in the past decade. The city’s thriving tech sector attracts substantial wealth, propelling it into the top 10 wealthiest cities globally.?

Bengaluru is now home to over 13,200 high-net-worth individuals, each with investable assets exceeding $1 million.

While New York leads the world with nearly 350,000 millionaires, the Bay Area, comprising cities like San Jose, San Francisco, and Palo Alto, has emerged as the second wealthiest region worldwide, boasting over 305,700 millionaires.

So, as we watch the next chapter of Bengaluru’s startup journey unfold, one thing is clear: keep your eyes on the city, because it’s only getting started!

Enjoy the full story here .?

Google is Shipping Faster than OpenAI?

“It feels great, going back to the AI roots,” said Logan Kilpatrick, in an exclusive interaction with AIM, sharing his experience of working at Google with Matt Velloso , Google’s vice president of product for AI/ML development, whom he admires the most; Jeff Dean, chief scientist at Google DeepMind and Google Research; and Demis Hassabis , the CEO of Google DeepMind.?

Previously, Kilpatrick served as the developer relations lead at OpenAI. He is one of the notable figures in the AI landscape today, and has carved out a reputation with his earnest dedication and an unwavering commitment to advancing AI.?

Kilpatrick, with his approachable demeanour and proven leadership skills, continues to influence the strategic direction of AI development, both within Google and across the broader tech community. Know more about his journey here .?

Microsoft 365 Copilot: Wave 2 Highlights?

• Copilot Pages: A dynamic, persistent canvas designed for multiplayer AI collaboration, blending web and work data for seamless ideation and teamwork.
• BizChat: A central hub that integrates web, work, and line-of-business data, turning organisational content into a rich, reusable knowledge base.
• Copilot in Excel with Python: Now generally available, it allows users to leverage Python for advanced data analysis and machine learning directly within Excel, without needing to code.
• Copilot in PowerPoint with Narrative Builder: Enables users to co-create and iterate presentations with AI, ensuring on-brand, professional results faster than ever.
• Copilot in Outlook with Prioritise My Inbox: AI-driven email management system that prioritises messages based on content and context, helping users focus on what matters most.
• Copilot in Teams: Provides comprehensive meeting summaries by reasoning over both spoken discussions and meeting chats, ensuring no question or idea is left behind.
• Copilot in OneDrive: Summarises and compares files without opening them, helping users quickly find and act on the right content.
• Copilot in Word: Enhances document creation by integrating emails, meetings, and organisational content, enabling real-time coauthoring and improved writing efficiency.
• Copilot Agents: AI assistants that automate and execute business processes, scalable and customizable to fit specific organisational needs, with capabilities ranging from simple prompts to fully autonomous operations.
• Agent Builder: A new tool in Copilot Studio that allows users to easily create and deploy AI agents within BizChat and SharePoint, transforming organisational data into actionable insights.