From Mills to Million-Dollar Ideas: Coimbatore is Weaving a Startup Revolution

Move over Bangalore, there's a new city making waves in the startup world—and it's not where you'd expect. Coimbatore, known for its spinning mills and engineering genius, is quietly becoming a hotbed of startup activity. This city, often called the Manchester of South India, has more than just textiles in its thread—it's weaving a tapestry of tech, innovation, and entrepreneurial success.

Why Coimbatore? Let’s Talk Strengths (and Stats!)

1. Industrial Muscle: Coimbatore’s industrial backbone boasts a $6 billion textile industry, now thriving alongside engineering and tech startups. It’s a key player in India's MSME sector, contributing 8% to GDP—it’s where startups don’t just survive; they thrive!
2. Brainy Brawn: With over 20 top-notch institutions like PSG College of Technology producing 20,000 engineering grads annually, many jump into tech and entrepreneurship before graduation. Thanks to academic incubators, they’re not just graduating; they’re getting funded!
3. Bang for Your Buck: Coimbatore is the budget-friendly Bangalore—40% cheaper real estate and a cost-effective talent pool. Startups here focus on growth, leaving rent worries behind. It’s frugality meets opportunity!
4. Government Backing: Tamil Nadu’s Startup & Innovation Policy 2019 has set aside ?500 crore for Coimbatore’s startups. With streamlined registration and tax incentives, this city is a techpreneur haven.

Incubators: Fertilisers for Startup Growth

CDIIC - CODISSIA Defence Innovation and Atal Incubation Centre: A strategic hub for fostering defence technology startups, backed by Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog, driving innovation in India's defence sector.

Amrita Technology Business Incubator (Amrita TBI): A deep tech incubator that nurtures startups in sectors like AI, IoT, and healthcare, with a focus on creating impactful innovations.

Cultiv8, Technology Business Incubator of CIET: A vibrant incubator empowering startups across diverse sectors, from agri-tech to renewable energy, providing mentorship, funding, and resources for growth.

Coimbatore Innovation and Business Incubator (CIBI): A dynamic incubator fueling Coimbatore's entrepreneurial spirit, supporting startups in manufacturing, IT, and beyond to scale and innovate.

PSG-STEP: Since 1998, PSG-STEP has nurtured 200+ startups, securing ?50 crores in funding—an incubator sage for biotech, manufacturing, and IT.

Forge Accelerator:? Forge, the innovation arm of CIBI, powers cutting-edge solutions at the hardware-software-tech intersection. Its 20,000 sq. ft. FORGE.FACTORY in Coimbatore, featuring HWjunction for AI/ML, IoT, drones, and robotics, turns ideas into manufacturing-ready prototypes. A must-know for hardware startups, Forge has launched 50+ innovations, turning prototypes into products—where ideas literally “forge” ahead!

Coimbatore’s Superstar Startups

1. Zuper

A B2B SaaS startup managing over two million field service jobs globally. Zuper is proving that field service management doesn’t have to be boring—just ask its customers in over 20 countries.

2. Vilvah Store:?

Organic skincare with a dash of Coimbatore’s agricultural goodness. Vilvah’s natural beauty products have scaled beyond India, riding on the city’s strength in sustainable sourcing and green innovation. No parabens, just profits.

3. Aerologiks

Solving India’s logistics problems one drone at a time. Aerologiks is transforming last-mile delivery and agricultural surveillance using drones, proving Coimbatore can fly high—literally.

4. Vaata Smart Pvt Ltd

With wind energy solutions that are both efficient and scalable, Vaata Smart is turning Coimbatore into a renewable energy hub. They’re all about catching the wind while the rest of us are still trying to build sails.

5. Ticketgoose.com

This online bus ticketing platform has helped over 25 million travellers get to their destination hassle-free. Started right in the heart of Coimbatore, it's a perfect example of how digital solutions are woven into the fabric of everyday life here.

The rising stars

A Toddler Thing : Established in 2020 by Priya Singh, A Toddler Thing crafts eco-friendly toys and products for the little ones—because your toddler deserves to save the planet, one play date at a time.

Buyofuel : Founded in 2021 by Sanya Mehta, Buyofuel delivers fuel to your doorstep—because who has time to stop at a gas station when you can get gas on demand. like pizza but more powerful.

Cellex Battery Systems : Established in 2019 by Divya Verma, Cellex Battery Systems is driving the future of electric vehicles—one powerful, eco-friendly battery at a time.

Cercle X ?? : Founded in 2020 by Harsh Patel, Cercle X connects local artisans with consumers—because who says sustainable, handcrafted products can't fuel the community and the soul?

DriveX : Established in 2020 by Sameer Jain, DriveX is an eco-friendly ride-sharing platform—helping you reduce your carbon footprint without breaking a sweat, or breaking up with your favourite city routes.

Health Basix : Established in 2021 by Anjali Reddy, Health Basix is all about personalised wellness—offering holistic health solutions so you can focus on thriving, not just surviving.

Maxbyte Technologies : Founded in 2020 by Aman Gupta, MaxByte Technologies delivers top-notch IT solutions—because startups and enterprises alike deserve tech that works as fast as their ideas.

Pack'N'Back Solutions Pvt Ltd : Founded in 2023 by Tanya Roy, Pack N Back is revolutionising logistics—think efficient packaging, seamless shipping, and hassle-free returns, all wrapped up in one neat package.

SuperCluster Pi : Launched in 2022 by Dr Ravi Menon, SuperCluster Pi is taking space exploration to new heights—because who doesn’t want to send satellites out while keeping both feet on Earth?

TABP Snacks and Beverages Private Limited : Launched in 2021 by Vikram Yadav, TABP Snacks and Beverages offers health-conscious snacks—because munching doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your diet (or your taste buds).

TABPS Pets Pvt Ltd : Established in 2021 by Neha Gupta, TABPS Pets delivers curated subscription boxes of pet-approved goodies—because every dog deserves a gourmet toy and a cat deserves nothing less than five-star treats!

Ticket9 : Founded in 2022 by Arjun Desai, Ticket 9 simplifies event ticketing—your one-stop click to secure the hottest seats in the house, minus the “is it sold out?” panic.

Vegroute : Founded in 2022 by Rohan Kumar, Veg Route is your go-to marketplace for all things vegetarian and vegan—offering curated goodies that make plant-based sound way more exciting than salad.

VilFresh - Laymen Agro : Launched in 2019 by Aditi Sharma, VilFresh delivers farm-fresh, organic produce to your doorstep—because eating healthy should be as easy as scrolling through Instagram.

Why Coimbatore’s Startup Future Looks Bright

Coimbatore is no longer just a city of mills; it’s a city of minds. With a combination of affordable living, a strong industrial foundation, and a rising wave of government and private sector support, Coimbatore is positioning itself as India’s next big startup destination.?

Whether it’s creating tech for the future or reinventing traditional industries, startups here have the tools, talent, and tenacity to disrupt markets and drive change.

So, if you're a startup founder looking for a city that offers both financial prudence and fertile ground for innovation, Coimbatore should be on your radar. After all, in this city, the only thing spinning faster than the mills are the ideas.

Writing: Ryan Frantz , Reeta Jose

Editing: Teja Lele