After the success of YES San Francisco, the global startup initiative YES Bengaluru has been launched to support Indian startups focused on solving urban challenges. This new chapter was unveiled by Karnataka's IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge as part of the World Economic Forum and Deloitte’s Yes Cities program — a global effort to make cities more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.
The YES Bengaluru initiative will help startups working in key areas such as urban mobility, green energy, waste management, and water conservation. Over the next three years, selected startups will receive support including funding, mentorship, and even international market access, thanks to collaboration with YES San Francisco.
“Bengaluru is already a global innovation hub. YES Bengaluru will back bold ideas that improve how our cities live, move, and breathe,” said Minister Kharge. The initiative aims to attract local and global innovators who are passionate about solving real-world infrastructure issues in Indian cities.
Sharath Bachegowda, Chairman of Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS), confirmed that the program will officially begin operations from September 2025. Startups will be guided in creating smart solutions for traffic, public transport, pollution, energy efficiency, and more.
The World Economic Forum’s Centre for Urban Transformation, along with its UpLink platform, had first launched YES San Francisco in 2023 as a pilot project. Since then, the initiative has grown into YES Cities, with a goal of supporting over 1,000 startups across more than 50 cities globally by 2030.
With Bengaluru joining the movement, India takes a big step forward in combining technology, innovation, and startup power to build better cities.
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