Bengaluru Emerges as Global Tech Powerhouse
Bengaluru has been recognized as one of the top 12 global tech ‘powerhouse’ cities in CBRE’s Global Tech Talent Guidebook 2025, joining major tech centers like San Francisco, London, Beijing, and Tokyo. The city’s tech talent pool has now exceeded one million, positioning it among the world’s leading technology hubs out of 115 markets surveyed.
Key Factors Behind Bengaluru’s Success
The report categorizes markets as Powerhouse, Established, or Emerging based on talent size, competitiveness, and cost. Bengaluru leads India’s AI talent boom and is emerging as a serious competitor to US tech strongholds. Between 2018 and 2023, the city’s tech employment grew by 12%, driven by its robust startup ecosystem, 28 unicorns, and investments in AI, data science, and product engineering.
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Bengaluru’s favorable demographics play a significant role in its success, with 75.5% of its population being of working age – the fourth-highest ratio among the top 12 hubs. This segment grew by 2.4% between 2019 and 2024, ensuring a sustained talent pipeline. In 2024, Bengaluru attracted 140 venture capital (VC) deals worth $3.3 billion, including 34 deals in AI.
India’s Emerging Tech Ecosystem
The presence of leading educational institutions and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) has helped anchor strategic functions locally. Anshuman Magazine, chairman & CEO of CBRE India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, noted, “Bengaluru’s rise to global tech powerhouse status reflects India’s strategic depth in digital innovation and talent readiness.”
Other Indian cities are also gaining prominence in the tech landscape. Delhi-NCR and Mumbai stand out as key innovation hubs. In 2024, Delhi-NCR closed 183 VC deals worth $1.9 billion, including 42 in AI. Mumbai recorded $4.9 billion in funding across 167 deals, making it one of India’s most capital-rich corridors.
Global AI Talent Trends
Globally, AI-focused tech investment reached $129 billion in 2024. The Asia-Pacific region is home to three of the world’s largest tech talent pools: Beijing, Bengaluru, and Shanghai – each with more than one million workers. India and the US continue to lead in AI development talent. As companies expand their search for cost-effective and skilled workforces, Bengaluru is increasingly seen as a strategic tech destination, not just an outsourcing hub.
