The Make-in-India initiative has been one of the most iconic programs of the current union government. There has been significant growth in Foreign Direct Investment after the launch of this program in 2014. However, it's still a futuristic initiative that takes a collective effort of central and state governments to achieve its comprehensive goals. The government of Karnataka has been exemplary with its efforts towards making full use of the opportunities. Under the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), an initiative sponsored by the state government ­ the state is expanding its IT business hub from Bangalore to cities like Mysore.

It's no wonder Mysore is emerging as one of the most preferred destinations for businesses across several industry verticals. KDEM Mysore cluster is expected to fuel this growth. As a preliminary step towards this, the government has put together an advisory committee to coordinate the activities of the new cluster, incorporating industry leaders Pavan Ranga, Director, NR Group and CEO Rangsons Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, MD & CEO, Lahari Sanjay Srinivasmurthy, Managing Director, Silicon Road Ideation Labs; and Krishnadas Unni, Executive Director, Client Innovation, IBM from Mysore. TiE Mysore and K-Tech also support the new cluster.

The city offers a great opportunity for aspirant entrepreneurs to realize their dream. Besides the quality and cost of living the city offers, something that makes Mysore the next obvious startup destination in Karnataka after Bengaluru is its access to the best academia, infrastructure, and connectivity. If you are looking for that one last inspiration trigger, this issue could help you. In this issue of CEO Insights, we shed light on a few iconic entrepreneurs in the city.
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