Karnataka has taken a significant step in strengthening its regional innovation ecosystem by releasing a grant of ₹1.93 crore to Vertex Workspace in Mangaluru under the state’s Beyond Bengaluru mission. The funding marks one of the first and largest support initiatives extended to a managed workspace operator outside Bengaluru, reinforcing the government’s focus on decentralising growth and building strong technology and enterprise hubs across Tier-2 cities. The grant was facilitated by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), which is spearheading the state’s strategy to expand the digital economy beyond the capital.
The support to Vertex Workspace is aimed at accelerating the development of enterprise-grade infrastructure in Mangaluru, a city that has been steadily emerging as a hub for startups, global capability centres (GCCs), and technology-led enterprises. By enabling high-quality managed workspaces in such regions, the state government seeks to unlock new employment opportunities, attract investments, and reduce the concentration of economic activity in Bengaluru.
Speaking on the initiative, Priyank M Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT and BT, said, “By backing enterprise-grade workspace platforms in emerging cities, we are creating new engines of employment and innovation. Vertex’s scale and long-term commitment in Mangaluru reflect exactly the kind of impact-driven growth Karnataka is aiming to enable.” His remarks underscore the state’s broader vision of fostering inclusive and distributed growth through targeted policy and financial support.
Vertex Managed Workspace has already established a strong footprint in Mangaluru and plays a critical role in supporting the city’s professional and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Gurudatta Shenoy, Managing Partner of Vertex Managed Workspace, highlighted the scale of its operations, stating, “Through our Mangaluru operations, Vertex today supports employment for over 2,250 professionals, making us the largest managed workspace platform outside Bengaluru. We are now expanding rapidly to 6,000 seats, further positioning Mangaluru as a preferred destination for startups, GCCs, investors and global enterprises.”
The grant is expected to further strengthen Vertex’s expansion plans while enhancing Mangaluru’s attractiveness as an alternative business destination. For the state, the initiative reflects a deliberate push to create multiple growth centres, support local talent, and ensure that Karnataka’s technology-led growth story extends well beyond Bengaluru.
