Mangaluru: A new grassroots tech initiative is taking shape in coastal Karnataka, aiming to bring the kind of high-energy builder culture seen in global hubs closer to home. Amrit Ashok Shenava, founder, Flashmates, will organise a monthlong sprint for ‘builders and hackers’ across Tulunadu, offering a platform for those with a bold idea to turn it into a working product.Amrit told TOI the programme, set to culminate in an in-person demo day in Mangaluru, is designed to attract college students, working professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs alike. Participants will be encouraged to build anything, from AI tools to deep-tech innovations, over four weeks, with the most promising projects showcased before a live audience of potential customers and investors.He said the initiative is inspired by global accelerators such as Y Combinator, which recently hosted its Startup School in Bengaluru and drew thousands of applicants. “Most of these opportunities are concentrated in cities like Bengaluru or San Francisco. The idea is to create something similar here, where local talent can build and get noticed,” he explained.The sprint will provide access to resources like compute credits, developer tools and, hardware labs through local incubation centres. Shenava is in talks with tech companies like OpenAI and Anthropic to secure support in the form of grants and API credits, similar to those offered in large accelerator programmes.The initiative also taps into the broader momentum building around Mangaluru’s emerging tech identity, referred to as Silicon Beach. Recent efforts to attract companies and talent back to the region, including relocation support programmes, have begun to shift the narrative from placement-driven education to startup creation. “Earlier, the focus was on securing jobs after graduation. Now, students have access to resources to build startups while still in college. The ecosystem is changing, and this is about accelerating that shift,” he explained.Community response so far has been encouraging, with local tech groups and industry members offering support. The programme is open primarily to individuals from Tulunadu, including the diaspora, he added.
