Technology is rapidly changing the landscape of power, access, and opportunity. Artificial intelligence lowers barriers, shortens timelines, and expands the scope of application; therefore, the key question is not just access to technology, but the ability to move faster, create better, and solve real problems.
This context sets the tone for TechSparks 2026—YourStory's flagship summit on startups and technology, which will take place in Bangalore from October 13 to 15. The event's theme is 'The New Tech Order.'
The summit is built on the idea that the future is not just discussed, but created in real time. TechSparks gathers the people shaping this future so they can exchange ideas, forge partnerships, test hypotheses, and turn discussions into practical actions.
Discussions at TechSparks 2026 will bring together leaders from government bodies, the technology sector, startups, venture capital, the corporate sector, and deep tech, offering diverse perspectives on shaping the next phase of innovation in India.
A Political View
Priyank Hardge, Minister of Home Affairs, IT, BT, and e-Governance of the Government of Karnataka, will present the political perspective on technology, innovation, and the role of the state in supporting the new generation of enterprises and digital infrastructure. Karnataka has established itself as a major center for emerging technologies, and the state intends to further strengthen its ecosystem in deep tech and AI.
The Future of Bangalore
Krishna Bayre Gowda, Minister for Urban Development of the Government of Karnataka, will deliver a report on the future of Bangalore and the role of cities in supporting innovation, growth, and the ecosystems that enable it. He also addressed the use of technology and citizen participation in solving certain urban problems in Bangalore.
Christina Strimaithe, Marketing Director at Hostinger, represents global technology companies that develop tools and platforms to help businesses and individuals build and develop their online presence. Her viewpoint will enrich the discussion on how technology expands digital access and changes business interaction with customers and markets.
Pramod Varma, co-founder and chief architect of Networks for Humanity, will bring expertise in creating technologies and digital public infrastructure at a population scale. He will discuss how large technological systems can be designed to ensure broader access and solve real-world challenges.
Samir Nigam, founder and CEO of PhonePe, joins the list of participants from India's digital economy hub. PhonePe's growth alongside the country's digital payments ecosystem gives him a unique insight into building consumer technologies at scale, as well as the opportunities and challenges of serving millions of users.
Ravi Garg, Director of Enterprise Sales, AI, and Business Messaging in APAC at Meta, will provide a corporate perspective on the growing adoption of AI and business messaging. As companies explore new ways to use AI in customer engagement and business operations, enterprise adoption will be an important part of the discussion.
The Investment Side
Anjali Bansal, founder of Avaana Capital, presents the investment side of India's innovation ecosystem. Her opinion is timely as capital increasingly focuses on sectors beyond traditional tech companies—those where technology intersects with climate, sustainability, and large-scale economic shifts.
Ashutosh Sharma, Head of Investments and M&A at Prosus, will share insights covering investments, acquisitions, and the evolving technological landscape. His participation comes as Indian startups navigate a changing funding environment while striving to build more scalable, sustainable, and long-term valuable enterprises.
Michael Cronin, Vice President of Sales for APAC, Japan, and India at Couchbase, will add a corporate technology lens to TechSparks 2026, as companies increasingly consider how to build, deploy, and scale applications in AI-driven environments.
The program also includes Professor Ashok Jundzhunwala from IIT Madras, who is a professor at the institute and chairman of IIIT Hyderabad and ITEL Foundation; Mukund Jha, founder and CEO of Emergent; Dr. Nagendra Nagaraja, founder, CEO, and chairman of QpiAI; Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of AgniKul; Anand Jain, co-founder and CMO of CleverTap; Rahul Chari, founder and CPTO of PhonePe; Priyanka Agarwal Chopra, Managing Partner and CEO of IIMA Ventures; and Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures.
With such a diverse lineup, including politicians, founders, investors, technologists, and builders, TechSparks 2026 will bring together the people defining India's technological future to discuss the next steps—and, more importantly, to help build them.
The new tech order is being shaped right now. Be part of the conversations that define it.
