Once known primarily as India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru is now standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of San Francisco, Beijing, and Tokyo on the global tech stage. A new report by CBRE, Global Tech Talent Guidebook 2025, places the city among the world’s top 12 “Powerhouse” technology hubs, thanks in large part to its surging AI talent pool that has crossed the one-million mark.
This recognition places Bengaluru in rarefied company, affirming its transformation into a full-fledged global innovation centre. The report evaluates 115 international markets and categorizes them as Powerhouse, Established, or Emerging, based on their talent density, cost efficiency, and competitiveness. Bengaluru, already a magnet for startups and tech investment, now leads India’s AI revolution.
Bengaluru’s tech workforce has grown by 12% between 2018 and 2023, driven by its thriving ecosystem of more than two dozen unicorns and deep investment in artificial intelligence, data science, and product engineering. The city’s youthful, highly skilled population, 75.5% of whom are of working age, gives it one of the most favourable talent demographics among global tech capitals.
In 2024 alone, Bengaluru attracted 140 venture capital deals worth $3.3 billion, with AI accounting for 34 of those. The city’s role as a hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and its proximity to premier technical institutions continues to reinforce its global relevance.
“Bengaluru’s rise to global tech powerhouse status reflects India’s strategic depth in digital innovation and talent readiness,” said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO of CBRE India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa. “What’s even more promising is the growth trajectory of cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur.”
While Bengaluru is leading the charge, other Indian cities are making significant moves on the innovation map. Delhi-NCR closed 183 VC deals in 2024 totaling $1.9 billion, with 42 focused on AI. Mumbai saw an even higher figure: $4.9 billion across 167 deals, positioning it as a financial and technological juggernaut.
Emerging markets like Ahmedabad and Jaipur are also rising. GIFT City in Ahmedabad is expected to host over 550 firms and employ more than 20,000 people. Jaipur’s appeal lies in its strong educational infrastructure and lower operational costs, making it a favorite among startups and IT firms seeking scale without the big-city overhead.
CBRE’s report underscores a major shift in how companies think about location. “The size and depth of a city’s tech talent pool are increasingly influencing corporate site selection and real estate decisions,” said Ada Choi, Head of Research, APAC at CBRE. “As transformative technologies like AI accelerate, global firms are diversifying their geographic footprint and cities like Bengaluru are reaping the benefits.”
India, along with the United States, leads the world in AI development talent. In 2024, global AI-focused tech investment hit $129 billion, with the Asia-Pacific region claiming three of the largest talent clusters: Beijing, Bengaluru, and Shanghai, all now home to over one million tech professionals.
Once seen primarily as a back office for the West, Bengaluru’s evolution is now complete. With its unmatched combination of skilled workforce, startup density, and institutional backing, the city has become a strategic epi-center for innovation and AI development on the global stage.
As global demand for AI talent accelerates, Bengaluru and India at large, is no longer catching up. It’s leading the way.