The fifth annual technology summit of the Belagavi Technology Companies Association (BeTCA) was held on September 19 at the Foundry Cluster in Belagavi, under the theme “Engineering the Future – AI, DeepTech, Security.” Eight product launches and an exhibition of home‑grown technologies showcased local developments in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace, defence, embedded systems, healthcare and engineering technology. Delegates—including companies, entrepreneurs, engineers and technology enthusiasts—listened to pitches for investment and collaboration and heard stories of successful entrepreneurs.
The event’s centerpiece was the unveiling of the Shaurya MAK IV, a locally built drone that is currently being tested by Indian defence forces. Rahul Patil, the 30‑year‑old engineer who designed the drone, returned from the army testing ground with enthusiasm and reported that defence officers were supportive and encouraging. Keynote speaker Deepak Shapeti, a Stanford University graduate from Dharwad and founder of Morphing Machines, displayed an indigenously built microchip and announced that his company is raising a third round of capital. He urged local entrepreneurs to build industry in Belagavi, drawing a parallel with Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem.
An important outcome of the summit was a Memorandum of Understanding between BeTCA and the Goa Technology Association (GTA), signed by R.K. Patil and GTA founder Mangirish Salelkar. The MoU aims to strengthen collaboration across innovation, entrepreneurship, start‑up development, technology adoption, skill development, knowledge sharing and industry collaboration. The summit also featured panels on cyber‑attack detection, product development, and the startup story of Belagavi, with speakers including Saleem Landur, Hitesh Dharmdasani, Swapneel Patnekar, Murali Srinivasa, Uma Bondada and Tulasidas Salunkhe. Aadil Bandukwala noted that the BeTCA community now has around 90 members, 50 companies employing 800 people, and has recorded 143 job postings with 30 offers and 20 positions accepted.
Product launches highlighted a range of tech tools: GroEDGE’s AI‑powered patient acquisition platform; MIMO360’s connected healthcare platform; Samhita Engineering’s Product Engineering Suite; Conqer AI’s website and marketing automation; FIXIDU’s online aggregator for handyman services; Sora Labs’ AI agents for business conversations; and Reputes’ Zen Voice AI‑powered CRM suite.
