Bengaluru, February 23, 2026: The fifth edition of NITKonnect’26, the flagship global alumni meet of National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal, drew more than 1,200 alumni from across industries, including founders, CXOs, investors and startup leaders, to deliberate on the theme “Bharat Unbound” and India’s innovation-driven growth.
Organised by the institute’s alumni association, the summit featured keynote addresses by industry leaders and hosted 37 CXO panel discussions involving over 110 speakers. A dedicated Inspiring Founders’ Panel spotlighted more than 60 startups, with conversations centred on innovation, artificial intelligence and strategies for global scaling.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between NITK Surathkal, BHIVE Workspace and the NITK Alumni Association to offer complimentary co-working facilities to student entrepreneurs from the institute. The association also unveiled its Vision 2035 roadmap, presented by Director Prof. Ravi B and Prof. Prasanna Belur, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations. The programme concluded with the NITK Awards recognising outstanding achievements and innovation among alumni.
Participation included over 350 founders, 200 senior executives, 100 angel investors and representatives from 60 startups, positioning the gathering among the largest innovation-focused alumni events hosted by an Indian global network.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Ravi B said the accomplishments of NITK alumni across sectors such as manufacturing, sports, defence and public service continue to inspire students and strengthen the institution’s legacy. Global President of the NITK Alumni Association Niranjan Mahabalappa described NITKonnect’26 as a strategic platform that enables alumni founders, investors and technology leaders to collaborate and contribute to India’s next growth phase.
The day-long summit featured keynote sessions by Ajay Prabhu, Vice Chairman of Quest Global, and Saumya Swain, Chairman of RT Energy. Under the theme “Innovate in Bharat, Scale for the World,” discussions explored India’s emergence as a global force in AI, clean energy and self-reliant space technologies.
Sessions spanning electric mobility, FinTech transformation and advanced manufacturing examined how investment momentum and technological ambition are repositioning India as a primary growth engine rather than a secondary alternative. By connecting enterprise software, digital infrastructure and evolving consumer ecosystems, the event aimed to outline pathways for the coming decade, culminating in a founders’ dialogue on scaling responsibly and shaping the future of work.
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