KBITS, Government of Karnataka

Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) is a not-for-profit Section 8 organisation incorporated in December 2020. It operates under the Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology (EITBT), Government of Karnataka. The organisation functions as a knowledge and execution link between the state government and the technology industry, supporting growth in Karnataka's IT, ESDM, and startup sectors.

Headquartered in Bengaluru, KDEM collaborates with industry bodies such as NASSCOM, ASSOCHAM, and IESA. Its work spans five verticals: IT Products & Services; BPM and GCC Promotion; Innovation & Startups; Electronics Systems Design and Manufacturing (ESDM); Beyond Bengaluru; and Talent Accelerator. The organisation targets the creation of 40 unicorns and 50 soonicorns in Karnataka, with the broader goal of positioning the state as a global digital economy leader.

KDEM's Innovation & Startups vertical handles startup policy implementation and supports the network of Centres of Excellence (CoEs), Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), and New Age Incubation Networks (NAINs) across the state. Its programmes include the Karnataka Acceleration Network, which nurtures approximately 306 startups over three years through a mentor-mentee model; BLUE (Beyond Bengaluru), which connects startups from Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi, Mangaluru, and Mysuru with VCs, angel investors, and industry leaders; LEAP (Local Economy Accelerator Programme), which establishes incubation centres in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities with local institutions; and Industry & Enterprise Connect, which facilitates pilots, partnerships, and enterprise connections between startups and large corporations.