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Sun, sand, water, beautiful scenery, delightful cuisine and wonderful people. To many, this is Goa, and so when you try to build a technological marvel or a megacity in its place, it just might seem out of place. Can you transform a natural paradise into India’s next Silicon Valley? Can you turn surfers into technocrats? Seems unreal to begin with, but our research shows otherwise. Goa could be the next Silicon Valley of India, and we believe there are more takers and believers for it than ever before. Let us now see why.
Why Goa Could Be the Next Silicon Valley?
1. Favorable Climate and Lifestyle
The climate in Goa is tropical and heavily influenced by the monsoon. The proximity to the Western Ghats brings plenty of rainfall. You would be surprised to know that the small state of Goa has more than 10 rivers, the Mandovi and Zuari being the major among them. This means there is no shortage of water. The place has a rich culture and the crowd is cosmopolitan, with a healthy mix of digital nomads, willing to work from anywhere.
2. Proximity to Major Tech Hubs
Goa is very close to major tech hubs. It is 500-600 km away from Mumbai and Bangalore and about 490 km from Pune. It is nearly 690 km from Hyderabad and 896 km from Chennai. This equates to less than an hour away by flight, which is indeed favorable. Many Goans are also EU passport holders, given the Portuguese heritage, which makes it easier for them to bring in innovations from the West or even build their own by actively learning from existing innovations.
3. Growing Startup Ecosystem
In 2023, as per the Startup Goa 2023 Report, there were as many as 1500 startups in Goa, of which 1049 were DPIIT startups and 441 were recognized by DPIIT. Goa stood as one of the four states who are pioneers in developing startup policy. As of now, the startups are across IT services, food and beverages, healthcare and, as one would expect, tourism. 1300 Cr+ has already been raised in funding. We expect Goa to shine with startups working at the intersection of technology and tourism, with VR, AR, drone and IoT-enhanced tourism. We are talking drone photography, VR demos of trips, and apps that let you download an electronic keycard when you check into a hotel. EV tourism is already happening with blive, a popular EV startup in Goa.
4. Digital Infrastructure
Presently, Goa has national data centers backed by high-speed internet services, which offer services around the globe with minimum latency. VSAT services further help the delivery of e-governance services, which ensures a well-connected citizen network. Goa, thanks to its proximity to Bangalore, Pune and other tech hubs and being a tourist destination, can also serve as a hub for events like conferences and seminars for popular companies in these major cities.
5. Growing Talent Pool
By securing government funding and by inviting techpreneurs to build their dreams in Goa, the government will be doing a service to the already strong talent network and growing talent pool in Goa. There are several popular institutions in Goa, including a hub by BITS Pilani. This is why Alp Consulting, an HR consulting firm with more than 25 years of experience in recruitment and staffing chose to set up an office there too. We have a knack of finding the right talent before talent finds us.
What are the Challenges to Goa Becoming the Next Silicon Valley?
We want to keep this as short and constructive as possible. Goa is already suffering from overtourism, and the infrastructure is crumbling with pothole-ridden, traffic-congested roads, shortage of power supply and unreliable waste management. In the last released figures, Goa was only allocated 492Mw of power but ended up using over 600 Mw, the excess which it procured from the energy exchange in India. There is also already significant pressure on the water table. It is sad to see a state with so many prospects when it comes to talent and technology being held back by such issues with infrastructure, utilities and town planning.
Closing Words
But Goans have a never say die spirit, with a culture that has blended with Portuguese but has also preserved its unique identity. If the European influences are uniquely Goan, so are the old Indian rituals that have stood the test of time. Can it become the next Silicon Valley of India? Bhim toxem baat is an old Konkani saying. As you sow, so is the paddy. This is also like the popular biblical saying, as you sow, so shall you reap.
If Goa can overcome its present difficulties and take steps to strengthen its infrastructure, facilities and bring in town planning expertise, then it already has some things so many states may lack, the presence of a favorable climate, lifestyle and most importantly, great talent and progressive thinking. If Goa becomes a technology hub, it must ease itself into the role, not worrying about the competition, safeguarding its most important asset, the environment and its serenity. We think Goa could be ready soon with the right initiatives undertaken by both state and center. What do you think?
