Bombay CEO Compares Bengaluru To Kota, Sparks Debate Online

Social media is abuzz with debates comparing Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Recently, Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, sparked a lively discussion with a post on X, drawing a parallel between Bengaluru and Kota. Deshpande remarked, “Bangalore today reminds me of Kota in 2005,” highlighting his observation that Bengaluru’s current startup culture resembles Kota’s educational environment where only a few succeed despite widespread ambition.

Deshpande elaborated that Kota, known as a hub for IIT-JEE preparation, offers an ideal environment with top-notch resources. However, out of 40,000 students, only about 1,000 typically succeed in clearing the exams. “The other 30-35k just assumed that being in Kota meant JEE rank was done. They believed that sitting in the same classes, eating at the same mess, owning the same books as the top guys was enough. So padhai kam, baatein zyada (less studies, more talks),” he wrote.

He argued that Bengaluru faces a similar “all talk” syndrome, where many founders believe that mere presence in the startup ecosystem or having connections with venture capitalists guarantees success. “The bulk reminds me of the ‘all talk’ gangs of Kota. And that never ended well,” he said. He observed that, like Kota’s students, Bengaluru’s startup enthusiasts often mistake networking and superficial engagement for genuine progress.

Deshpande advised founders to concentrate on their business rather than getting caught up in the city’s startup hype. He warned that the current “ecosystem delusion” creates a false sense of accomplishment and entitlement. “All these founders who find their way to Bangalore with a hope to build are needed to be protected and supported. But this strange environment creates an unhealthy belief of ‘arriving before the fact’,” he wrote. He encouraged entrepreneurs to focus on their work and seek mentors beyond the city’s confines.

Deshpande’s post has garnered significant attention, with over 4,000 reactions and nearly 300 comments since its publication. Respondents included individuals from Kota and Bengaluru, who shared their own perspectives on the comparison. One user noted, “I am from Kota. Living in Kota. Have lived in Mumbai & Bangalore extensively. I agree with what you said. Except that, in my experience – those single-digit ranks, those unicorns, and the concentration of high-performing entities is due to the power of the ecosystem.”

Another commented, “Your post applies to literally everything: people trying to make it in Hollywood, people in Silicon Valley, athletes in college trying to make it to the major leagues, etc. Respectfully, your post doesn’t say much.”

A third user remarked, “Focus on business >> networking for sure. But doesn’t your circle help? Decluttering is important, but I would love to shift to Bangalore only for that extra external motivation.”