Karnataka curated high-quality deal flow for AVGC sector, backed by global investors: Priyank Kharge

Karnataka has curated a high-quality deal flow for India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector, an integral part of the Orange Economy, and aligned it with a wide global investor community, Electronics, IT & IT and RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge said on the sidelines of GAFX 2026, the state’s annual expo for the sector, on Friday.

“By streamlining high-quality deal flow and connecting it with serious investors, we are strengthening the foundation of Karnataka’s innovation economy,” he said.

The Government of Karnataka, through its Department of Electronics, IT and BT, hosted an Investor Presentation Platform at GAFX-2026, Bengaluru, creating a structured bridge between AVGC-XR and capital providers and high-potential startups in the emerging technology ecosystem, he said.

He added that platforms such as Investor Talk on GAFX, AVGC, AI and emerging technology startups in the state are not just producing products but are building globally competitive businesses.

Women’s participation

The focus on women in animation brought together artists, studio professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and numerous students for a dialogue on strengthening women’s participation in the AVGC-XR ecosystem. The mixer enabled curated mentor roundtables, structured networking, as well as a live Opportunity Wall featuring job opportunities, internships, and collaboration avenues.

According to Manjula N., Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT and IT and Science and Technology, women’s participation in animation is currently less than 25%, which is significantly lower than many other sectors. “Yet women have a distinct creative advantage and are extremely well-suited to thrive in this sector. The opportunities within the creative economy are huge, and enabling and facilitating women’s contribution will be one of the primary takeaways from today’s engagement,” he said.

BS Srinivas, Editor, ABAI and Co-Head of GAFX, Bengaluru, said: “When women creators rise, the entire AVGC-XR ecosystem becomes stronger, more innovative and globally competitive.”

Kannada and culture

The cultural heritage of the state was showcased at KalaVerse organized in association with the Kannada and Culture Department.

The Karnataka Janapada Academy on Saturday presented five live traditional performances, bringing the folk traditions of Karnataka to the forefront of the global AVGC-XR platform.

Conceived as a bridge between tradition and the creative economy of the future, KalaVerse combines the diverse cultural expressions of Karnataka with animation, gaming, immersive media and digital storytelling opportunities.

“As we strengthen our AVGC ecosystem, it is important that our cultural depth finds expression through modern creative technologies,” Ms. Manjula added.