The Great Relocation: Why Super Scholar Traded Chennai's Calm for Bengaluru's Buzz

In the dynamic world of Indian startups, the choice of city can often dictate destiny. For Rohan Krishna, founder of Super Scholar, a crucial decision led him to relocate his burgeoning venture from Chennai, the 'Detroit of India,' to the bustling tech hub of Bengaluru. After three years of relentless effort in Chennai, Krishna’s candid confession – “We gave it everything in Chennai” – encapsulates the complex emotional and strategic calculus behind his move.

Chennai, with its rich industrial heritage and strong academic institutions, seemed a natural fit for a startup focused on career guidance and upskilling.

However, the ground reality for early-stage startups proved challenging. Krishna highlights a critical missing piece: a robust network of angel investors. While capital certainly existed, it was largely channeled towards established businesses, leaving ambitious, nascent ventures like Super Scholar struggling to find the 'smart money' needed for initial traction and growth.

“There were no angel networks that were easily accessible, people to connect with, to bounce ideas off,” Krishna explains, painting a picture of an ecosystem that, while supportive in its own way, lacked the critical early-stage financial and mentorship infrastructure.

Bengaluru, in stark contrast, presented a vibrant, almost frenetic energy.

It wasn't just about the money; it was about the entire ecosystem. The city boasts a dense concentration of venture capitalists, active angel networks, and a culture of rapid innovation. “The sheer volume of angels and VCs in Bengaluru, and the number of people who are willing to take a risk on a new idea, is vastly different,” Krishna observed.

This access to capital isn't just about funding rounds; it's about the constant flow of ideas, the informal networks, and the palpable sense of opportunity that permeates the city's startup scene.

Beyond funding, the talent landscape played an equally significant role. Chennai's talent pool, though excellent, often gravitated towards stable, established multinational corporations (MNCs) or public sector units (PSUs).

Attracting top-tier talent to a startup proved to be an uphill battle. Bengaluru, on the other hand, is a magnet for ambitious, risk-taking professionals eager to join fast-paced startups. “The quality of talent that we could attract here, and the willingness of people to work in a fast-paced startup environment, was incomparable,” Krishna stated.

The city's competitive environment ensures that startups have access to a deep pool of skilled individuals, driven by the desire to innovate and make an impact.

While Chennai offered the undeniable perks of lower operational costs and a calmer quality of life, these advantages ultimately couldn't outweigh the strategic necessities for rapid scaling.

“We had to make a tough call,” Krishna reflects. The 'pressure cooker' environment of Bengaluru, though intense, provided the crucible for faster growth, accelerated learning, and the invaluable feedback loops essential for a startup to thrive. The city fosters a culture where failure is often seen as a stepping stone, and constant iteration is the norm.

Krishna's journey is a poignant reminder that while every city has its strengths, the specific needs of a startup—especially in its formative years—can profoundly influence its trajectory.

His advice to aspiring founders: even if you start elsewhere, have a 'Bengaluru strategy' in mind. For Chennai, the lesson is clear: to truly foster its burgeoning startup scene, it needs to cultivate more 'smart money,' accelerate its investment culture, and create more accessible networks that can nurture the next generation of innovators.