Grit keynotes for Bengaluru’s tech and start-up teams
Bengaluru is often called India’s Silicon Valley. The Grit Code, and its AI variation, speak directly to its engineers and founders.
India’s tech capital
Bengaluru is the headquarters of Infosys and Wipro, home to the Indian Space Research Organisation, and India’s leading start-up hub.
Paris’s keynote variation, The age of AI needs more grit, is about the human skills that matter as AI takes on more of our work. He has also hosted a Founders Dubai fireside chat on AI accountability.
Tech teams face constant change. The keynote gives them tools to keep going when the roadmap shifts.
Who Paris speaks to in Bengaluru
IT services
Kick-offs and all-hands for large tech teams.
Founders and VCs
Talks for accelerators and investor networks.
AI and change
The age of AI needs more grit.
Engineering and research
Resilience for long-cycle research teams.
Where Bengaluru meets
Bengaluru hosts major technology summits and start-up events through the year.
- Bangalore International Exhibition Centre – on Tumkur Road
- Tech-park and hotel venues – in Whitefield, Electronic City and the CBD
Ways to book Paris in Bengaluru
Choose the flagship Grit Code keynote (45–60 min), a Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day), a 30–45 min virtual keynote, or Paris as host and MC for the day. Compare formats →
Stories with the miles behind them
Seven marathons in under six days
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Across the Pacific by rowing boat
A 4,800 km row in 2023 that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Read the Founders Dubai AI fireside chat recap. Founders Dubai AI recap · Upside pitch competition
Speaking in Bengaluru, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Bengaluru, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
See also keynote speaker in India, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Bengaluru’s economy and who the talk is for
Bengaluru has a population of about 12,327,000 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in Bengaluru include Indian Space Research Organisation (space industry), Infosys limited (IT service management), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (aerospace industry), Wipro (IT service management), Canara Bank (economics of banking) and Bharat Electronics (aerospace industry).
Technology and software (Infosys limited, Wipro and Bharat Electronics). For software and tech companies, the talk focuses on resilience during constant change, including the shift to AI. As CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company, Paris speaks from inside that change rather than about it.
Manufacturing and engineering (Indian Space Research Organisation and Britannia Industries). For industrial and engineering businesses, Paris’s message is that resilience is built, not born. Safety days, operations conferences and leadership offsites are typical bookings.
Aviation, transport and logistics (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited). Aviation, transport and logistics teams work around the clock and against the clock. Paris has spoken for DHL and Dubai Airports, and his record-breaking marathon challenge, run to a tight timetable across seven continents, is a natural fit for operations audiences.
Students, graduates and faculty
Bengaluru’s universities, including Christ University, Karnataka Samskrit University and JAIN (Deemed-to-be-University), make it a strong market for student, graduate and alumni events. Paris speaks to young audiences about effort, setbacks and choosing hard goals, and to faculty about building resilient teams.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
How a Grit Code session works
- Before the event, Paris speaks with the organiser about the audience and the outcome they want.
- On the day, the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote mixes adventure film, stories and practical tools.
- Afterwards, teams can go deeper with a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day.
The content is shaped around Bengaluru organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Bengaluru
In Bengaluru, the most common bookings fall into a few groups:
- Leadership offsites and strategy days, where senior teams need energy for a hard year ahead.
- Sales kick-offs and annual conferences, where the talk resets ambition and stamina.
- Awards nights and staff celebrations, where Paris can speak or host.
- Graduation, alumni and entrepreneurship events.
Credentials at a glance
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Bengaluru?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Bengaluru, in person or virtually.
Does Paris have a talk about AI?
Yes. The age of AI needs more grit is a variation of The Grit Code.
How far ahead should we book a Bengaluru event?
About three months ahead is typical.
Can Paris speak to start-up founders?
Yes. He has spoken for Creative Zone, OPUS and Upside.
Which Bengaluru industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Bengaluru it suits technology and software, manufacturing and engineering and aviation, transport and logistics audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Bengaluru?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Christ University and Karnataka Samskrit University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Bengaluru?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Bengaluru?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Bring grit to your next Bengaluru event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact