A business strategist and entrepreneur claims she successfully convinced a client to relocate their headquarters from Kolkata to Bengaluru—resulting in a remarkable 50% jump in the company’s valuation.

Piyu Dutta, founder of London-based strategy consulting firm Anthropia, stated that merely having a Kolkata address was harming the company’s market perception. Bengaluru, often called India’s “Silicon Valley,” has long been a magnet for startups and investors, boasting over 67,000 IT firms and 7,500 startups. The city’s thriving ecosystem played a pivotal role in the growth of giants like Flipkart and Myntra.

Dutta shared on X (formerly Twitter), “I convinced a client to shift their HQ to Bengaluru. A Kolkata address was slashing their valuation by half. It’s that extreme.” Her statement ignited an online debate, with entrepreneurs weighing in on the impact of location on business success.

While some were skeptical, arguing that Kolkata offers lower operational costs, others agreed, stating that investors often prefer businesses in recognized startup hubs. One user recounted how a boutique business founder was advised to set up in a larger state to attract funding. Another quipped, “Change your zip code, throw in some AI buzzwords, and watch your valuation soar.”

Dutta’s claim has reignited discussions on how geography shapes corporate growth, proving that, in business, location can be a game-changer.