Kempegowda I (c. 1510–1569) was a chieftain of the Yelahanka Nadaprabhu family and a vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire. Tradition dates the founding of the town to 1537. In that year he built a mud fort, and the four main streets were marked out by bullock-drawn ploughs running from the centre towards the four directions.
He invited traders, weavers and artisans to settle. The petes (market quarters) named after their trades, such as Balepete (bangles), Chickpete, Akkipete (rice), Tharagupete (grain) and Cottonpete, still exist in the old city today.
Kempegowda is honoured across the city. The international airport, the main bus station and a major metro interchange are named after him, and a 108-foot bronze statue, the Statue of Prosperity, was unveiled at the airport in 2022.
Further reading: Kempe Gowda I on Wikipedia.