Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2022 Powered by:
Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2022 Contents A Word from StartupBlink CEO ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 Introducing the Global Startup Ecosystem Index ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 Introducing Our Local Ecosystem Partners ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 Methodology ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 Index 2022 Key Insights ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������18 Global Startup Ecosystem Index: Top Countries �����������������������������������������������������������������������30 Global Startup Ecosystem Index: Top Cities ������������������������������������������������������������������������������34 Regional Analysis ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������38 Top 100 Countries Overview �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������52 Contender Ecosystems �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 300 Countries Ecosystem Variety ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 302 Top Island Cities �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 306 City Ranking by Population ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 308 Alternative Indexes ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 312 Country Rankings by Absolute Power ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 313 Rankings by Subscores �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 315 Industry Analysis and Rankings ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 320 Ecosystem Ranking by Number of Special Entities ��������������������������������������������������������������� 345 Ecosystem Case Studies ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 349 Introducing Our Global Data Partners ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 377 StartupBlink Team Members ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 380 Work with Us ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 392 Parting Words ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 393 Appendixes ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 394
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 3 A Word from StartupBlink CEO 2022 is the year of global startup ecosystem uncertainty. And that’s not necessarily bad, as it historically brings new opportunities and potential exponential growth in sectors and technologies. First and foremost, our vision of an integrated and global startup ecosystem where hundreds of countries and thousands of cities are all playing on the same global playfield is not materializing. Some Startup Ecosystems are now fragmenting. Some aspects of this trend are positive. Emerging regional hubs such as Singapore and Dubai are building technologies catering to their geographies. People around the world are now using solutions that were customized specifically for their tastes and local preferences, that were built by local entrepreneurs, instead of patronizing a handful of powerful global corporations. We love this. However, we can’t ignore the negative implications of this separation. A few notable countries, such as China and Russia, have made a conscious decision to build closedwall ecosystems decoupled from the global internet and digital economy. This usually happens due to geopolitical reasons and results in complete separation between startup ecosystems. Our ability to connect to each other globally, share information, and develop global solutions is harmed by this trend. The internet used to be a magical place where we could meet people from all over the world. It is now a place where we mostly meet people from our geopolitical block. Those we don’t meet cannot become our friends. We believe countries that decide to isolate their startup ecosystems from the world will not thrive in the long term. If currently the cycle is leaning towards increased fragmentation, it will shift at some point, and those who have stayed connected will be in a much better position. Countries, and each of us as digital citizens, that choose to stay connected to an open version of the Internet should also be careful not to isolate ourselves in a closed digital network. Human psychology encourages us to surround ourselves with like-minded people. Our political affiliation, place of residence, and financial status will vastly determine our digital tribes and identity. Let’s keep an open mind. Beyond the psychology of ecosystems, there are some economic elements which currently challenge the growth of tech ecosystems around the world. Inflation, tech sector wage increases, company devaluations, and increasing interest rates will all challenge short term economic growth and make it harder to raise capital. For founders, it could mean a return to beautiful origins; the self funded bootstrapped path may become a necessity again.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 4 In any case, the opportunities are immense as humanity transitions into a digital reality that, at times, seems more powerful and relevant than our physical identity. But make no mistake, your physical presence in the startup ecosystem is still a critical ingredient in your success. Use the post pandemic new normal to go out and connect with your fellow entrepreneurs (if your government allows). It just takes one human connection to completely change the trajectory of your business for the better. Zoom and the cloud are not enough. To founders, our recommendation is always the same: Choose your startup ecosystem wisely as it greatly affects your chances of success. Where you are matters. You will never realize the price of being in the wrong ecosystem, since missed opportunities are hidden, but abundant if you pick the right place. If you are in the wrong ecosystem, leave it or lead it. Do not stay passively isolated in a place that is underperforming. As for government ecosystem developers, our message stays the same as well: Working with dozens of you as our ecosystem partners has inspired us. Most of you have played your cards wisely and helped build outstanding startup ecosystems that are the engine of your present and future economic growth. However, some governments are much more timid, quietly watching the tragic brain drain of their most ambitious and talented citizens. The consequences to the well being of these communities and future economies are vast. Take action to build your startup economies and leverage your unique advantages. It’s never too late to start, so start now. On a personal note, it is such a joy to work on a project that allows us to produce unique insights on the current state and momentum of thousands of startup ecosystems. There is no longer any need for permission and association from gatekeepers to make an impact in the world. May it stay this way. This report is dedicated to all who have decided to build something new and needed in the world. You are the true champions of economic development and human progress. May you succeed, or at least have fun trying. Eli David CEO, StartupBlink
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 5 Introducing the Global Startup Ecosystem Index The Global Startup Ecosystem Index by StartupBlink has been updated annually since 2017 and is the world’s most comprehensive startup ecosystem ranking of: The Global Startup Ecosystem Index is built using hundreds of thousands of data points processed by an algorithm which takes into account several dozens of parameters, as explained in the Methodology section. In addition to the supplementation of data from various global data partners, our Ecosystem Index is integrated with the interactive and crowdsourced StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Map. This map, updated since 2013, provides a strong sample of the stakeholders in each startup ecosystem. Our platform now provides interactive startup ecosystem dashboards for all ranked cities and countries. 1000 cities and 100 countries
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 6 The Index is used annually by hundreds of thousands startup founders, startup ecosystem developers, corporations, and other stakeholders to support critical decisions on policy making, strategy, relocation, and investment. StartupBlink is using the Index and its vast underlying data sets in various analyses and policy advising projects related to startup ecosystem development for dozens of governments and international organizations. There are multiple sources of data used to build the index. Firstly, the global map is crowdsourced with hundreds of thousands of startup related entities. StartupBlink also works closely with numerous global data partners, such as Crunchbase, SEMrush, Statista, and Meetup to supplement data from these unique sources. In addition, we work with approximately 100 Ecosystem partners, most of which are government agencies, and receive data about their ecosystems. You can join them at no cost here. Finally, substantial data is received from the deployment of white-labeled global Startup Industry Maps, using StartupBlink technology, such as The Global Fintech Map and the COVID-19 Resilience Innovation Map. There are also dozens of specific location ecosystem portals (Example here for the city of Bogota), helping us to collect additional data. Interactive ranking tables with all ecosystems, including the 1000 top-ranked cities worldwide, are available in the section below the StartupBlink Global Map. This report's structure remains the same as last year. Initially, we present the methodology, key insights, and supply analysis at the regional level where power shifts between regions are revealed. We then introduce the startup ecosystem of each of the 100 ranked countries and analyze the rankings of their cities. This section is followed by alternative rankings of startup ecosystems by industries and subscores, as well as additional analysis on topics such as Ecosystem Variety and rankings by industries, like Ecommerce & Retail or Fintech. We conclude with a few startup ecosystem case studies of our partnered cities. This year's report continues our tradition of introducing new analyses that we believe you, our readers, will be excited about.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 7 First, our regional analysis section, which analyzes power shifts among and within geographies, has been extended with insights on how startup funding is distributed between regions, revealing some very interesting dynamics. Second, while the Index only includes the world's 100 best performing countries, this year we added a section called Contender Ecosystems where we shed the light on countries that haven't made it to the top 100 list, but where we observe a good level of startup activity, such that we believe that these countries are candidates for entering the Index in the next year or two if they continue investing in and successfully improving the results of their ecosystems. Third, we added an alternative ranking of countries by their absolute power. For reasons that are explained in the Methodology section, our country scores (but not city scores) take into account population size, ensuring that performance is assessed based on achieved results in relation to human capital. The alternative country ranking by absolute power does not take population size into account, and ranks the world's 20 top countries based on their results without correcting for population size. Obviously, you'd expect that large countries have a big advantage compared to small ones. Read our analysis to reveal which smaller countries belong to the world's top even without adjusting for their population size. The results of the Index will always remain free for the general public. Raw and processed data of hundreds of ecosystems in excel format, customized analysis of specific ecosystems by demand, and enhanced access to filters and dashboards on the StartupBlink map are available for Pro users. We would like to thank our Pro members for supporting independent innovation research. The views presented in this report belong to StartupBlink and are not necessarily shared by any of our partners or advisors. This report is opinionated by design, based on our consulting experience and hundreds of conversations with ecosystem stakeholders. Some of those opinions may be proven wrong. We would like to thank our talented data contributors from around the world who help us improve the accuracy of the Index. If you are interested in joining them, please apply here. StartupBlink is hosting a free and open to the public Quarterly Ecosystem Summit where we discuss topics related to startup ecosystem development and host pitching for multiple ecosystems. We also produce a Startup Ecosystem Development Podcast that we hope is useful for those interested in the topic. Our work is constantly improved by feedback from you, our readers. If you have any feedback, feel free to contact us via this form or email us at Feedback@StartupBlink.Com Ziv Baida, PhD Report Editor
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 8 Introducing Our Local Partners StartupBlink works together with dozens of ecosystem partners and report partners who actively support the growth of their startup ecosystem. Europe Oficina | Innovation Hub [ Albania ] Albania Tech [ Albania ] Andorra Business [ Andorra ] Andorra Research and Innovation [ Andorra ] Network State [ Armenia ] AustrianStartups [ Austria ] City of Ghent [ Belgium ] City of Antwerp [ Belgium ] Sofia Invest Agency [ Bulgaria ] BESCO - The Bulgarian Startup Associaiton [ Bulgaria ] Increda [ Bulgaria ] Invest Czech [ Czech ] Rijeka Development Agency PORIN [ Croatia ] TechIsland [ Cyprus ] The Link [ Denmark ] TechBBQ [ Denmark ] Startup Estonia [ Estonia ] Oulu Startup Incubator [ Finland ] Startup Georgia [ Georgia ] City of Magdeburg [ Germany ] RuhrHub [ Germany ] Berlin Senate Dept. of Econ. Dev. [ Germany ] SpinLab [ Germany ] Matchmaker.Ruhr [ Germany ] wefox [ Germany ] Ministry of Development and Innovation [ Greece ] Found.ation [ Greece ] ATHENS DIGITAL LAB [ Greece ] NAStartUp [ Italy ] Italian Angels for Growth [ Italy ] Giffoni Innovation Hub [ Italy ] WeSportUp [ Italy ] Digital-Liechtenstein [ Liechtenstein ] Startup Lithuania [ Lithuania ] Innovation Centre Kosovo [ Kosovo ] SEED [ Kosovo ] Tech.Mt [ Malta ] CoWorkOhrid [ North Macedonia ] Geemente Eindhoven [ Netherlands ] Mercator Launch [ Netherlands ] Venture Lab North [ Netherlands ] Oulu Startup Incubator [ Norway ] ARAW [ Poland ] Krakow Miastem Startupow [ Poland ] OMGKRK [ Poland ] Universidade de Aveiro Incubator [ Portugal ] Build Up Labs [ Portugal ] ROStartup [ Romania ] Make IT in Oradea [ Romania ] ACCIO - Catalonia Trade & Invest [ Spain ] Fundación para el Conocimiento madri+d [ Spain ] Equidam [ Spain ] repeople [ Spain ] Las Rozas Innova [ Spain ] SVQ Emprende [ Spain ] Municipality of Malmo [ Sweden ] Business Region Göteborg [ Sweden ] BaselArea Innovation [ Switzerland ] Izmir Ministry of Industry and Technology [ Turkey ] Istanbul Development Agency [ Turkey ] Ukraine Startup Fund [ Ukraine ] Opportunity Petreborough [ United Kingdom ] TechNation [ United Kingdom ] 12Ronnies [ United Kingdom ] Middle East Tamkeen [ Bahrain ] Globalization Partners [ Israel ] Yokneam [ Israel ] RAK [ United Arab Emirates ]
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 9 Asia–Pacific Sunshine Coast Innovation [ Australia ] Government of South Australia [ Australia ] Canberra Innovation Network [ Australia ] The State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations [ Azerbaijan ] Technovate [ Azerbaijan ] Impactors Connect [ Bangladesh ] Zovo Team [ Bangladesh ] Innoway [ China ] Innovation Drive [ China ] ADIF [ India ] Maharashtra State Innovation Society [ India ] Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission [ India ] Venture Catalysts [ India ] 9 Unicorns [ India ] 10000StartupsIndia [ India ] Shibuya Startup Support [ Japan ] Business Yokohama [ Japan ] Africa Cabo Verde Digital [ Cape Verde ] Angola iSummit 2020 [ Angola ] Spurt! [ Ghana ] ASSEK [ Kenya ] Growth Africa [ Kenya ] StartupSouth [ Nigeria ] Business Network International (BNI) [ Nigeria ] Startup Namibia [ Namibia ] JETRO Kyoto [ Japan ] Kyoto Prefecture [ Japan ] Fukuoka City Hall [ Japan ] Startup Nation [ Kyrgyzstan ] Digital Penang [ Malaysia ] MStars Hub [ Mongolia ] Science, Industrial Development and Innovation Agency of Ulaanbaatar [ Mongolia ] City of Naga [ Philippines ] UPGRADE Innolab [ Philippines ] Enterprise Singapore [ Singapore ] Scaler8 [ Singapore ] Seoul Business Angels [ South Korea ] DISTEP [ South Korea ] Information and Communication Technology Agency [ Sri Lanka ] Taiwan Tech Arena [ Taiwan ] Adapter [ Vietnam ] WomenVenture [ United States ] 805 Startups [ United States ] Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency [ Canada ] Startup Montreal [ Canada ] Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator [ Canada ] Edmonton Economic Development [ Canada ] Kingston Economic Development [ Canada ] Queens University [ Canada ] Gobierno del Estado de Guanajuato [ Mexico ] North America Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS [ United States ] Idaho Connect [ United States ] Innovate PGH [ United States ] One Region [ United States ] Invest Puerto Rico [ United States ] River District Association [ United States ] Select USA [ United States ] Silicon Vikings [ United States ] Start Co. [ United States ] Rwanda Development Board [ Rwanda ] Response Innovation Lab - Somalia [ Somalia ] Silicon Cape [ South Africa ] DER/FJ [ Senegal ] Makesense Africa [ Senegal ] Afkar [ Tunisia ] Response Innovation Lab [ Uganda ] South America Buenos Aires Ciudad [ Argentina ] Invest São Paulo [ Brazil ] ABStartups [ Brazil ] Invest.Rio [ Brazil ] Curitiba City Hall [ Brazil ] Galena [ Brazil ] Camara de Commercio de Cali [ Colombia ] Camara de Commercio de Bogota [ Colombia ] Invest in Bogota [ Colombia ] iNNpulsa Colombia [ Colombia ] RutaN [ Colombia ] TRYCORE [ Colombia ] Invest VB [ Peru ]
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 10 StartupBlink Global Data Partners
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 11 Methodology This section explains our methodology for producing the Global Startup Ecosystem Index. We start with guiding principles, provide relevant definitions, and then discuss the elements comprising each section of the total score. Guiding Principles To ensure that the rankings are as accurate as possible, we have based our algorithm on objective, quantifiable data that can be comparatively measured across regions, countries, and cities. We refrained from using subjective tools such as surveys and interviews, and instead utilized data that was either accumulated directly from the StartupBlink map or has arrived from integration with a reliable global data partner. We allow as few assumptions as possible regarding cause and effect and focus on one thing: measuring results. We avoid relying on any theoretical models assuming the causes of success for startup ecosystems. Our experience in ecosystem consulting shows that no two ecosystems are alike; policies and practices that are successful in one ecosystem can be disastrous in another. It should be noted that the index does not measure urban innovation or implementation of advanced policies related to city development. It focuses instead on the output of entrepreneurial innovation developed in each location. Most annual rankings face a trade-off between maintaining the consistency of the algorithm and innovating on new elements to improve or adapt the algorithm to changing business environments. We have always leaned toward constantly improving our algorithm so stakeholders can rely on our results to make informed decisions across the board. An algorithm cannot remain unaltered forever; since reality continually changes, so do startup ecosystems. Every year our algorithm is more accurate, and it should be noted that the momentum change of each ecosystem is not only influenced by its achievements over the last year, but also by these algorithm improvements. We have been sampling startup ecosystem data on the curated and interactive StartupBlink Global Map, which enables us to test and perfect our algorithm based on vast sets of data. We estimate that the core map dataset has a representative sample covering 10-15% of total relevant entities in global startup ecosystems. In addition, hundreds of thousands of entities and data integrations are taken into account via our global data partners. Each location’s final score is based on the exact same algorithm. However, we are aware that our sample size fluctuates depending on location and data sourcing. Our only intervention in the score is discounting locations where we determined that the sample size of the entities is higher than average. In order to solve issues with lower than average sample size, we have partnered with approximately 100 Ecosystem Partners, most of which are Government agencies, many of them in locations where our data is limited. We offer all governments administrative access to curate the dataset of their ecosystems, at no cost, granting them complimentary access. For more information, please contact us at Feedback@StartupBlink.com.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 12 It should be noted that the Index is comparative. An ecosystem that has decreased in its rankings has not necessarily performed worse overall than last year. The decrease may simply reflect the faster growth of other ecosystems climbing the rankings. Organizations interested in a deeper analysis of the algorithm are invited to obtain a StartupBlink PRO account, which offers packages of raw data for all ecosystems, access to unique filters on the map, data exporting options, and access to raw and processed components of our algorithm. What is a Startup? The innovation can be a product or service, process, or business model. Since this definition is not quantitative, our team manually evaluates most entities that register on the startup map. Entities without a unique innovation, such as non-technological service providers, digital forums built on white-labeled existing technology, and local directories such as simple lists of real estate or jobs listings will not be taken into consideration for the Index. We do not consider the founding year or team size of a startup as a criterion for determining startup innovation. However, companies that went through an IPO, acquisition, or received investments in total valuation above US$ 1 billion will not be categorized as startups, but will still influence the rankings as special entities. Other Stakeholders and Entities Aside from startups, other stakeholders are taken into consideration by our algorithm. The obvious ones are accelerators and coworking spaces, both of which facilitate and contribute to the growth of an ecosystem. Our algorithm also takes into account special entities which have “graduated” as startups. These entities include Unicorns and Exits. Unicorns are startups that received a total valuation of over US$ 1 Billion. Unicorns are critical success stories that not only increase the capital flow to the ecosystem but also tend to boost the ecosystem with a powerful story of success that draws more potential entrepreneurs and attracts investors to the location. Exits, on the other hand, are startups that are now publicly listed or merged with a publicly listed company. The valuation of these unicorns and exits are also taken into account in the algorithm. We define a startup as any business that applies an innovative technology-enabled solution that has the potential to achieve scalability.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 13 We should note that our team applies additional filters to Unicorns and Exits, as we disregard entities that are corporate spin-offs or that were created by governments. Another group of special entities we take into consideration are members of the Startup Pantheon group. This group now consists of more than 230 organizations globally, which can be viewed on the StartupBlink map. Pantheon member is a category coined by StartupBlink which includes companies like SpaceX, Microsoft, and Netflix; companies that are no longer a startup or a unicorn, but still have a substantial impact on their startup ecosystem and its brand. Organizations such as Ycombinator, StartupChile, and the Estonian E-Residency program are also considered part of the Pantheon group, as their trailblazing initiatives impact the growth and legacy of their ecosystems. These Pantheons are categorized into three tiers depending on their impact and quality. One more factor taken into account in an ecosystem's score is the presence of roughly 150 global startup influencers with impact reaching far beyond their local ecosystems. These influencers are usually CEOs of successful companies, but in some cases they include leading figures in self-funding methodologies or thought leaders in specific technologies. A city where an influencer like Bill Gates or Elon Musk resides has an allure that attracts more entrepreneurs and investors to the ecosystem. 75% of global influencers are currently in the United States, revealing the disproportionate global and cultural influence of this ecosystem. We hope other countries will produce more of these mega high-tech heroes, as they are needed globally for inspiration, financing, and narrative building. Startup Influencers are also categorized into three tiers, similar to Pantheons. A complete list of the global influencers and members of the Pantheon group is provided in a blog post about those special entities. Determining Location for Startups Determining a startup location in today's global economy can be a daunting task. Startups may naturally change locations as they evolve due to tax or marketing reasons. Our guiding principle here is determining which ecosystem pushed it to become what it is today, or, in other words, by asking: where did the magic happen? In some cases a particular ecosystem might not be the current official headquarters of the startup. For example, if a startup was founded and scaled in Finland, retains much of its development team there, and moved their official headquarters to San Francisco for business or tax reasons, we would lean toward attributing it to Finland. Those of you browsing the StartupBlink map might be surprised to see the locations of some notable startups and Unicorns in unexpected locations. The decision to use these locations was made after examining the history and current status of the startup. Distinction Between Countries and Cities Rankings We provide two sets of rankings, the first is for countries, and the second is for individual ecosystems nestled within the cities. We have capped the number of countries at 100 and the number of cities at 1000. Although our database includes additional locations, we find that accuracy decreases the lower an ecosystem is ranked, generally due to the limited number of relevant entities in low-ranked locations. In some cases, the momentum of a specific country and the ranking of its cities might be in opposition; this can happen for a variety of reasons.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 14 One common reason is that our country rankings take into account population size but city rankings do not, ensuring we adjust expectations from countries with relatively low populations in comparison to countries with larger populations. Another reason is that within a specific country, it often happens that some cities have positive momentum while others decline. This is especially relevant in countries with a substantial representation of cities in the top 1000, such as the United States, which has hundreds of cities shuffling through the rankings. StartupBlink also clusters cities together when they are part of the same urban environment. The most obvious example of this is the San Francisco Bay Area, which includes multiple cities, like San Jose and Palo Alto. The same is done in cities around the world when those locations are part of the same ecosystem. A few examples are Sydney in Australia (clustered with Darlinghurst, North Sydney and several other cities) and The Hague in The Netherlands (clustered with Leiden, Wassenaar and Zoetermeer). By clustering urban locations into one ecosystem, and not taking into account the population size of the cities in the algorithm, we might seem to be giving an unfair advantage to bigger cities. The truth is that these cities enjoy an advantage in reality, not solely in our algorithm. Bigger cities, from the sheer quantity of entrepreneurs and economic activity, are simply more likely to do better than smaller cities. However, if you use our population filter in the interactive map ranking tables, some inspiring examples of small cities punching above their weight are clearly evident; notable examples include Santa Barbara, California (USA), Kingston (Canada), Cambridge (United Kingdom), Boulder, Colorado (USA), and Burlington, Vermont (USA). Another important element that provides a ranking advantage to startup ecosystems is the size of the domestic market. Ecosystems with a massive population and market can scale startups much larger without competing internationally. Examples include ecosystems in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Russia. Results from these countries reflect massive potential, but please note that these might not be the best locations to relocate to unless you plan to target their domestic markets, which can require deep knowledge and understanding of the location and its startup ecosystem. Total Score Ingredients Each ecosystem has a total score, which is the sum of 3 subscores measuring Quantity, Quality, and Business environment. A specific analysis of Subscore Results is available in the Analysis by Subscore section of this report. The total score is designed to be comparative; It is not only used as a mechanism for sorting and ranking ecosystems, but also provides insights into the gaps between ecosystems in absolute terms. Quantity Quality Business environment
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 15 1. Quantity Score The core question of the Quantity score is: How many? A robust startup ecosystem not only comprises startups, but must have supporting organizations that provide resources, networking, and access to capital. The Quantity score checks the activity level of an ecosystem through its stakeholders and other key players. Among the elements taken into account for the calculation of the Quantity score are: Number of Startups Number of Coworking Spaces Number of Accelerators Number of Startup related Meetups Some of this data is supplemented from our Global Data Partners, mainly from Crunchbase, Meetup, and Coworker. 2. Quality Score We have used numerous integrations with partners, such as Semrush and CrunchBase, and hundreds of thousands of data points to analyze the Quality of each startup ecosystem. Among the elements taken into account for the calculation of the Quality score are: Traction of over 100,000 entities in all ecosystems (including traffic, domain authority, and customer base) Presence of strategic branches and R&D centers of International Technology Corporations Branches of multinational companies (e.g. WeWork spaces) Total private sector investment in thousands of startup ecosystems Number of employees per startup Number and size of global startup events and conferences Presence of Unicorns, Exits, and Pantheon companies Presence of Global Startup Influencers Global startup events (e.g WebSummit) Number of startups backed by accelerators (e.g Y Combinator)
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 16 3. Business Environment Score The third and final factor affecting the rankings is unique since it focuses on general indicators connected to infrastructure, business environment, ecosystem critical mass, and the ability to freely operate as a startup founder in each country. The Business Environment score, often abbreviated as simply Business score, is mainly focused on parameters at the country level, since national infrastructure, policies, and legislation generally affect all cities within a country. The main component of the Business score is a weighted average that takes into account a broad range of elements within each country, as presented in the list below. In addition, the Business score also takes into account a critical mass threshold of activity in a city, which can explain part of the score differential between cities in the same country. As our policy is to avoid assumptions on the causes influencing the success of an ecosystem, we do our best to avoid indicators that might have an ambiguous influence, and only take into account those which are clearly negative or positive. For example, painfully slow internet or massive restrictions in internet use will most likely form an obstacle to the growth of the ecosystem. On the other hand, we disregard elements like cost of living, since this can have both positive and negative effects on an ecosystem. Among the elements taken into account for the calculation of the Business score in each ecosystem are: Diversity index Internet speed Internet freedom R&D investment Availability of various technological services (payment portals, ride-sharing apps, cryptocurrency) Number of patents per capita Level of English proficiency Top universities per location
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 17 Notable Algorithm Changes in 2022 As mentioned before, StartupBlink is constantly innovating and changing its algorithm to prioritize accuracy. Main changes in the 2022 Index relate to how special entities are weighted. When considering Unicorns and Exits, the Quality score now also takes their valuations into consideration, to reflect their relative "weight." Similarly, Pantheon members and influencers are classified into tiers. This is because not all special entities are equal; some are more impactful than others, and this needs to be reflected in the rankings. Further, we have now factored in exits of less than US$ 1 billion in the total amount of investment per ecosystem. A few new elements were added to the Business score this year, including the number of universities per location, the diversity & inclusion index, and new methods to check open regulation, such as the availability of Coinbase and Binance. Last but not least, our startup data sample size has increased in the last year from 75,000 to over 100,000 startups on our global startup ecosystem map. This allows for more accurate rankings of all ecosystems. Industry Rankings Methodology Aside from the general rankings, 11 industry rankings are also featured for the second year in this report. The Methodology used for these rankings is identical to the algorithm of the global rankings, while taking into account the startup database of each industry. The results for each industry (e.g. healthtech, foodtech, hardware & IoT) can be seen in the Industries section of this report. However, the fintech Industry rankings are built on an official Fintech Ecosystem Portal: Findexable’s Global Fintech Map, which includes deeper algorithm changes that are customized according to the specific characteristics of the fintech industry.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 18 Index 2022 Key Insights In this section we present the most notable Index insights of 2022. A more detailed regional analysis is provided in a separate chapter.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 19 Trends in Top 20 Countries United States United Kingdom Israel Canada Sweden Germany Singapore Australia France China The Netherlands Switzerland Estonia Finland Ireland Spain Lithuania Denmark India Japan 2020 2021 2022
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 20 Country Rankings Insights The Top 10 Some interesting shifts are happening in the top 10 countries. To start, the US maintains its status as the highest ranked country, with a total score gap almost 4 times that of the second ranked country, the UK. The prediction of a US decline has yet to materialize, with more American cities strengthening and offsetting the gradual demise of San Francisco as the global startup leader. In total, the US has 257 cities in the top 1000 rankings, no other country comes close. The UK, however, has substantially increased its lead over the 3rd ranked country, Israel, and is now well entrenched as the 2nd highest ranked country globally. It should also be noted that the UK has an impressive 78 cities ranked, making it the only country other than the US with more than 50 cities in the Index. Israel was a whisker away from overthrowing the UK in 2021, and is now not only a distant second, but sees the national ecosystem of Canada, ranked 4th, closing in. Canada, with a successful year, has also created a substantial gap above all ecosystems ranked below it, creating a Big 4 club of countries that have established dominant leading positions. The first change in the top 10 is at spot 5, now claimed by Sweden, overtaking Germany at 6th, to become the first ranked EU country in terms of startup ecosystem success. At 7th, Singapore has registered a substantial increase of 3 spots, also making it the highest ranked Asian country in the Index, at China's expense. After negative momentum over the last few years, Australia has managed to register a slight recovery, increasing one spot to 8th. Another impressive jump is registered by France, increasing by 3 spots and entering the top 10 and signaling its potential to become a dominant global ecosystem. Closing the top 10, China, after 3 years of consecutive growth, has seen a substantial decrease of 3 spots and lost its position as the highest ranked Asian economy. From 11 to 20 Three of the countries (Netherlands, Estonia, Finland) ranked 11-14 have maintained their stability with the same strong position they had last year, keeping them relatively close to the top 10. The first change in this batch was a drop by Switzerland, leaving the top 10 to rank 12th. Good momentum was registered by Ireland, jumping 3 spots to 15th globally. Both the ecosystems of Spain (16th) and Lithuania (17th) registered a mild decline this year. The 3 countries closing the top 20 have all increased, starting with Denmark at 18th after an impressive jump, India climbing to 19th, and Japan making it into the top 20.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 21 From 21 to 50 Three countries are new to the global top 25. The first, Austria, made an impressive advance of 5 spots to rank 23rd. Norway also registered a massive increase, now ranking 24th after jumping 7 spots this year. Closing the top 25 global countries is Taiwan, advancing one spot after most of its second tier cities experienced substantial growth. Brazil, the first ranked Latin American country, and the United Arab Emirates, the second ranked MENA region country, both registered mild 2 spot decreases to be ranked 26th and 27th globally. Russia, now ranked 29th, has registered a massive decline of 12 spots, reflecting the challenges the war has had on the country's startup ecosystem. New Zealand managed to return to the top 30 after increasing 3 spots this year. Poland, at 33rd, further declined by 3 spots this year, continuing an ongoing trend since 2019 when it ranked 20th globally. In the batch of countries ranked 30-50, there are 4 Latin American countries registering positive growth and showcasing the region’s advancing ecosystems. Chile is closing in on Brazil, ranked 34th and increasing by two spots. Mexico, ranked 35th, is just behind Chile after registering a 3 spot increase. Argentina at 37th also increased by 2 spots. The last Latin American country ranked in the top 50 is Colombia, now ranked 44th after increasing 3 spots. 3 additional countries have advanced substantially in the top 50. The first is Indonesia, advancing 7 spots to rank 38th globally. The second is Iceland, leaping an impressive 14 spots to rank 41st globally. The last is Greece, jumping 6 spots and back into the top 50 at 48th. Notable declines in the top 50 include Croatia, ranked 45th after decreasing 8 spots, and Ukraine, decreasing 16 spots to 50th globally. Needless to say, the recent war adversely impacted the impressive Ukrainian startup ecosystem; we hope the country can soon rebound and rebuild. It should also be noted that South Africa, although declining by one spot to 49th, is still the only African country in the global top 50.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 22 From 51 to 100 Some of the countries showing positive momentum in the 50-100 tier are as follows: Vietnam, Armenia, Costa Rica, and Panama have all increased by 5 spots to rank 54th, 60th, 67th, and 78th respectively. Helped by the massive leap of the Lagos startup ecosystem, Nigeria switched places with Kenya to become the second highest African country in the index after increasing 2 spots to 61st globally. Both Georgia and Mongolia in the growing Central Asian region have increased 7 spots to rank 73rd and 81st respectively. The good news for central Asia does not end there, as Kyrgyzstan makes its debut in the index at 100th. The Middle East & Africa region experienced volatility this year. The region is represented by 19 countries in the 51-100 range, and all 19 countries shuffled their rankings this year, with quite a few experiencing sizable shifts up and down the Index. Bahrain increased by 2 spots to rank 64th, while Egypt increased 5 spots to closely follow at 65th. Morocco also registered an impressive jump of 16 spots to rank 79th globally. The small island of Cape Verde is punching above its weight at 80th globally after increasing 7 spots. Some of the most notable declines in the 50-100 range include North Macedonia declining 11 spots to 69th globally, Rwanda decreasing 15 spots to 84th, Moldova decreasing 11 spots to 88th, Jamaica decreasing 15 spots to 94th, Bosnia and Herzegovina decreasing 10 spots to 95th, and Kuwait decreasing 9 spots to 99th. In addition to the debut by Kyrgyzstan, there are 4 other countries either returning or making their debut this year. The first is the small and beautiful country of Andorra, ranked 89th. The second is Senegal, ranked 92nd. The third is the surprising Kosovo, ranked 96th. The fourth is Angola, ranked 97th. The countries that have left the top 100 Index this year are Uganda, Nepal, Ethiopia, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic.
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 23 Trends in Top 20 Cities San Francisco Bay New York London Los Angeles Area Boston Area Beijing Shanghai Bangalore Tel Aviv Area Paris Seattle Berlin New Delhi Chicago Tokyo–Yokohama Area São Paulo Mumbai Shenzhen Washington DC Area Austin 2020 2021 2022
2022 | StartupBlink View the Global Startup Map p. 24 Cities Rankings Insights The Top 10 This year brings some interesting shifts in the global top 10 cities. However, there are no surprises in the highest ranked city, San Francisco, which remains the most prominent global ecosystem by a massive margin. However, the trend of San Francisco losing its relative power continues, as the city gap in total score has constantly narrowed over the years toward closest contender, New York, and rest of the top 10. For reference, in 2019, the total score of San Francisco was 5 times higher than New York. This year, the gap is only 2.5 times higher. San Francisco will continue to be the top global ecosystem for the foreseeable future, but it is no longer the SuperNova it used to be, light years distant from any other startup ecosystem. The second highest ranked city, New York, has held second position since 2017, and is also in a league of its own. With a total score 1.7 times higher than the third ranked city, it retains a score gap that will be hard to close in the short term. The cities ranked 3rd to 6th have a relatively low total score gap from one another, creating an interesting competition. The 3rd ranked city is the first change in the top 10 this year. Congratulations to the city of London, jumping 2 spots to take this prestigious position in the index. London has managed to soar past both Beijing and Los Angeles this year, showing the strength of this inspiring city. It is also the only non-US city in the global top 5. Ranked 4th this year is the powerful ecosystem of Los Angeles, holding its position in the Index. Ranked 5th is Boston, increasing its position by one spot, and demonstrating its success in several startup industries, primarily Healthtech. The biggest decrease in the top 10 was registered by Beijing, the top ranked Chinese ecosystem, dropping 3 spots to rank 6th globally. After years of increase in the Index, it seemed reasonable that Beijing would close gaps with New York and threaten to capture second place. This year has substantially reversed Beijing’s positive trend. Last year, we coined the term “Big 7” to describe the group of cities that have established a massive gap from all other global startup ecosystems. This year, the club has narrowed to the “Big 6” we have presented so far. Shanghai, the second ranked Chinese Ecosystem, maintained its position at 7th globally, but is separated from the 6 leading cities by a substantial gap in total score, which now makes it much closer to the ecosystems ranked below it. Ranked 8th, Bangalore is the strongest startup ecosystem in India, increasing by 2 spots this year and solidifying its position in the global top 10 cities. At 9th, Tel Aviv is the central ecosystem in the startup nation of Israel. Tel Aviv has decreased by one spot this year, but is still going strong in the top 10. Paris, ranked 10th, has made it to the top 10 after increasing by one spot this year, guarding its position as the top EU city.
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