Latest news with #StartupGenome
CairoScene
3 days ago
- Business
- CairoScene
Riyadh Climbs 60 Places Amongst Top 100 Emerging Startup Ecosystems
Riyadh jumps 60 spots over three years to rank 23rd in Startup Genome's 2025 global list, emerging as one of the MENA region's top startup hubs. Jun 18, 2025 Riyadh has been ranked 23rd in Startup Genome's 2025 'Global Startup Ecosystem' report, marking a dramatic rise of 60 positions over the past three years. The Saudi capital now stands among the top 100 emerging startup ecosystems globally and holds the second-highest position in the MENA region. According to the report, Riyadh placed third regionally in funding volume and fourth in talent availability—two key indicators of ecosystem strength. The city's rise has been fuelled by high-growth sectors including artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, smart cities, digital health, and infrastructure—core areas aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy for economic diversification. The ecosystem's progress also reflects a growing number of significant venture exits, including the notable $1.1 billion exit of insurtech company Rasan. These exits signal investor confidence and a maturing venture environment. Public-sector institutions such as Monsha'at, the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, continue to play a pivotal role by promoting regulatory reforms, supporting accelerator programmes, and building infrastructure that supports long-term innovation and entrepreneurship. Startup Genome's 2025 report analysed data from more than five million startups across 350 ecosystems worldwide. Riyadh's strong showing reflects its accelerating maturity, increased access to capital, and robust infrastructure development. Since 2018, Riyadh's startup ecosystem has attracted more than $2.6 billion in venture capital investment. With growing momentum in digital innovation and government support, the city is positioning itself as a serious contender in the global tech landscape, challenging traditional hubs from Silicon Valley to Singapore.
CairoScene
3 days ago
- Business
- CairoScene
Abu Dhabi Startup Ecosystem Ranks Third in MENA for Performance
Abu Dhabi has entered the global top 60 emerging startup ecosystems according to Startup Genome's 2025 report, generating $4.4 billion in value and ranking third in MENA for ecosystem performance. Jun 17, 2025 Abu Dhabi has been ranked among the top 60 emerging startup ecosystems globally in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome. The emirate moved from the 61–70 bracket into the 51–60 tier, reflecting strong performance despite a 14% global decline in startup valuations. Between July 1st 2022 and December 31st 2024, Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem generated $4.4 billion in value, placing third in the MENA region for overall performance. The ranking is based on key indicators including startup valuations, venture capital activity, and major exits. Abu Dhabi also placed among the top five MENA ecosystems for funding, talent, knowledge, and capital efficiency. Fintech, climatetech, and digital assets were identified as the emirate's most competitive sectors, supported by national economic diversification efforts and initiatives such as Hub71 and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Startups in the Hub71 ecosystem have raised over $2.17 billion to date.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Riyadh ranks 23, up 60 places, among top 100 emerging startup ecosystems globally
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has made a remarkable achievement in the field of entrepreneurship, with the position of Riyadh, the capital city, advancing 60 places over the past three years, ranking 23rd among the top 100 emerging startup ecosystems globally. This was revealed in the "Global Startup Ecosystem 2025" report issued by Startup Genome, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network. According to the report, the Kingdom recorded the second-highest performance in the Middle East and North Africa region, ranking third in terms of funding volume and investment value versus impact, while ranking fourth in terms of the availability of skills and expertise, enhancing its ability to attract and retain entrepreneurial talent. The report highlighted the promising sectors that contributed to these results, most notably artificial intelligence, financial technologies, cybersecurity, smart cities, infrastructure, and digital health, which represent key pillars of the Kingdom's economic transformation plans. This great progress reflects the Kingdom's rapid growth in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly in terms of venture capital indicators and the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem's infrastructure. This is in addition to the rising levels of innovation and investment in emerging technologies. This achievement was made possible mainly because of the support and empowerment provided by government agencies in the Kingdom to investors in the sector, including the efforts of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at) to build an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem through its initiatives and programs that support the growth and expansion of startups and enhance the legislative and regulatory environment for entrepreneurs. This aims to increase the share of these enterprises in the GDP, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Startup Genome report was based on data analysis of more than 5 million startups across more than 350 global ecosystems, reviewing the most prominent investment trends and policies that stimulate the success of innovation and entrepreneurship at the international level. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Mid East Info
4 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Abu Dhabi Startup Ecosystem Ranks 3rd in MENA for Performance Amid Global Slowdown - Middle East Business News and Information
Startup Genome launches the world's most comprehensive report on startup ecosystems, released at VivaTech Paris Abu Dhabi, UAE — June, 2025 —Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem has made remarkable strides, emerging as one of the fastest-growing hubs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), according to the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) launched today at VivaTech in Paris. Recognized as the world's most comprehensive research on startup ecosystems, the GSER leverages the largest quality-controlled dataset in the industry, analyzing data from over 5 million companies across 350+ entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems worldwide. The GSER 2025 highlights Abu Dhabi's impressive leap into the top emerging global ecosystems, ranking in the #51-60 tier, up from its previous #61-70 position. This advancement comes despite a global 14% decline in overall startup ecosystem value. Notably, Abu Dhabi generated $4.4 billion (approximately AED 16.2 billion) in Ecosystem Value between July 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, marking a 6% annual growth. Abu Dhabi also ranked 3rd in the MENA region for Performance, a category that evaluates startup success through valuations and exit activity. This recognition reinforces Abu Dhabi's position as a dynamic, results-driven hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. 'Abu Dhabi's rise in the global rankings is a testament to the exceptional pace and cohesion of its innovation ecosystem, with Hub71 at the heart of this transformation. Amid a global downturn in startup ecosystem value, Abu Dhabi's long-term vision is beginning to pay off – demonstrating bold leadership and collaborative strength. We expect this momentum to continue, with Abu Dhabi poised to grow at a faster rate than many global peers in the years ahead.' says Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA, Startup Genome. The report also places Abu Dhabi among the top five ecosystems in MENA across several core categories, including Knowledge, Funding, and Talent & Experience. Additionally, the emirate was recognized among the region's best for 'Bang for Buck,' reflecting efficient use of venture capital and a strong return on investment. Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said: 'Abu Dhabi's rise in global rankings reflects the strength of our startup community and the impact of Hub71's ecosystem-enabling initiatives. Over the past six years, Hub71 has built a connected network of founders, investors, corporates, and global partners, enabling sustainable startup growth, international scaling, and the evolution of Abu Dhabi's early-stage technology landscape. This progress is driven by Abu Dhabi's deliberate focus on innovation and technology, alongside an increasingly agile business and regulatory environment. Hub71 and its startups continue to benefit from a compelling Abu Dhabi value proposition, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the emirate's economic and technological ambitions.' Sectoral drivers of startup growth in Abu Dhabi: FinTech, ClimateTech, and Digital Assets are key strengths of Abu Dhabi's innovation landscape, supported extensively by strategic regulatory frameworks, and sector-specific infrastructure. Key developments including ADGM's expanded licensing frameworks, substantial venture funding, and strategic partnerships in sustainability-focused enterprises, and strategic alliances in blockchain technology, exemplify the emirate's deliberate and cohesive strategy for long-term economic diversification and innovation. Why startups choose Abu Dhabi: The emirate's appeal lies in forward-thinking policies, such as streamlined regulatory procedures and targeted government support for technology-driven sectors. Initiatives such as Khalifa Fund's MZN HUB are pivotal in bridging local startups with international innovation networks, further amplifying Abu Dhabi's global entrepreneurial influence. The GSER is widely regarded as the most comprehensive evaluation of global startup ecosystems, offering data-driven insights essential for policymakers, ecosystem leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide. Abu Dhabi's consistent rise in global rankings over the past three years highlights the strength of its strategy and the growth of its startup ecosystem, positioning the emirate as a leading global hub for innovation. About HUB71: Hub71 is Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem that enables founders to build globally enduring homegrown tech companies in any sector by providing access to global markets, a capital ecosystem, a global network of partners, and a vibrant community filled with highly skilled talent governed by forward-thinking regulation. Backed by the Government of Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Investment Company, Hub71 is growing its vibrant community of tech startups, investors, government, and corporate partners to ensure the availability of investment, commercial activities, and incentives from the public and private sectors. Through Hub71's entrepreneurial infrastructure, value-add programs, enabling services and support packages, founders can build, and scale widely adopted technologies with purpose and impact. Hub71 is on a mission to introduce new minds and technologies to Abu Dhabi, finding new ways to build globally enduring technology companies and sustain the nation's continuous economic development. About STARTUP GENOME: Startup Genome is the world-leading innovation ecosystem development organization, having worked with more than 180 economic and innovation ministries and public/private agencies in over 65 countries. We work to catalyze startup success and ecosystem growth and ensure that all cities and countries capture their fair share of the new economy. Startup Genome strategy clients grew their ecosystem values 59% faster than peers (41% vs. 25%). On average, Startup Genome clients produced $1.4 billion per year more in ecosystem value from an average starting point of $9.2 billion. Our evidence-based ecosystem research, advisory, and scaleup programs are rooted in global experience with the world's largest AI-curated startup dataset and proprietary instruments developed from over a decade of primary research.
Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Riyadh ranks 23, up 60 places, among top 100 emerging startup ecosystems globally
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has made a remarkable achievement in the field of entrepreneurship, with the position of Riyadh, the capital city, advancing 60 places over the past three years, ranking 23rd among the top 100 emerging startup ecosystems globally. This was revealed in the "Global Startup Ecosystem 2025" report issued by Startup Genome, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network. According to the report, the Kingdom recorded the second-highest performance in the Middle East and North Africa region, ranking third in terms of funding volume and investment value versus impact, while ranking fourth in terms of the availability of skills and expertise, enhancing its ability to attract and retain entrepreneurial talent. The report highlighted the promising sectors that contributed to these results, most notably artificial intelligence, financial technologies, cybersecurity, smart cities, infrastructure, and digital health, which represent key pillars of the Kingdom's economic transformation plans. This great progress reflects the Kingdom's rapid growth in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly in terms of venture capital indicators and the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem's infrastructure. This is in addition to the rising levels of innovation and investment in emerging technologies. This achievement was made possible mainly because of the support and empowerment provided by government agencies in the Kingdom to investors in the sector, including the efforts of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at) to build an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem through its initiatives and programs that support the growth and expansion of startups and enhance the legislative and regulatory environment for entrepreneurs. This aims to increase the share of these enterprises in the GDP, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Startup Genome report was based on data analysis of more than 5 million startups across more than 350 global ecosystems, reviewing the most prominent investment trends and policies that stimulate the success of innovation and entrepreneurship at the international level.
