Latest news with #2025GlobalStartupEcosystemReport
Daily Tribune
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain startup ecosystem soars
Bahrain's startup ecosystem has demonstrated robust growth, with its value reaching an impressive $1.2 billion, marking a 13% compound annual growth compared to 2023, according to the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) released yesterday by Startup Genome in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network at VivaTech. The report highlights the Kingdom's strong performance across several key metrics. MENA Region Recognition The GSER 2025 features Bahrain prominently, ranking it among the Top 10 MENA Ecosystems in both Funding, which assesses early-stage funding and investor activity, and Performance, which measures value created from exits and funding. The Kingdom also secured positions in the Top 15 MENA Ecosystems for Knowledge, reflecting its expertise and innovation. Strategic Partnerships Fueling Growth Startup Genome, the Global Entrepreneurship Network, and The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) have collaborated closely over recent years to monitor and benchmark Bahrain's startup ecosystem. This partnership aims to identify challenges and opportunities, informing strategic development plans to further foster ecosystem growth. Official Insights ' Bahrain possesses a well-connected ecosystem, robust infrastructure, and highly skilled tech talent that provide a strong foundation for growth,' stated Alya Alaali, Chief Strategy & Data Analytics Officer at The Labour Fund (Tamkeen). She affirmed Tamkeen's commitment to 'foster innovation by enabling skill development and providing access to funding for entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives.' Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA, Startup Genome, echoed this sentiment, noting that 'Bahrain's consistent performance reflects a growing maturity and strategic focus on sectors like AI, Fintech, and Cybersecurity.' She added that Tamkeen's role remains 'pivotal - anchoring a supportive, entrepreneur-friendly environment that continues to strengthen Bahrain's innovation landscape and long-term competitiveness.' Key Sector Strengths Fintech, Cybersecurity, and AI were identified as crucial drivers for startup growth in Bahrain, underpinned by proactive regulation and targeted training programs. In 2024, the country advanced open banking and crypto licensing, and launched new infrastructure and education initiatives specifically to scale AI-driven innovation. Attractive Destination for Startups The report also highlighted Bahrain's appeal as a destination for startup expansion. The Kingdom offers a compelling entry point into the GCC and broader MENA markets, combining regional accessibility with comparatively low operational costs for startups. The ecosystem benefits from targeted SME policies, active accelerators, and a steady stream of new initiatives, including over 130 startup events in 2024 and recent expansions by regional tech players such as Tamara.
Biz Bahrain
a day ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
The Kingdom of Bahrain marks 13% Ecosystem Value Growth this year
Startup Genome, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network has released its flagship report – the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) – today at VivaTech, Paris. The Kingdom of Bahrain is featured in the GSER 2025 report, highlighting its strong performance across several key metrics. Bahrain's startup ecosystem generated $1.2 billion in Ecosystem Value—reflecting a 13% compound annual growth compared to the GSER 2023 period. In addition, the Kingdom of Bahrain ranked among the Top 10 MENA Ecosystems in both Funding (early-stage funding and investor activity) and Performance (value created from exits and funding), and secured positions in the Top 15 MENA Ecosystems for Knowledge. Startup Genome, the Global Entrepreneurship Network and The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) have been working closely together over the past years to monitor and benchmark Bahrain's startup ecosystem, identifying challenges and opportunities that can inform strategic development plans to foster ecosystem growth. Commenting on the report findings, Ms. Alya Alaali Chief Strategy & Data Analytics Officer at the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) stated: 'Bahrain possesses a well-connected ecosystem, robust infrastructure, and highly skilled tech talent that provide a strong foundation for growth.' She continued: 'We remain committed to foster innovation by enabling skill development and providing access to funding for entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives.' In addition, Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA, Startup Genome stated: 'Bahrain's consistent performance reflects a growing maturity and strategic focus on sectors like AI, Fintech, and Cybersecurity. The ecosystem offers startups a cost-effective, high-quality launchpad for early-stage innovation, underpinned by strong connectivity and accessibility. Tamkeen's role remains pivotal – anchoring a supportive, entrepreneur-friendly environment that continues to strengthen Bahrain's innovation landscape and long-term competitiveness.' In the report, several sector drivers were prominent and crucial for startup growth. Fintech, Cybersecurity, and AI are key strengths of Bahrain's startup ecosystem, supported by proactive regulation and targeted training programs. In 2024, the country advanced open banking and crypto licensing, and launched new infrastructure and education initiatives to scale AI-driven innovation. The report also highlighted the factors that make Bahrain an attractive destination for startup growth. The Kingdom offers a compelling entry point into the GCC and wider MENA markets, combining regional accessibility with comparatively low startup operational costs. The ecosystem is supported by targeted SME policies, active accelerators, and a steady stream of new initiatives, including 130+ startup events in 2024 and recent expansions by regional tech players such as Tamara. The 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) offers in-depth analysis of global and regional startup ecosystems, highlighting key trends, investment patterns, and policy strategies. Based on over a decade of research and contributions from 65+ countries, the report ranks the Top 40 global and Top 100 emerging ecosystems, providing data-driven insights and practical guidance for policymakers, ecosystem leaders, and founders to support startup growth and economic development. Widely regarded 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. View the full report here –
Technical.ly
2 days ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
Philly is now one of the top 15 places in the world to launch a startup
Philadelphia jumped 12 spots in a national ranking of startup ecosystems, placing the city among the top 15 places in the world to found a company. The region is now ranked No. 13 in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report from trade association and research group Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Over the last five years, Philly has climbed 35 spots, the report states — a sign that collaboration in the innovation scene is working, said Tiffany Wilson, president and CEO of the University City Science Center, a Startup Genome member. 'We've been laying groundwork … over the last few years, and starting to see some early indications of companies seeing success as a result,' Wilson told 'It's the right activity at the right time.' Last year, Philly broke the top 25, an improvement over the previous year when the city ranked No. 27. The latest ranking can be partially attributed to the billions of dollars flowing into the scene. Philadelphia's ecosystem value from 2022 to 2024 is $76 billion, while the global average is $20.4 billion. Startup Genome also credits Philly's sector-specific niches for helping it top the charts. Life sciences was cited as a top industry in the region. Startup Genome called out the $30 million dedicated to the sector in the Pennsylvania governor's proposed 2025 to 2026 budget, plus huge raises, like gene therapy company Latus Bio's $54 million round, as reasons for its top performance. As the home of the first FDA-approved cell and gene therapies, Philadelphia is already well-known for its life sciences wins. However, the past six months have challenged that reputation, as the city's gene therapy darling, Spark Therapeutics, recently faced restructuring and layoffs. Analysts at the time agreed, though, that one company-specific setback doesn't undermine what the scene has accomplished (or the millions that continue to be raised). Startup Genome also mentioned AI and big data and robotics and advanced manufacturing as strong sub-sectors in Philly. The report specifically cited big deals like Sojo Industries' $10 million Series A raise last summer and Ghost Robotics' $240 million acquisition by South Korean defense tech company LIG Nex 1. Diverse talent, support from entrepreneurship-focused organizations and collaboration are all reasons startups should consider settling down in the city, according to the report. Startup Genome also highlighted key stakeholders like 1Philadelphia, Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies, Philly Startup Leaders (which recently rebranded to Startup Leaders) and Independence Health Group. A tough time for VC, but billions still flow into Philly Philadelphia is also beating out other regions in cash flow. Total VC funding for the city over the last five years is $24 billion, while the global average over the same time period is $5.2 billion. 2024 saw $3.3 billion in venture capital invested over 444 deals, a 37.5% increase from the previous year, the report said. One of the area's strengths is funding for early-stage companies, which aligns with the report's findings of $3.4 billion in early-stage funding from 2022 to 2024. 'At the end of the day, the money will follow the best companies,' Wilson said. 'It's just about getting them ready and plugged in to prepare for that.' Philadelphia faced a hard quarter for venture capital deal flow in Q1 of this year. Local organizations like the ones Startup Genome shouted out are trying to build connections to keep up the momentum. Ben Franklin Technology Partners' GO PA Fund is providing capital to local companies, including $2 million into medtech company Rimsys' $5 million round, per the report. Plus, the Science Center's Capital Readiness Program helps startups prepare to raise capital and brings companies from outside the region in. The Science Center facilitates introductions to potential partners and clients, while also showing off what Philly has to offer with the goal of getting companies to stay, Wilson said. Investments at the state level are also shining a light on Pennsylvania as a whole. Earlier this week, Amazon announced a $20 billion investment in AI across the state, including plans to build a data center in Bucks County. A sign of 'legitimacy, momentum and opportunity' Startup Genome's rankings don't define a startup environment forever; rather, they are a tool for future strategy and decision making, according to Stephan Kuester, managing partner at Startup Genome. Philly's recent jump can provide it with insights on how to sustain the upward trajectory. Higher rankings are often a sign of 'legitimacy, momentum and opportunity,' creating more attention for the market and leading to more opportunities, Kuester said. A low ranking can be a sign to leaders to take action and address gaps. 'Whether an ecosystem rises or falls, the ranking is most valuable when used not as a scoreboard, but as a diagnostic tool,' Kuester said. 'Movement in the rankings should spur collaborative analysis across the ecosystem to understand root causes and adjust course accordingly.' Philadelphia's high ranking will hopefully draw more startup leaders into the scene, Wilson said. Being No. 13 in the world presents an opportunity to connect the dots between investment, job creation and actual human impact happening in the region. 'It's been exciting to bring people into the ecosystem and see them experience that,' Wilson said. 'If we can do that, and we can really demonstrate how we help innovation move from an idea to impact.'
