Latest news with #StartupGenome
Zawya
2 hours 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
6 hours 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
9 hours 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.
Al Etihad
10 hours ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi climbs startup ecosystem rankings despite global downturn
17 June 2025 00:15 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI) Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem has firmly established itself as one of the most dynamic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), ranking among the top five in the region in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER).The report - unveiled by Startup Genome at the recently concluded VivaTech in Paris -recognised the emirate's impressive rise in the rankings, despite a challenging global environment for startups. The GSER 2025 draws on data from more than five million companies across more than 350 ecosystems globally. This year's report highlights how Abu Dhabi soared into the top emerging global ecosystems, moving into the #51-60 tier, a significant leap from its previous #61-70 position. This advancement comes in a year when the global startup ecosystem value contracted by 14%, underscoring the emirate's resilience and strategic vision, the report said."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," Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA at Startup Genome, said in the report. "Amid a global downturn, Abu Dhabi's long-term vision and collaborative strength are driving sustained growth. We expect this momentum to accelerate, with Abu Dhabi poised to outperform many (of its) global peers in the coming years."According to the report, the emirate generated $4.4 billion in ecosystem value between July 2022 and December 2024, reflecting an annual growth rate of 6%. Abu Dhabi ranked among the top five MENA ecosystems in multiple key areas, including Performance (3rd), Knowledge (4th), Funding (5th), and the prominent Bang for Buck category, which measures the efficiency of capital deployment and returns on emirate ranked particularly high in the market reach of its ecosystem and funding availability; however, it showed room for improvement in knowledge and access to talent and Support for StartupsAccording to VivaTech, the success of Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem is driven by a combination of forward-looking government policies, targeted funding initiatives, and a robust support infrastructure. "Abu Dhabi's rise in global rankings reflects the strength of our startup community and the impact of Hub71's ecosystem-enabling initiatives," Hub71 CEO Ahmad Ali Alwan said in the report. "Through strategic partnerships, access to capital, and a supportive regulatory environment, we are helping startups scale internationally and contribute to Abu Dhabi's economic and technological ambitions."Among the key sectors that are fuelling this growth are FinTech, ClimateTech, and Digital Assets, all underpinned by innovative regulatory frameworks and purpose-built infrastructure. Notable enablers such as the Abu Dhabi Global Market's (ADGM) expanded licensing frameworks and substantial venture funding have attracted both local and international entrepreneurs, particularly in sustainability and blockchain technology. Moreover, initiatives like the Khalifa Fund's MZN HUB have helped streamline regulatory processes and offer startups seamless access to global innovation networks, strengthening Abu Dhabi's influence on the international entrepreneurial stage.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Global start-up ecosystem value down, but AI-native start-ups on the rise
The global economy still cannot shake off the pandemic downturn, and that includes start-up ecosystems, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2025. However, the authors draw a comparison between the current phase of AI integration into the global economy and the early days of internet adoption. They note that the key difference is that the current rate of AI growth is exponentially higher. Early-stage funding deals and values have fallen dramatically since the early days of the pandemic. In the second half of 2021 (H2 2021), there were 13,215 deals valued at more than $60bn. By H2 2024, there was a fraction of this activity, with 5,391 deals valued at just over $20bn. The report also measures a decrease in ecosystem value, which it calculates through the sum of valuations of funded start-ups plus the post-money valuation in the past two-and-a-half years. There has been a 31% ecosystem value aggregate decrease in 2025. Out of the top 20 ecosystems the report measures, only three had positive growth in this area in the past year: Beijing, Los Angeles and Tokyo. The report emphasises the opportunities that can be created by AI native start-ups. It underlines the importance of diversifying development out of the US and China, which already receive most of the funding in the sector, so that opportunities can be created elsewhere. JF Gauthier, founder and CEO of Startup Genome (which authors the report), highlights that, currently, most AI budgets are being spent on infrastructure, research, and adoption of "existing AI solutions developed in the US and China". This means that entrepreneurial AI policy, the "engine of local job creation", according to Gauthier, is being overlooked. "Governments and agency leaders in charge of start-up ecosystems have, in this critical moment, the most important job of steering their societies to invest locally to produce long-term prosperity. Instead of investing 100% of the AI budget in the US and Chinese innovation – the value of which will be eroded by next year – allocate at least 25% of that investment to building your local AI-native start-up ecosystem," Gauthier advises. This embedded content is not available in your region. In creating the 2025 rankings, the report looked at six success factors: AI-native transition, funding, knowledge, market reach, performance, and talent and experience. It highlights South Korea's start-up policies, with the Seoul Metropolitan Government having invested $1.4bn (1.9trn won) in policies and initiatives over the past four years and therefore climbing 12 ranks. Singapore has also risen eight ranks since the mid 1990s through the pursuit of start-up-friendly policies. This embedded content is not available in your region. The factors weighed to rank emerging ecosystems are slightly different from those for the top locations. There is more focus on early-stage funding and less emphasis on the number of exits. Wuxi, China, attained the top spot in the ranking following a 67% increase in exits, with values over $50m (359.03m yuan). Jakarta gained four ranks and Istanbul ten, after an increase in funding and market reach. Riyadh has had the most significant growth in the Middle East and North Africa region, jumping from the 51–60 range in 2024 to the 21–30 range in 2025. This growth was fuelled by an increase in exits of more than $50m (SR187.5m), such as Rasan's $1.1bn exit. "Global start-up ecosystem value down, but AI-native start-ups on the rise – report" was originally created and published by Investment Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
