Latest news with #GSER2025
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
The AI race is on: Startup ecosystems in the crosshairs of a new era
The startup world has exhaled and taken off in a full sprint, straight into the AI era, says the author Image: RON AI When I wrote about the 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) last year, it felt like the world of startups was holding its breath, hopeful, but cautious. We were all waiting to see what would come next. Now, here we are in 2025, and that moment of pause is well and truly over. The startup world has exhaled and taken off in a full sprint, straight into the AI era. This year, the newly released GSER 2025, now in its 13th edition, hits a different note entirely. It doesn't just take stock of where we are, it challenges us to rethink where we're going. With insights drawn from over 5 million startups across more than 350 ecosystems, this year's report is, more than anything, a bold invitation to act. Each ecosystem in the GSER 2025 is evaluated across six key success factors — Performance (total startup and exit valuations), Funding (early- and late-stage capital and large exits), Talent & Experience (quality and track record of founders and workforce), Market Reach (local and global customer access), Knowledge (research output and innovation capacity), and, new for 2025, AI-Native Readiness (the ecosystem's transition to AI-driven innovation in startups, funding, and policy). The GSER 2024 painted a picture of stagnation in the post-Covid tech sector, with exits and funding levels far below pre-pandemic highs. The world's top ecosystems — Silicon Valley, London, and New York — held their positions, buffered by deep capital and talent reserves. But signs of movement were already evident: Tel Aviv surged to tie with Los Angeles for 4th, and Tokyo cracked the top 10 for the first time, backed by state-led innovation strategies. Fast forward to 2025, and the ground has visibly shifted. Silicon Valley, no surprises here, is still king of the hill. But London, which had been comfortably sharing the silver medal with New York since 2020, has now been bumped to bronze. The real headline, though, is Tel Aviv's rise to fourth place outright, a climb powered by Israel's long-standing strategic investments and its central role in the global AI revolution. China, which saw a dip in rankings last year, rebounded strongly in 2025 with notable improvements in rankings for cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, Europe faced a decline in ecosystem value apart from Paris which ascended to the 12th position. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The overall picture painted by GSER 2025 indicates a shifting focus; ecosystems that effectively incorporate AI technologies are likely to have a competitive edge, while those that remain anchored in outdated models risk obsolescence. The funding landscape wasn't entirely bleak. While overall startup ecosystem value declined, one sector surged ahead: Artificial Intelligence. AI startups didn't just weather the downturn; they thrived, capturing 40% of global VC funding in 2025, up from 26% in 2021. Last year, Nairobi led the Sub-Saharan pack, with Lagos, Cape Town, and Johannesburg following. In 2025, Lagos takes the lead, boosted by three unicorns (Flutterwave, Moniepoint, and Andela) and a strengthened fintech backbone. Cape Town remains the only African city in the Top 100 Emerging Ecosystems, while Johannesburg, despite its wealth of financial institutions and Africa's largest stock exchange, continues to lag behind in ecosystem index rankings. As South Africa contemplates its evolving role within this global context, the GSER 2025 delivers a clear directive: governments must allocate at least 25% of AI transition budgets to entrepreneurial ecosystems; not just to academic research or infrastructure. The path forward is clear: act locally, partner globally, and ride the AI wave with policy and precision. For me, the GSER 2025 rings louder and more urgently than any report before it. The message is clear: the next generation of innovation won't wait for those who hesitate. Ecosystems that move quickly to embrace AI, and ensure its benefits are widely shared, will be the ones that shape the future. Boitshoko Shoke, Research & Impact Manager at 22 On Sloane. Image: Supplied Boitshoko Shoke, Research & Impact Manager at 22 On Sloane. *** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL BUSINESS REPORT
Mid East Info
17-06-2025
- 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.
Al Etihad
16-06-2025
- 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.
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru ranks 14 in global startups, fifth in AI and big data
BENGALURU: Bengaluru has jumped seven spots to rank 14 in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2025, up from 21 last year. The city ranked fifth globally in AI & Big Data. The GSER 2025, published by Startup Genome and released at VivaTech 2025 in Paris, evaluates ecosystems across key parameters, performance, funding, market reach, talent and experience, and knowledge along with a new focus on AI-native capabilities. At VivaTech 2025, Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge spoke at a high-level panel discussion on AI disruption and startup ecosystem futures. 'This ranking is not just a number; it reflects the structural resilience and readiness of Karnataka's innovation economy,' Kharge stated. He detailed Karnataka's multi-pronged strategy; including Innoverse open innovation platform, Beyond Bengaluru regional startup mission, and Nipuna Karnataka, a skilling initiative targeting over a million professionals. The state is also fostering enterprise-startup collaboration via its growing Global Capability Center (GCC) network and supporting Deep Tech with dedicated funding for AI, biotech and robotics. Bengaluru now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with global hubs like Paris (rank 12), Philadelphia (13), and Seattle (15), marking a significant shift in global innovation trends and placing Karnataka firmly on the global Deep Tech map.
Daily Tribune
13-06-2025
- 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.
