Bangalore, June 14, 2025 — Bengaluru has climbed an impressive seven positions to land at 14th place in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025, released by Startup Genome—marking a significant leap from its previous position at 21.
The annual ranking—based on data from over 5 million startups across 350+ cities—evaluates ecosystems on parameters such as funding, talent, market reach, and emerging technological capabilities.
Key Growth Drivers
- Four mega exits in 2024 powered the rise:
- Swiggy IPO at US$12 billion
- GoDigit at US$3.6 billion
- Indegene at US$1.3 billion
- Blackbuck at US$1 billion
These exits boosted Bengaluru’s ecosystem valuation to US$136 billion.
- Despite a 31% drop in major global exits across the top 40 ecosystems, Bengaluru’s startup momentum continued with a 26% increase in seed funding to US$268 million in 2024.
- The city now ranks 5th globally in AI and Big Data, underlining its emergence as an artificial intelligence innovation powerhouse.
Ecosystem Scale and Support
- Bengaluru boasts a thriving investor community with over 1,500 venture capital firms, 2,200 corporate investors, and 17,000 active angel investors.
- It houses more than 16,000 startups and accounted for nearly 47% of Indian VC funding in 2024.
- Karnataka’s government-backed initiatives—like INNOVERSE, LEAP, ELEVATE 2024, and the Karnataka Accelerator Network—along with US$48 million in deep tech support and fund-of-funds initiatives, have played a major role in sustaining growth.
Official Praise and Context
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s IT and BT Minister, said the rise signals Bengaluru’s transition from a “rising star” to a top-tier global startup hub, alongside cities like Paris (ranked 12), Philadelphia (13), and Seattle (15).
Ravi Narayan from Startup Genome noted that Bengaluru’s future will be “written in deep code, hard science, and global collaboration.”
Global Ranking Landscape
Silicon Valley, New York City, London, and Tel Aviv retained top positions in the report, with Boston and Beijing tied at number five. The 2025 report highlights increasing momentum among Asian and mid-sized ecosystems, signaling a dynamic shift in global innovation hubs.
Analysis
Bengaluru’s sharp rise reflects a maturing, resilient startup ecosystem built on strong exits, deep tech innovation, proactive government policy, and a dense talent pool. Its number five ranking in AI and Big Data provides a strategic edge in defining next-generation technologies.
Looking ahead, continued support in infrastructure, global integration, and science-driven innovation will be key to Bengaluru breaking into the global top 10.
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