Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 Showcases Top-Ranked Ecosystems, Key Trends, and $7.6 Trillion in Global Startup Economy Value Creation

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2023 (Newswire.com) - The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER 2023) by Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) was launched today at The Next Web Conference in Amsterdam, presented by JF Gauthier, Founder and CEO of Startup Genome. The GSER is powered by the world's most comprehensive and quality-controlled dataset on startup ecosystems. Informed by data on 3.5 million startups across 290+ global ecosystems, the report provides compelling new insights and deep knowledge about startup trends, including the impact of inflation, AI regulation, talent attraction, trends in global VC funding, and sub-sector analyses. Contributions from expert thought leaders and local key players further enrich the report's extensive, evidence-based findings, which are the product of over a decade of Startup Genome's independent research and policy work.

Global key findings from the #GSER2023 include:

• A recession is a good time to invest in startups — high interest rates can benefit startups, concentrating capital and talent into ventures that create value. Startups funded during the Great Recession had slightly higher exit multiples over total money invested than those funded during economic expansions. 
• VC funding globally began its downward trend in the first quarter of 2022, dropping 13% from Q4 2021. Overall, 2022 declined by 35% from 2021.
• Although fewer startups were funded in 2022 globally, they received larger sums: there was an 18% decline in the number of deals, but a 17% decline in deal amount, meaning that the average deal size grew 2%.
• The biggest tech exit of the year was Miami-based MSP Recovery's $32.6 billion IPO, which pales in comparison to 2021's biggest exit, Beijing-based Kuaishou's $150 billion IPO, which was nearly five times larger.
• 2022 saw a slowdown in the number of unicorns, with a global decline of 40% from 2021's 595 to 359. However, seven ecosystems still produced their first tech unicorn in 2022.
• Reflecting AI's increasing use and intersection with other sub-sectors, AI & Big Data was the sub-sector with the highest count of total VC deals in 2022, making up 28% of the global share. It also has the highest growth in number of exits, at 74%, from 2017-2018 to 2021-2022.
• As Deep Tech innovations become more integrated into the startup world, its exit amount grew by 326% from 2017-2018 to 2021-2022, faster than non-Deep Tech technologies, which grew 225%.
• The top three ecosystems have maintained their ranking positions from 2020, with Silicon Valley at the top, followed by New York City and London tied at #2. Silicon Valley continues to dominate despite having a reduced market share, with Series A deal amount contracting by 75% and Series B+ by 73% from 2021 to 2022.
• Eight Chinese ecosystems fell in the rankings from last year, including the leading hubs of Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
• Seven Indian ecosystems moved up, including Delhi and Bengaluru-Karnataka, in the top 30, with Mumbai tied at #31.
• Boston and Beijing both slipped out of the top five to #6 and #7, respectively, both losing two positions. This has paved the way for Los Angeles to rise to #4 and Tel Aviv to #5, both gaining two spots.
• The top 100 Emerging Ecosystems are collectively worth over $1.5 trillion in Ecosystem Value, a 50% increase from the GSER 2022.  
• Istanbul took the #1 spot in the new Strong Starters ranking, which identifies the top 25 Emerging Ecosystems where early-stage funding activity is most robust.

"We continue to serve as expert advisors for accelerating entrepreneurial performance and growth in ecosystems worldwide, and the GSER, as the most comprehensive and data-driven analysis of the subject published each year, remains a significant cornerstone of our mission," shares JF Gauthier, Founder & CEO of Startup Genome. "Despite current economic challenges, we are confident that, equipped with the right knowledge, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community leaders everywhere can leverage opportunities to come together and show how innovative technologies can not only continue to drive growth and job creation but simultaneously help save the planet and ensure a better future for everyone. This essential mission cannot be put on hold while we wait out rocky economic times."

The GSER 2023 ranks the top 30 global ecosystems and 10 runners-up, as well as ranking the top 100 emerging ecosystems. It also highlights startup communities from a regional perspective, separately ranking ecosystems in Asia, Europe, Latin America, MENA, North America, Oceania, and sub-Saharan Africa.

"Given that over half the companies on the 2009 Fortune 500 list launched during a recession or bear market, we know that lean economic times can produce high-performing startups," said Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network. "Despite recent downturns in investment, this report foreshadows where we might see the world's most disruptive and solution-driven companies emerge in the years to come — and provides unparalleled insights that policymakers and community leaders need to build resilient startup ecosystems."

The GSER 2023 is created in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Dealroom, and Crunchbase. The GSER 2023 provides invaluable insights and guidance on how to promote thriving startup communities — the #1 engine of job creation and economic growth. Discover how 140 entrepreneurial ecosystems compare and view the full report here: https://startupgenome.com/report/gser2023

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Source: Startup Genome