10 Best Cities For Tech Startups In The World

What makes a city a great place for a startup? Beyond a great idea and an awesome team, there are certain factors that help a startup flourish. We looked at entrepreneurial culture, financial incentives, number of startups, and location benefits to create this list of top startup cities in the world. Enjoy!

 

1. Bogota, Colombia

• Tax incentives for business founders; 175% tax deduction for tech companies
• Currently over 1000 startups; over 800 in nearby Medellin
• Easy access to South, Central, and North America
• Strong entrepreneurial culture; plenty of networking and socializing events 
• Notable startups in Bogota: Frutamour, Ascendo, Civico

 

2. Lisbon, Portugal

• Easy access to other startup cities in Europe and an affordable cost of living
• Many accelerators, incubators, and co-working spaces to work from 
• Member of the Startup Voucher which funds 400 entrepreneurial fellowships in the city annually
• Notable Startups in Lisbon: Muzzley, unbabel, and aptoide

 

3. Los Angeles, U.S.A.

• Established tech startup scene; currently has over 6000 startups
• Respected universities nearby, thus lots of local talent to hire from 
• Immense access to venture capital, loans, and grants 
• Recognized on the world stage for technology and business 
• Notable Startups in Los Angeles: Dave.com, Mythical Games, Surkus, and many more 

 

4. Sydney, Australia

• The national economy is stable; there hasn’t been a recession in nearly three decades
• 35% of Australia’s startups are in Sydney, along with hundreds of accelerators and incubators
• High-energy, youthful, and vibrant entrepreneurial scene and overall culture 
• Notable Startups in Sydney: Muru, Hivery, veromo

 

5. Santiago, Chile

• 90% of the country’s startups are in Santiago; it’s casually been dubbed “Chilecon Valley”
• Extremely affordable cost of living and doing business 
• Santiago is especially attractive to tech startups related to copper and mineral mining
• Many co-working spaces are free to entrepreneurs, demonstrating the city’s entrepreneurial spirit 
• Notable Startups in Santiago: Wanna Migrate, Trumpit, and Junar

 

6. Shanghai, China

• The city is full of technologically advanced citizens, perfect for testing 
• The government encourages venture capitalists to fund tech startups by reimbursing them for their losses
• Shanghai is full of competitive, hard-working, and results-driven businesses 
• Notable Startups in Shanghai:  FiFish, Hellobike, and E-Shang 

 

7. Istanbul, Turkey

• Businesses have access to both European and Asian markets
• Foreign investors enjoy the same rights as local Turkish investors
• The cost of living, especially housing, is very affordable
• Member and host of New York’s global accelerator, Endeavor
• Notable Startups in Istanbul: Teleporter, BiSu, and Getir

 

8. Helsinki, Finland

• Easier access to early-stage funding
• A large pool of tech talent, accelerators, hubs, and incubators
• Access to the Finnish Startup Permit which makes it easier for tech entrepreneurs to grow in the city
• Notable Startups in Helsinki: Nokia, Linux, and Clash of Clans

 

9. Berlin, Germany

• Very international visitor-friendly; entrepreneurs from other countries highly welcomed
• Affordable cost of living and cost of doing business
• Focused on diversity and inclusion; many opportunities to network and socialize with other tech entrepreneurs and talent
• Regarded as one of the top startup destinations in the world
• Notable Startups in Berlin: GoEuro, N26, and Blinkist 

 

10. Vancouver, Canada

• Home to over 3000 startups
• An average cost of living and doing business, but above-average entrepreneurial culture
• 16 local universities to pull talent from as well as plenty of grant opportunities
• Vancouver is well-regarded all over the world for technological innovations and advancements  
• Notable Startups in Vancouver: Hootsuite, Slack, and Weddingful