In the “The next generation of tech ecosystems report” The data platform Dealroom.co examined the world's most important tech ecosystems. For this study, it selected the 168 cities that have already produced at least one unicorn—a startup valued at over $1 billion. 33 additional cities are also included in the evaluation. They have total funding of at least $100 million and have made at least 50 investments in their ecosystem since 2017.
The report evaluates the 201 ecosystems in three categories: Science Hubs, Trailblazers, and Rising Stars. The Science Hub category places greater emphasis on cutting-edge technology, academic talent, and patents. These science centers are often smaller centers with a strong scientific presence that are crucial for the development of innovative cutting-edge technology. Here, too, the Bay Area ranks first, followed by Boston and Cambridge. Eindhoven, the EU's strongest science hub, ranks seventh, closely followed by Munich in eighth place. This makes Munich the only German city among the top 30 in this category.
Munich: 8th place in science, 21st place among pioneers
With the Trailblazers – in English: pioneers – Dealroom focuses on the absolute size of a ecosystemCities that rank at the top in this category generally benefit from a strong local venture capital sector. The Bay Area ranks first, followed by New Palo Alto and New York City. Paris, the EU's strongest trailblazer, ranks seventh, while Berlin, at 16th, achieved the highest ranking among German cities. Munich ranks 21st in this ranking.
The Rising Stars primarily include ecosystems that are considered unremarkable but have undergone rapid transformation. The success factors of the individual cities vary considerably. Factors such as low living costs, a good ratio of per capita GDP to unicorns, or high levels of financing during the growth phase are crucial. Bengaluru ranks first here, followed by Curitiba and Bogotá. In addition to many cities in emerging markets, several ecosystems from Eastern Europe can also be found here, such as Wrocław (8th place), Warsaw (11th place), Vilnius (14th place), and Kyiv (15th place).
Yoram Wijngaarde, CEO & Founder of Dealroom.co says:
"Technology-driven innovation continues to permeate every sector. After three decades of digital transformation driven by the internet, mobile, and cloud computing, we are now entering a new era defined by advances in AI and radical innovations. This benchmarking provides actionable tools for ecosystem developers, economic development agencies, and policymakers to help them navigate this new era."
