Series > Startup Nation
Obvious choices like London, New York and Silicon Valley aside – what are the best cities around the globe for startups? And what makes them so?
Well, we wondered too. That’s why we compiled a list of 20 world-class cities where startups can – and do – thrive. In terms of criteria, we considered a number of factors, including:
Labour Market
- Don’t just think talent pool – although that’s certainly important. Consider also the economic and political environment in which your startup will operate. Wage levels, funding for higher education, intellectual property law, labour policies – these will all have a dramatic impact on the success of local startups.
Culture
- Does the city have a large immigrant population? Excellent. Entrepreneurs are said to be made, not born, so it stands to reason that leaving everything behind to start fresh in a new country, might signal a greater propensity to take calculated risk. Tick that as a key ingredient for startup-friendly locales.
Infrastructure
- Airports, public transport, motorways – not to mention digital connectedness – are all vital for supporting high-growth businesses. A strong seaport doesn’t hurt either, particularly if your startup relies on component materials from overseas or produces physical goods for export.
That said, here are five of the top picks from our list. We’re sure some are bound to surprise…
+ Belfast
+ Berlin
+ Kuala Lumpur
+ Moscow
+ Tel Aviv
For the full list of the “20 Best Global Cities for Startup,” including commentary and analysis, just give us a bell.