Singapore has climbed to fourth place in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index by research platform StartupBlink. The country moved up from fifth in 2024 and has made significant progress since 2020, rising 12 spots overall. This makes Singapore one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the world.
The index attributes Singapore’s strong performance to its business-friendly environment and robust support system for startups. Key factors include investor presence, access to startup opportunities, concentration of global tech players and corporations, and the depth of local talent. Singapore has positioned itself as a leader in deep-tech and other important industries such as fintech, foodtech, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing.
The country’s universities are crucial to this ecosystem. They train a highly skilled workforce for the research and development sector and encourage entrepreneurship on campuses through various programs. Emily Liew, assistant managing director of innovation at Enterprise Singapore, emphasized the ecosystem’s openness to talent and collaboration.
Singapore strengthens startup ecosystem
She highlighted the consistent provision of stability, resources, and market access for growth. “Enterprise Singapore will continue to strengthen the ecosystem, and we welcome global startups with strong science-based solutions to leverage Singapore as a launchpad to grow and scale their business in the region and beyond,” Liew said.
Singapore’s rise in the rankings also comes during a strong year for startup funding and government initiatives. According to a report by Enterprise Singapore and research firm PitchBook released in April 2025, Singapore secured nearly 60% of the venture capital deal volume in the ASEAN region, with a total deal value of US$4.8 billion last year. To further support the startup scene, the government announced in October that it would invest an additional S$440 million to attract more venture capital firms to invest in local deep tech startups.
This increases the total funding under the Startup SG Equity scheme, managed by Enterprise Singapore and the Economic Development Board (EDB), to over S$1 billion. In April, Enterprise Singapore and the EDB also launched SG Growth Capital, a strategic investment platform designed to enhance startup financing and venture building. Singapore’s steady rise in the global startup rankings highlights its commitment to fostering a dynamic and supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators.
The country is setting a standard for startup ecosystems around the world.