What Startup Genome does

Startup Genome is a private research and policy advisory organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco. It serves governments, corporations, and high-growth founders by providing the world's largest longitudinal dataset on startup ecosystems — covering 5.5M+ companies across 350+ ecosystems and 80+ countries — combined with proprietary frameworks such as the Ecosystem Lifecycle Model, Startup DNA Assessment, and Voice of the Entrepreneur Insights. Its flagship product, the annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) now in its 14th year of publication and co-produced with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, is recognized as the most widely cited benchmark for ecosystem performance globally. The firm has documented outcome references across clients including Seoul (ecosystem value grew from $40B to $237B), Tokyo ($25B to $66B), NRW ($3B to $10B), Abu Dhabi (20+ rank improvement), and Melbourne ($18B valuation).

The underlying technology stack combines quantitative startup data analysis with qualitative founder surveys (10,000+ respondents) and machine-learning-based sub-sector classification of companies into 15 verticals. This research methodology underpins a layered product portfolio: core reports and data licensing; bespoke ecosystem assessments and policy advisory for ministries, multilateral bodies (World Bank, IFC), and corporate venture arms (Microsoft Ventures, Intel, NEC X); late-stage scaleup programs branded under Hypergrowth (Global Hypergrowth Tokyo, Scale-up.NRW, Bright); and a subscription-based Ecosystem Intelligence Network membership and Ecosystem Edge newsletter reaching 200,000+ ecosystem leaders.

Startup Genome generates revenue through four streams: (1) ecosystem assessment and advisory engagements sold as professional services to public-sector and corporate clients; (2) tiered annual membership subscriptions to the Ecosystem Intelligence Network; (3) licensed datasets and specialized report subscriptions; and (4) scaleup programs operated in partnership with metropolitan governments. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven by a dedicated business development team across eight global offices (San Francisco, London, Berlin, Delhi, Bengaluru, Abu Dhabi, Tokyo, São Paulo), supplemented by event-driven demand generation anchored at VivaTech Paris. The firm is founder/management-owned, with no disclosed external venture or private equity funding.

Name

Startup Genome

Legal name

Startup Genome LLC

Website

https://startupgenome.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Startup Genome is a private research and policy advisory firm founded in 2012 that helps governments, corporations, and scaleups benchmark and develop startup ecosystems through the annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report and bespoke advisory engagements across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem Research and Policy Advisory

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Startup ecosystem research
• Innovation policy advisory
• Ecosystem benchmarking services
• Scaleup acceleration programs
• Venture intelligence data

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ecosystem Assessment & Advisory Services: Data-driven ecosystem assessments and strategic advisory engagements with governments and corporations. Engagements include comprehensive ecosystem mapping, policy recommendations, and implementation roadmaps tailored to each region's maturity and strategic priorities.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership providing access to the Ecosystem Intelligence Network, member map, member events, and ongoing benchmarking data. Subscription-based model with tiered access levels.
3. Data Licensing & Reports: Licensed datasets and specialized reports sold to corporate partners and research institutions. Historical GSER data and sub-sector analysis packages provided to enterprise clients for strategic planning.
4. Hypergrowth Scaleup Programs: Late-stage scaling programs for high-growth startups, operated in partnership with metropolitan governments. Programs provide mentorship, investor connections, and market expansion support for cohort companies.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Startup Genome provides data-driven startup ecosystem research, policy advisory, and scaleup acceleration services to governments, corporations, and high-growth founders. Core offerings include the annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER), proprietary ecosystem assessments and benchmarking across 300+ ecosystems, the Hypergrowth scaleup program and its regional variants (Global Hypergrowth Tokyo, Scale-up.NRW, Bright Program), and the Ecosystem Intelligence Network membership. Services are delivered through long-term advisory partnerships, leveraging the world's largest startup dataset covering 5.5M+ companies.

Product overview

Startup Genome offers a portfolio of research, advisory, and scaling programs designed to help governments and corporations build world-class startup ecosystems. The core offering centers on the annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) and proprietary assessment frameworks including the Ecosystem Lifecycle Model, Voice of the Entrepreneur Insights, Startup DNA Assessment, and Global Benchmarking services. These research products work together as an integrated ecosystem intelligence system, enabling clients to benchmark performance, identify gaps, and develop evidence-based strategies. Complementing the research suite are scaleup acceleration programs including the global Hypergrowth Program, regional variants like Global Hypergrowth Tokyo, Scale-up.NRW (Europe's first late-stage scaling program), and the Bright Program in Abu Dhabi. A membership network and newsletter provide ongoing community and insights. The offering functions as a platform-plus-services model where the research methodology and data platform underpin advisory engagements and program delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hypergrowth: Global late-stage scaling program for high-growth startups seeking international expansion
• Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER)

Products and services

• Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) Annual comprehensive research report on startup ecosystems providing rankings, benchmarking, and analysis across 300+ ecosystems globally. Recognized as the world's most comprehensive and widely-read research report on startup ecosystems and the benchmark for ecosystem benchmarking worldwide.
• Ecosystem Assessment Comprehensive ecosystem analysis for governments and corporations, benchmarking ecosystems against 280+ global peers using consistent metrics and identifying gaps in startup success factors. Sold through direct enterprise engagements with tailored scope and pricing.
• Hypergrowth Program Global scaleup program empowering high-growth companies to become global category leaders through knowledge, networks, and narratives that de-risk and accelerate global commercialization. Delivered to late-stage startup cohorts, often in partnership with metropolitan governments.
• Global Hypergrowth Tokyo Late-stage scaling program in partnership with Tokyo Metropolitan Government supporting 21 Tokyo-based tech companies with access to global mentors, expert scaling advice, go-to-market support, and connections to potential customers and investors across AI, Deep Tech, and Healthtech.
• Scale-up.NRW Europe's first late-stage scaling program in continental Europe, helping high-growth entrepreneurs in North Rhine-Westphalia overcome scaling challenges and attract international VC investment through tailored mentorship, global market access, and investor connections.
• Bright Program Global scaling initiative for high-performing late-stage scaleups in Abu Dhabi, launched in partnership with Hub71, providing bespoke one-on-one advisory support connecting late-stage founders with seasoned experts to unlock international market entry, strategic partnerships, and capital.
• Ecosystem Intelligence Network Subscription-based membership network connecting ecosystem leaders, policymakers, and operators with access to data, insights, member map, member events, and ongoing benchmarking data across 80+ countries, with tiered access levels.
• Ecosystem Edge Briefing Monthly newsletter delivering evidence-led insights and practical lessons from top ecosystems to over 200,000 ecosystem leaders, policymakers, and operators worldwide. Functions as a top-of-funnel content channel and ongoing community touchpoint.

Quantifiable outcome

• Public sector clients see 4x surge in economic value through dedicated long-term collaboration
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, historical and emerging.

• Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Co-publisher of the annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report. Partnership combines Startup Genome's ecosystem assessment methodology with GEN's global entrepreneurship network spanning 170+ countries to produce the world's most comprehensive startup ecosystem research.
• Seoul Business AgencyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partnership supporting Seoul's $1.6B startup ecosystem development plan. Includes ecosystem assessment, performance monitoring, and advisory for Seoul's goal to reach top 5 global ecosystems with 20 unicorns.
• Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership since 2019 supporting Tokyo's ecosystem strategy. Jointly launched Global Hypergrowth Tokyo program supporting 21 late-stage scaleups. Partnership contributed to Tokyo's rise to top 10 global ecosystem ranking.
• Hub71flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem partner providing strategic advisory, data insights, and scaleup program design. Partnership supported Abu Dhabi's 20+ rank improvement in global ecosystem rankings.
• Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to design and launch Scale-up.NRW, Europe's first late-stage scaling program. Assessment and advisory contributed to NRW's ecosystem value tripling from $3B to $10B.
• LaunchViccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictorian government startup agency partnered since 2018 for ecosystem tracking and economic impact assessment. Analysis quantified Melbourne's $18B ecosystem value and 220% employment growth.
• VinnovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSweden's national innovation agency engaged Startup Genome to assess regional ecosystems and unlock startup potential beyond major urban hubs like Stockholm.
• Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItaly's leading banking group's innovation arm partnered to position Turin on the global innovation map and support European ecosystem development initiatives.
• Fondazione Compagnia di San PaolocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Europe's largest philanthropic foundations partnered to develop Turin's startup ecosystem, launching programs like Enter Academy and scaling innovation initiatives.
• Microsoft VentureshistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-year data partnership (2015-2018) providing ecosystem datasets across 50+ ecosystems to inform Microsoft's global accelerator and venture investment strategy.
• NEC XcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEC Corporation's Silicon Valley innovation studio engaged Startup Genome for BD readiness program supporting four portfolio companies (Vox QI, Reveleum, Metabob, Clikr) through embedded advisory and curated introductions.
• The World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultilateral development partner engaged for Angola's Startup Act development, providing ecosystem benchmarking, regulatory needs assessment, and stakeholder alignment support.
• IFCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Finance Corporation collaborated with Startup Genome on Angola's ecosystem development and Startup Act implementation.
• Busan Metropolitan GovernmentemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean city's mayor engaged Startup Genome's CEO for partnership to strengthen Busan's startup ecosystem through three-stage consulting process and Hypergrowth scaleup program sending startups to Silicon Valley.
• Rio Tinto / Oyu TolgoicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMined collaboration convening Mongolia's Blue Sky Dialogue, bringing together government, academia, industry and startup ecosystem stakeholders for innovation roadmap development.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• StartupBlink: StartupBlink publishes a global startup ecosystem map and ranking of 1,000+ cities, offering benchmarking reports and ecosystem data that overlap with the GSER's audience of policymakers and economic development agencies.
• Crunchbase: Crunchbase is a leading startup and investor intelligence platform with predictive ecosystem data and government/corporate subscriptions; it competes directly with Startup Genome in delivering ecosystem intelligence to public sector and corporate innovation buyers.
• Dealroom.co: Dealroom provides global startup and venture capital data plus ecosystem intelligence for governments and investors; it is the closest direct competitor in the startup ecosystem data and benchmarking category that Startup Genome serves.
• Mind the Bridge: Mind the Bridge runs corporate-startup ecosystem programs and advises governments and corporates on open innovation; it is comparable to Startup Genome's advisory and scaleup programming for public sector clients.

Others

• AlphaSense: AlphaSense is a market intelligence and enterprise search platform increasingly used by corporates and consultancies for startup and ecosystem research; it is an enabling/adjacent player in the broader market intelligence stack rather than a direct competitor.
• Startup Genome's own GEN co-publishing relationship: Not a peer but a key strategic partner — the Global Entrepreneurship Network co-publishes the GSER, and partnership shifts there directly affect Startup Genome's flagship product.

Broad incumbents

• PitchBook: PitchBook is a broad incumbent providing private market and venture data to institutional investors; while not focused on ecosystem advisory, its expansive data footprint and government/corporate subscriptions make it an adjacent competitor for the same budget.
• KPMG Innovation & Ecosystems Practice: KPMG and other Big Four firms operate broad innovation and economic development advisory practices that governments engage for ecosystem strategy work; they compete at the consulting layer even where their data IP is weaker than Startup Genome's.

Emerging players

• Endeavor: Endeavor is a global high-impact entrepreneur network operating in 40+ markets; its ecosystem development work and partnerships with public-sector actors overlap with Startup Genome's scaleup support and policy advisory missions.

Regional players

• EchoVC (and similar emerging-market advisory firms): EchoVC and other regional innovation advisory firms provide ecosystem intelligence and corporate-startup programs in specific geographies; they compete with Startup Genome in local markets where Startup Genome relies on partner-led delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startupgenome
• Xx.com/startupgenome
• Facebookfacebook.com/startupgenome

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Startup Genome