Startup India: Bengaluru Overtakes Singapore as Asia's 3rd Largest Startup Ecosystem

Bengaluru has overtaken Singapore to become Asia's third largest startup ecosystem, behind only Beijing and Shanghai, according to the latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report released by Startup Genome — marking a historic milestone for India's technology capital and validating the country's emergence as a global innovation powerhouse.

The Silicon Valley of India now hosts over 12,000 active startups with a combined valuation of $350 billion, including 35 unicorns. The city's ecosystem value — a composite metric measuring funding, exits, talent, and market reach — grew 28% year-on-year to reach $180 billion.

Key strengths cited in the report include Bengaluru's deep talent pool from IISc, IITs, and top engineering colleges; the concentration of both mature tech companies (Infosys, Wipro, Flipkart) and fast-growing startups; and the city's emerging strength in deep tech areas like AI, semiconductors, and space technology.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government would announce a new startup policy offering tax incentives, subsidised office space in Electronic City and the ITPL corridor, and a ₹500 crore fund for early-stage ventures.

"Bengaluru is not just competing with Indian cities — it is competing with San Francisco, London, and Singapore. And today, we beat Singapore," said NASSCOM chairman Krishnan Ramachandran.