India’s tech capital Bengaluru jumps 7 spots to rank 14 in Global Startup Index

The Silicon Valley of India has produced 32 unicorns since 2020 and attracted $38 billion in VC funding between 2020-2024, the report said.

"Bengaluru's next chapter will be written in deep code, hard science, and global collaboration," Ravi Narayan, president for South Asia at Startup Genome, was quoted as saying in the release. He added that the city is not just catching up but "setting the pace" for global innovation.

The state's ambitions are backed by huge investments such as a $117 million allocation for Deep Tech under the LEAP program, and India's first innovation campus, INNOVERSE, dedicated to emerging tech like AI, quantum, and space tech.

Bengaluru is now the world's second-largest AI talent hub with over 6 lakh AI/ML professionals.

Reacting on the development, Ekroop Caur, secretary, Karnataka Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, said that Bengaluru's jump in ranking reflects Karnataka's leadership in innovation and technology.

"We thank our vibrant startup community for their contributions. The Government remains committed to driving inclusive growth and global impact through strong policy, infrastructure, and partnerships," Caur told Moneycontrol.

She added that the government is expanding innovation beyond the capital to cities like Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Hubballi-Dharwad through Global Innovation Districts and science centres. Meanwhile, Bengaluru remains a magnet for venture capital, home to 90 percent of India’s VCs and 50 percent of its unicorns.

Global Rankings

On the global front, the report ranks Silicon Valley as the world's top startup ecosystem, thanks to its unparalleled funding depth, talent density, and dominance in AI-native innovation.

New York City retains its second spot, backed by strong global market access and a thriving fintech and enterprise SaaS scene.

London, previously tied with New York, slips to number 3 but remains a powerhouse in AI and healthtech. Israel's Tel Aviv holds steady at fourth position, continuing to outperform its size with a sharp focus on cybersecurity and deep-tech innovation.

Next comes Boston, backed by its life sciences leadership and strong academic-industry collaboration.

"We stand at the beginning of the AI era – one that will define the economic trajectory of nations for decades to come," JF Gauthier, founder and CEO, Startup Genome, was quoted as saying in the release.