Porto climbs over 15 places in the global startup ranking

This year's edition of the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) highlights Porto as one of Europe's fastest-growing startup ecosystems. The city climbed over 15 places in the global ranking of emerging ecosystems, while also strengthening its position in artificial intelligence and startup performance.

According to GSER 2026, produced by Startup Genome in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, software, healthcare, fintech and artificial intelligence are the key drivers behind Porto's startup momentum.

'Built on talent, research and collaboration, Porto's ecosystem continues to grow resiliently, inviting founders from around the world to build and expand their businesses within our dynamic and vibrant community.' says Hugo Beirão Rodrigues, Councillor for the Economy and Entrepreneurship.

Marc Penzel, Founder and President of Startup Genome, says Porto's progress demonstrates the impact of a sustained strategy and close cooperation between the ecosystem's stakeholders. 'Rising more than 15 places in the global ranking of emerging ecosystems is clear evidence of the value of strong partnerships and civic commitment. Porto City Council has played a decisive role in creating the conditions for this growth, and the data confirms this.'

Backed by the world's most comprehensive and rigorously validated dataset on startup ecosystems, the GSER analyses data from more than 5.5 million companies across over 350 business innovation ecosystems.

In addition to identifying the world's top 40 startup ecosystems and the 100 leading emerging ecosystems, the report provides an in-depth analysis of global trends, offering insights into the evolution and competitiveness of the world's leading innovation hubs.