Tel Aviv has reaffirmed its global leadership in innovation by being ranked the #4 Global Startup Ecosystem in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome, unveiled at VivaTech in Paris. The recognition marks Tel Aviv’s enduring strength in the startup world, even amid a year of significant challenges.

Drawing insights from over 5 million companies across 350+ cities, the report showcases Tel Aviv’s exceptional performance in funding, knowledge, and talent, along with $198 billion in ecosystem value generated between July 2022 and December 2024.

Mayor Ron Huldai emphasized the resilience and agility of Tel Aviv’s entrepreneurs. “In the face of complex challenges, Tel Aviv remains an open, welcoming, and resilient city, defined by creativity, liberalism, and entrepreneurship. We will continue to invest whatever it takes to enable startups to grow, evolve, and succeed,” he said.

Tel Aviv’s rise is powered by AI, cybersecurity, and life sciences, which continue to attract multinational R&D investments, large-scale acquisitions, and global partnerships. In 2024–2025, AI and cybersecurity startups secured multi-million-dollar rounds, life sciences grew by 25% to $2.7 billion, and tech giants like Nvidia, Meta, and Alphabet expanded operations in the region.

The city’s appeal is rooted in 180+ multinational R&D centers, government incentives, and a strong public-private innovation network. A new $800 million innovation lab and fresh policies supporting foreign investment are set to further bolster its startup ecosystem in 2025.

“Israel has the highest quality entrepreneurs in the world, full stop,” remarked Jeff Horing, Co-Founder & MD of Insight Partners. “The probability of finding the right mix of integrity, hard work, smarts, and hustle is better here than just about anywhere else.”

According to JF Gauthier, Founder & CEO of Startup Genome, “Tel Aviv’s consistent top ranking shows the extraordinary strength of its startup ecosystem and the commitment of its leaders. It competes against cities three to ten times its size and still holds its ground.”

Startup Genome’s annual report provides rankings of the Top 40 global ecosystems, Top 100 emerging ecosystems, and regional rankings, offering data-backed insights for policymakers and founders to drive job creation and innovation-led growth.