When it comes to the global startup ecosystem, North America stands tall as the heart of innovation and entrepreneurship. With the United States and Canada as its prominent players, this region boasts impressive rankings and an abundance of thriving startup ecosystems. In this article, we’ll delve into the numbers, explore the top cities, top startups and highlight the dominance of North America in various industries. You can access the full regional ranking of North American startup ecosystems with StartupBlink Pro.
The Power of North America's Startup Ecosystems
While North America may consist of only two countries, the United States and Canada, its impact on the global startup ecosystem is unparalleled. In the global top 1,000, an impressive 291 startup ecosystems hail from North America. Of these, 252 are from the United States, solidifying its position as a leader. Canada contributes 39 ecosystems, showcasing its own vibrant startup ecosystem.
Top 20 North American Startup Ecosystems
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It’s crucial to analyze the distribution and momentum of startup ecosystems worldwide to assess the potential of different regions. By examining the 1,000 cities and 100 countries, we gain valuable insights into regional activity and emerging trends. Let’s explore some of the noteworthy regions and their characteristics.
Stability of the North America Startup Ecosystems
In terms of rankings, both the United States and Canada hold strong positions. The United States secures the top spot globally, while Canada claims a respectable fourth place. Additionally, four North American startup ecosystems have earned places in the top five worldwide. However, despite stable rankings, the gap between the US and Canada has slightly widened in 2023. Last year, the US scored 454% higher than Canada, and this figure has now increased to 474%.
Leading Cities in North America and Their Positions
When examining the regional ecosystem, it’s no surprise that San Francisco remains the unrivaled center of the startup world. It stands in a league of its own, forming a regional and global tier that sets it apart. New York, Los Angeles, and Boston maintain their positions as the second, third, and fourth top cities in North America, respectively. Notably, New York’s score is approximately double that of Los Angeles and Boston, solidifying its position as a tier of its own.
Seattle, ranking fifth, completes the top cities in North America. However, it has experienced a slight decline, dropping one spot since 2022 and now ranking 12th globally. Among the Canadian cities, the Toronto-Markham area secures the tenth position regionally, making it the only Canadian city in the top ten. Vancouver (18th) and Montreal (19th) represent Canada in the regional top 20, where the vast majority of cities, 17 out of 20, belong to the United States. Interestingly, Montreal has climbed one spot in the regional ranking this year, while Vancouver has dropped one position.
North American Dominance Across Industries
The influence of the North America startup ecosystems extends across all industries, with San Francisco leading the way. The gap between US cities and their non-US counterparts remains substantial in almost all sectors, albeit gradually decreasing. Whether it’s technology, finance, healthcare, or any other sector, the entrepreneurial spirit in North America continues to thrive, propelling innovation and growth.
Startups from the North America Startup Ecosystem
- DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is a general search engine with no tracking, better instant answers, less spam and clutter.
2. Medium
A tight-knit group of engineers, editors, and creatives combining humans and technology to create a new model for digital publishing. Medium is rethinking how ideas and stories are shared with the world.
3. Foursquare
Foursquare is a technology company that uses location intelligence to build meaningful consumer experiences and business solutions.
4. Global Village Fruit
Global VIllage Fruit develops and markets nutritious, delicious products from under-recognized superfruits.
5. Snapchat
Snap Inc. is a technology company that contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.
6. Juul
JUUL is a manufacturer and distributor of electronic nicotine vaporizers.
7. Hootsuite
From finding prospects to serving customers, Hootsuite helps you do more with your social media. Manage all your social media in one place.
8. Unsplash
Unsplash is a platform dedicated to sharing copyright-free photography under the Unsplash license.
9. Arcadia
Arcadia unlocks access to global utility data. Our technology powers the next generation of climate solutions, giving anyone the tools to electrify and decarbonize.
10. McLaren Group
McLaren Group is an automotive, motorsport, and technology company that manufactures sports cars.
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Unicorns from the North American Startup Ecosystems
Unicorns are startups that reach a valuation of one billion dollars or above. Below are the some of the North American unicorns from the StartupBlink database.
1. OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company. Our mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.
2. Epic Games
Epic Games is an electronic game development company.
3. Discord
Discord is a voice and chat communication technology built for gamers.
4. Quora
Quora is a Q&A platform with a mission to share and grow the world’s knowledge.
5. Stripe
Stripe is the best software platform for running an internet business.
6. Patreon
Patreon operates an online platform that lets artists get paid directly by fans for content subscriptions.
7. GoPuff
Home delivery service of more than 3,000 products operating in 500+ cities across the U.S.
8. OpenSea
OpenSea is a peer-to-peer marketplace for crypto collectibles and non-fungible tokens.
9. SpaceX
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft.
10. Hopper
Combining massive amounts of data and advanced machine learning algorithms, Hopper predicts and analyzes airfare and accommodation to save users money and enable them to travel more often.
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Startup Pantheon Members in North America
The StartupBlink Pantheon members are a selected group of special startup related entities with a substantial footprint on the global startup ecosystem.
- Epic Games
Epic Games is an electronic game development company.
2. Stack Overflow
Stack Overflow’s public platform is used by nearly everyone who codes to learn, share their knowledge, collaborate, and build their careers.
3. MIT
The MIT community is driven by a shared purpose: to make a better world through education, research, and innovation.
4. Snap
Snap operates as a privately-owned multinational camera company focusing on multinational technology and social media.
5. SpaceX
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft.
6. Shopify
Shopify is a cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses.
7. Duolingo
Duolingo is the world’s most popular way to learn a language. Our mission is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available.
8. OpenSea
OpenSea is a peer-to-peer marketplace for crypto collectibles and non-fungible tokens.
9. AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas.
10. Rivian
Rivian is an electric car engineering and manufacturing company, specialized in electric off road vehicles.
Conclusion:
With the United States and Canada at its core, North America solidifies its position as the powerhouse of the global startup ecosystem. The region’s impressive number of startup ecosystems, dominant cities, and its impact across industries is a testament to its unwavering commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. As the startup ecosystem continues to evolve, North America remains at the forefront, driving progress and shaping the future of the global economy.
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