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The Startup Ecosystem of Budapest

Budapest has 290 startups in our sample database. This represents about 69% of Hungary’s startups. Budapest is the highest-ranked startup ecosystem in Hungary.

CITY RANKING

While Budapest decreased by 1 spot in its global rank in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index of 2024, its ranking in Hungary remained stable at 1 nationally since 2023.

National Ranking

1st
0
In Hungary

Regional Ranking

10th
0
In Eastern Europe

Global Ranking

135th
-
1
Worldwide

Ecosystem

Startup Ecosystem Overview

cathedral during daytime


Nestled along the picturesque Danube River in Europe, Budapest captivates visitors with its allure and liveliness. However, lately, a new trend has taken the city by storm: startups.


Budapest’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is abuzz with a multitude of fresh ventures, and their growth is supported by an array of essential resources. Co-working spaces, accelerators, startup events, tech blogs, and hackathons have sprung up to nurture and propel these budding businesses.


As a result of its rapidly expanding startup ecosystem, Budapest has garnered recognition as one of the premier gateways to the startup scene in Central Eastern Europe!


A thriving startup environment thrives on the ease of collaboration and access to mentors, investment, and talent. In this regard, Budapest doesn’t disappoint. The city hosts a myriad of startup events that present entrepreneurs with abundant opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. Coworking spaces, local meetups, and collaborative events foster an environment of innovation and shared knowledge. What’s more, Budapest’s strategic location facilitates easy travel to major European destinations, offering founders the chance to meet like-minded peers, experienced mentors, and potential future team members.


The Express Innovation Agency, a subsidiary of the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office, is a significant milestone in the development of the innovation ecosystem.


Its primary goal is to actively support the entire innovation ecosystem, from nurturing young talent through talent management programs, innovation promotion, training, and mentoring, to assisting growing businesses with valorization, mentoring, and incubation support. Additionally, the agency facilitates international relations and prepares for European resources, aiming to become an information and support hub.


Budapest’s geopolitical positioning further enhances its allure. Situated at the crossroads of Western, Eastern, and Southern Europe, the city enjoys a natural cultural affinity to the Western business, legal, and social milieu. This advantageous position opens up an array of possibilities for international collaborations and market expansion.


Apart from its favorable location, Budapest boasts a lower cost of living and a surplus of top-notch technical talent, making it an idyllic haven for startups to thrive and grow.


Already, Budapest has witnessed remarkable successes with the likes of Prezi and Turbine, underscoring the city’s rapid evolution as a dynamic startup hub. With an ever-enthusiastic startup community and a pace that shows no signs of slowing, it won’t be long before Budapest emerges as a leading startup destination in Europe!


In conclusion, Budapest’s magnetic charm, coupled with its burgeoning startup ecosystem and the abundant resources at its disposal, is steering the city towards becoming a prominent force in the European startup landscape. Entrepreneurs seeking a fertile ground for innovation and growth would be wise to set their sights on this captivating city along the Danube.

Startups

Budapest Top Startup Industries

Transportation icon
Transportation
#81 worldwide

10 startups

Edtech icon
Edtech
#103 worldwide

25 startups

Marketing & Sales icon
Marketing & Sales
#104 worldwide

19 startups

Ecosystem HealthCheck

Budapest Ecosystem Health Check

The health check tables allow you to look at the performance Budapest has in each of the parameters that are part of StartupBlink's ranking algorithm. There are five tables, corresponding to the three subscores, the subscore analysis and industry ana...

  • Overperformance
  • Performance equal to global ranking
  • Underperformance
IndustryGlobal rankMomentum YoYNumber of Startups
Global135194024
Transportation81010
Edtech00.0000.0000.00
Marketing & Sales00.0000.0000.00
Foodtech00.0000.0000.00
Software & Data00.0000.0000.00
Fintech00.0000.0000.00
Ecommerce & Retail00.0000.0000.00

ECOSYSTEM

Browse the startup ecosystem database of Budapest

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Startup Ecosystem Charts

Startup Funding in Budapest2017 - 2024

Startup Funding in Budapest 2017 - 2024

From 2022 to 2023, startup funding in Budapest has decreased by 86.17%. During this period, the number of deals in Budapest has decreased by 50%. Since 2017, total startup funding in Budapest exceeded US$ $800.29M.

Average Funding in 2023

$1.68M

Budapest
Hungary
-72.34% YoY

Funding in 2023

$28.63M

Budapest
Hungary
-86.17% YoY

Deals in 2023

17

Budapest
Hungary
-50.00% YoY

USD

Amount of Funding (USD)

Number of Deals

20172018201920202021202220232024$0.00$15.00B$30.00B$45.00B$60.00B0255075100

Ecosystem

The Startup Ecosystem in Budapest

Startups in Budapest excel in Transportation, Edtech, and Marketing & and Sales. There are some notable success stories contributing to the city’s growing Transportation industry. One of the most promising startups in Budapest in 2024 is Prezi, SEON. Fraud Fighters, and Bitrise.

Global Rank

Budapest is ranked within the top 150 startup ecosystems globally.

Top Industries

Budapest’s startups excel particularly in Transportation where it ranks 81 and in Edtech, and Marketing & Sales. Find out more

Top Cities for Startups in Hungary - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
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2024 National Rank CityGlobal Rank
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Total Score

Access subscores for 1000 cities and 100 countries

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Quantity Score
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Quality Score
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Business Score
1st
0
135th
-
1
5.063
00.00
00.00
00.00
2nd
0
816th
-
190
0.177
00.00
00.00
00.00
3rd
0
901st
-
264
0.148
00.00
00.00
00.00
4th
+
1
928th
new
0.138
00.00
00.00
00.00
5th
new
991st
new
0.118
00.00
00.00
00.00
6th
-
2
1040th
-
62
0.105
00.00
00.00
00.00
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Startups

Notable Startups in Budapest
Prezi startup icon
Prezi
SEON. Fraud Fighters startup icon
SEON. Fraud Fighters
Bitrise startup icon
Bitrise

ECOSYSTEM

Why should you join Budapest's Startup Ecosystem?

Overview

Within Budapest there is an increased attraction for entrepreneurs to set up their startups in industries such as Transportation, Edtech, Marketing & Sales. These three industries represent about 19% of the startups represented on the Startup Ecosystem Map of Budapest.

1st

National Rank

10th

Regional Rank

Overview

Budapest is Hungary's 1st best startup ecosystem and is ranked 10th in Eastern Europe. With a population of 2M - 10M people, Budapest is ranked 135th in the world. The city has some notable startup success stories including Prezi.

ECOSYSTEM
Startup Infrastructure in Budapest
With a large variety of initiatives, Budapest's startup ecosystem stands out from other cities in Eastern Europe. Budapest offers a number of funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups. Below is a list of Budapest's most prominent support initiatives:

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