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The Startup Ecosystem of Singapore

Singapore has 1 city in the top 1000 and has a vibrant startup scene that ranks 5th within the competitive global top 10.

COUNTRY RANKING

Singapore’s startup scene saw an increase in 2024 and jumped 1 spot from the previous year, outranking Sweden.

Population

5.5
Million

Regional Ranking

1st
0
In South East Asia

Global Ranking

5th
+
1
Worldwide

In partnership with

Singapore Ecosystem Partner logo

Ecosystem

Startup Ecosystem Overview

a large body of water with a city in the background
Singapore is not only a model for innovation but also a standout example of a relatively small country that exceeds expectations. The nation has positioned itself as a prime location for startups looking to establish themselves in Asia, thanks to its financial stability, business-friendly environment, and tax regulations. Despite its limited market and population, Singapore’s startup ecosystem relies on expanding internationally for growth, giving it a unique regional perspective from the outset. This strategy has proven successful, evident in the creation of billion-dollar startups within the country. Leading regional startups like Grab showcase Singapore’s emergence as a headquarters for prominent companies in the region, particularly excelling in the Fintech industry, solidifying its position as a global hub for financial innovation.


The Singapore ecosystem continues to thrive with the support of various accelerators and networks, such as the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE), offering a wealth of resources, connections, and expertise to assist entrepreneurs in launching their ventures. Additionally, Enterprise Singapore provides accelerator programs that offer financial assistance and business loans to early-stage startups, while initiatives like Startup SG promote and bolster Singapore’s startup ecosystem. With a robust digital infrastructure and abundant investment opportunities, coupled with university involvement in fostering entrepreneurship, such as the National University of Singapore’s NUS Enterprise programs, Singapore is well-equipped to nurture startup growth and expansion overseas.


While the public sector in Singapore remains highly supportive of the startup ecosystem, efforts should be made to ensure that this support does not lead to dependency. Attracting and retaining top talent and staying globally competitive are priorities for Singapore as it replaces Hong Kong as the preferred Gateway to Asia. Events like Echelon Asia Summit and SWTICH underscore Singapore’s commitment to engaging with entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide. Despite challenges like high real estate prices and risk aversion among locals, initiatives like the Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) could play a vital role in meeting the demand for skilled workforce and sustaining growth.


With its stability and infrastructure, Singapore is poised to elevate its role from an Asia-centric leader to a truly global startup hub. The country’s ranking and innovation in the startup sphere, coupled with ample funding opportunities, place Singapore firmly on the map as a formidable player in the global startup scene.

Startups

Singapore Top Startup Industries

Fintech icon
Fintech
#3 worldwide

700 startups

Software & Data icon
Software & Data
#9 worldwide

1006 startups

Ecommerce & Retail icon
Ecommerce & Retail
#2 worldwide

319 startups

Ecosystem HealthCheck

Singapore Ecosystem Health Check

The health check tables allow you to look at the performance Singapore 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
Global503019
Ecommerce & Retail21313
Foodtech2086
Fintech30692
Edtech46154
Hardware & IoT84202
Marketing & Sales911122
Software & Data94990

ECOSYSTEM

Browse the startup ecosystem database of Singapore

Download list
bitget.com startup logo
Fintech | Financial Services
Unranked
Trip.com startup logo
Social & Leisure | Social & Leisure-Other
Unranked
Viki startup logo
Social & Leisure | Entertainment
Unranked
BandLab startup logo
Hardware & IoT | Internet of Everything
Unranked
Glints startup logo
Software & Data | Enterprise Technology
Unranked
Espressif startup logo
Hardware & IoT | Hardware
Unranked
Unranked
Unranked
ShopBack startup logo
Ecommerce & Retail | Ecommerce
Unranked
Airalo startup logo
Software & Data | Apps
Unranked
ADVANCE.AI startup logo
Software & Data | Artificial Intelligence
Unranked

Showing 1 – 20 out of 3019

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Startup Ecosystem Charts

Startup Funding in Singapore2017 - 2024

Startup Funding in Singapore 2017 - 2024

From 2022 to 2023, startup funding in Singapore has decreased by 43.26%. During this period, the number of deals in Singapore has decreased by 39.63%. Since 2017, total startup funding in Singapore exceeded US$ $75.06B.

Average Funding in 2023

$11.60M

Singapore
South East Asia
-6.02% YoY

Funding in 2023

$6.08B

Singapore
South East Asia
-43.26% YoY

Deals in 2023

524

Singapore
South East Asia
-39.63% YoY

USD

Amount of Funding (USD)

Number of Deals

20172018201920202021202220232024$0.00$15.00B$30.00B$45.00B$60.00B02505007501,000

Ecosystem

The Startup Ecosystem in Singapore

Our startup ecosystem map for Singapore includes a sample of 3022 tech companies. We have identified as unicorns 15 startups that have passed the USD 1 billion valuations. Contributing to the vitality of this startup ecosystem are the 5 pantheon member entities.

Global Rank

Singapore is ranked within the top 10 startup ecosystems globally.

Top Industries

Singapore’s startup scene is best represented in Fintech, Software & Data, and in Ecommerce & Retail.

Top Cities for Startups in Singapore - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
Pro
Pro
Pro
Pro
2024 National Rank CityGlobal Rank
informational icon
Total Score
informational icon
Quantity Score
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Quality Score
informational icon
Business Score
1st
0
16th
+
4
41.358
4.918
32.972
3.468
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Download CSV file
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Startups

Notable Startups in Singapore
bitget.com startup icon
bitget.com
Trip.com startup icon
Trip.com
Viki startup icon
Viki

BLOG

Recent Posts

Wed Apr 02 2025

Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025

For the first time ever, 372 corporations across 30 countries, 11 major industries, and 10 sub-industries have been ranked based on how actively they engage with startups. StartupBlink’s Corporate Startup Activity Index  is the world’s first benchmark for corporate startup engagement — powered by real data, global partnerships with top corporations, governments and data sources, […]

Thu Mar 06 2025

The Impact of Government Support on Startups

A robust startup ecosystem creates a sense of community that brings entrepreneurs together and helps them feel less isolated. It gives them access to mentors, advisors, fellow entrepreneurs, and talents. The foundation of such an ecosystem largely relies on government support. Good policies create a fair and supportive environment that helps startups grow. Bad policies […]

Thu Feb 20 2025

Learning from Bulgaria: Stakeholder Engagement in Startup Ecosystems

In this episode of the Startup Ecosystem Podcast, we’re traveling back in time by revisiting an old recording to explore the state of Bulgaria’s startup ecosystem in 2022. This episode features an interview by Eli David Rokah, CEO of StartupBlink, with Momchil Vassilev, the Managing Director of Endeavor Bulgaria, discussing how different stakeholders’ engagement in […]