Calgary Rises in Global Startup Rankings Amid Worldwide Downturn

In the face of global startup contraction, Calgary’s innovation economy is proving its strength. The newly released 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) shows Calgary’s startup ecosystem grew by 13% since 2023, while the global average dropped 14%. The city now ranks in the top 30 ecosystems in North America, top 50 globally, and top 10 for talent affordability.

With $2.6B in venture capital raised since 2020, 90 startup exits, and two unicorns, Calgary is outperforming peers and offering founders serious return on investment. Local scaleups like Neo Financial, Carbon Upcycling, and Summit Nanotech are drawing investor attention as Platform Calgary and Calgary Economic Development expand their innovation infrastructure and networks.

The report confirms what many in tech already sense: Calgary is a “bang for buck” ecosystem, a place where early-stage companies can go further, faster. Under the city’s Innovation Strategy, sector-specific nodes in cleantech, life sciences, aerospace, and more are projected to generate $28B in economic growth and 187,000 jobs by 2034.

Source: Calgary Economic Development, “Calgary shows resilience in global startup ecosystem rankings,” July 4, 2025. https://www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com/newsroom/calgary-shows-resilience-in-global-startup-ecosystem-rankings/

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