Startup Ecosystem Podcast

Hosted by Startupblink

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Aug 2026

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The Global Startup Ecosystem Podcast by StartupBlink presents major and upcoming startup ecosystems around the world. We will interview startup ecosystem developers who will share their knowledge and best practices on how they are helping their startup ecosystem grow. We will also discuss major trends affecting urban innovation and economic development of cities and countries. The Global Startup Ecosystem Podcast by StartupBlink is intended for startup development organizations, governments, and municipalities that are looking for ways to facilitate startup ecosystem activities and grow their local economy by boosting innovation.

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54 recent

August 6, 202626 min

EP 54: The Impact of Corporations on Startup Ecosystems

Building a successful startup ecosystem requires more than supporting founders through investment, grants, or accelerator programs. In this episode, StartupBlink CEO Eli David Rokah and co-host Aleksandra Ilieska explore how corporations contribute to startup ecosystems as customers, partners, investors, buyers, and gateways to expertise, infrastructure, and larger markets. The episode also examines why corporate-startup partnerships can be difficult, how differences in decision-making, procurement, risk, and timelines can affect collaboration, and what governments, policymakers, and ecosystem developers can do to create stronger, more balanced, and mutually beneficial connections between startups and established companies. StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations, and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map includes hundreds of thousands of startups, coworking spaces, accelerators, and other innovation stakeholders, creating a robust sample of startup activity worldwide. Find out more here !

July 6, 202624 min

EP 53: How to Build a Strong Startup Ecosystem: Lessons from StartupBlink's Ecosystem Index

Building a successful startup ecosystem requires more than launching accelerators, distributing grants, or organizing events. In our latest episode, StartupBlink CEO Eli David Rokah explores what the 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Index reveals about the policies, business conditions, and entrepreneurial mindset that help innovation ecosystems grow. The episode also examines how governments, policymakers, and ecosystem developers can use the Global Startup Ecosystem Index alongside the Innovators Business Environment Index to identify ecosystem gaps, improve founder conditions, and avoid interventions that create dependency rather than sustainable growth. StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations, and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map includes hundreds of thousands of startups, coworking spaces, accelerators, and other innovation stakeholders, creating a robust sample of startup activity worldwide. Find out more here ! Listen in Itunes Listen in Spotify For questions and feedback, contact us .

October 13, 202520 min

EP 52: Is Your Startup Ecosystem Ready for AI?

Artificial Intelligence is becoming an integral part of every startup ecosystem. In our latest episode, Eli David Rokah explores how governments, policymakers, and ecosystem developers can ensure their ecosystems are ready for the rise of AI. StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center, working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map has hundreds of thousands of registered startups, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally. Find out more here ! Listen in Itunes Listen in Spotify

September 8, 202523 min

EP 51: Does Population Size Matter for Startup Ecosystems?

Comparing a giant like China , with more than a billion people, to Estonia , with just over a million, shows why raw startup numbers only tell part of the story. In this episode, host Andrej Vaklinski and StartupBlink CEO Eli David Rokah explore the Absolute Power of Startup Ecosystems Report . Unlike the Global Startup Ecosystem Index, this ranking does not adjust results by population, revealing new insights into the scale of ecosystems and the difference between large and small nations. Download the Absolute Power of Startup Ecosystem Report StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center, working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map has hundreds of thousands of registered startups, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally. Find out more here ! Listen in Itunes Listen in Spotify

August 14, 202522 min

EP 50: What Governments Should Know About Startup Acts

In this episode, StartupBlink CEO Eli David Rokah joins host Andrej Vaklinski to explore the growing global trend of Startup Acts. They discuss what these acts are, why some countries adopt them, and whether they truly boost startup ecosystems. The conversation covers when Startup Acts work, when they risk doing more harm than good, and why improving the broader business environment is often the most impactful move governments can make. StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center, working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map has hundreds of thousands of registered startups, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally. Find out more here ! Listen in Itunes Listen in Spotify

June 6, 202534 min

EP 49: Global Startup Ecosystem Trends in 2025

In this episode, StartupBlink's CEO Eli David Rokah dives deep into most interesting trends in the global startup ecosystem in 2025, driven from our research in Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025. Download the full report here ! StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center, working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map has hundreds of thousands of registered startups, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally. Find out more here ! Listen in Itunes Listen in Spotify

April 24, 202517 min

EP 48: How We Built the Corporate Startup Activity Index – and What We Found

In this episode, I sat down with StartupBlink CEO Eli David Rokah to talk about the launch of our Corporate Startup Activity Index. We discussed what corporate startup activity really means, how the Index was built, and some of the most surprising findings from the rankings. StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center, working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map has hundreds of thousands of registered startups, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally. Find out more here ! Listen in Itunes Listen in Spotify

April 11, 202533 min

EP 47: From a Service-Based to a Product-Based Economy - Lessons from North Macedonia

In this special episode, we revisit a conversation between our CEO, Eli David Rokah, and Igor Madjov, Founder of Startup Macedonia , recorded during Eli's visit to North Macedonia, 2 years ago. They explore how Skopje is emerging as a tech hub, the city's transition from service-based agencies to product-driven innovation, and what ecosystem builders everywhere can learn from this journey. StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center, working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map has hundreds of thousands of registered startups, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally. Find out more here ! Listen in Itunes Listen in Spotify

February 20, 2025Episode 4619 min

EP 46: Stakeholder Engagement in Startup Ecosystems - Lessons from Bulgaria

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' involvement transformed the Bulgarian startup scene. StartupBlink is an innovation economy research center, working with more than 100 government entities, multilateral organizations and corporations. Its global startup ecosystem map has hundreds of thousands of registered startups, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally. Find out more here ! Listen in Itunes Listen in Spotify

January 16, 202548 min

EP 45: Best Practices for Building a Startup Ecosystem in a Small City

In this episode, our host, Plamen Ivanov, welcomes Norman Musengimana, the Business Development Manager of Kingston Economic Development Corporation, to discuss best practices for building a startup ecosystem in a small city. The Canadian city of Kingston, with a population of less than 500,000, serves as an inspiring example, demonstrating how such challenges can be overcome to rank your city in the top 15% of 1,310 startup ecosystems. StartupBlink is the startup ecosystem map and research center, working with more than 100 government entities. Its global startup ecosystem map has hundreds of thousands of registered startups,