Startup Ecosystem Podcast

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Oct 2025

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About the show

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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52 recent

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,

June 20, 202435 min

EP 44: Global Startup Ecosystem Trends in 2024

In this episode, our new host, Plamen Ivanov welcomes the CEO of StartupBlink, Eli David Rokah to discuss the latest findings from the 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Index. Released on May 30, 2024, the Index ranks 1,240 cities and 119 countries, highlighting the latest trends in the global startup ecosystem. 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, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally.

March 12, 202436 min

EP 43: How to Attract Foreign Startups to Your City - Lessons from Vienna

Discover the secrets of attracting foreign startups to your city, with lessons learned from Vienna Business Agency. In this episode, Mahmod Shamsil welcomes Gabriele Tatzberger, Head of Startup Services at the Vienna Business Agency diving into Vienna's formula of attracting foreign startup to the city. 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, coworking spaces, and accelerators, creating a robust sample of innovation globally.