Johannesburg, South Africa   – The 2023 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) by Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network was launched on the 15TH of June, 2023 at The Next Web Conference in Amsterdam. The GSER is powered by the world’s most comprehensive and quality-controlled dataset on startup ecosystems. Informed by data on 3.5 million startups across 290+ global ecosystems, the report provides compelling new insights and deep knowledge about startup trends around the world. Contributions from expert thought leaders and local key players further enrich the report’s extensive, evidence-based findings, which are the product of over a decade of Startup Genome’s independent research and policy work.

GEN 22 On Sloane has partnered with Startup Genome to recognize Johannesburg’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in the #GSER2023, and here are some of the findings: 

• Sub-Saharan Africa was up 27% in early-stage funding amount and up 43.8% in early-stage deal count from 2018 to 2022, highlighting the rapid development of the region’s tech startup scene. 
• Johannesburg ranked #4 in Ecosystem Funding, #3 in Ecosystem Knowledge, and #4 in Ecosystem in Talent & Experience 
• Fintech, AI, Big Datta & Analytics, and Protech are Johannesburg;s major strengths. 
• Johannesburg is also rich in Educated Talent, Investment in Data Centers, and Support in female founders. 
• Cape Town has also entered the top 100 Emerging Ecosystems for the first time 

GSER 2023 ranks the top 30 as well as 10 runner-up global ecosystems and includes a top 100 ranking of emerging ecosystems. It also highlights startup communities from a regional perspective, separately ranking ecosystems in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, MENA, North America, and Oceania. Key themes of this year’s report include inflation, AI regulation, talent attraction, global VC funding, and a wide range of market sub-sector analyses. 

“Given that over half the companies on the 2009 Fortune 500 list launched during a recession or bear market, we know that lean economic times can produce high-performing startups,” said Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network. “Despite recent downturns in investment, this report foreshadows where we might see the world’s most disruptive and solution-driven companies emerge in the years to come — and provides unparalleled insights that policymakers and community leaders need to build resilient startup ecosystems.” 

The GSER is created in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Dealroom and Crunchbase. The 2023 Edition provides insights and guidance to public and private leaders on how to foster thriving startup communities — the #1 engine of job creation and economic growth. Discover how 140 entrepreneurial ecosystems across the world stack up and view the full report here: https://startupgenome.com/report/gser2023  

ABOUT 22 On Sloane 

22 On Sloane is the largest startup campus in Africa. The campus offers disruptive startups and innovative SMEs a complete turnkey solution to scale, from the initial idea all the way to commercialisation, funding opportunities and access to markets. Its aim is to nurture the entrepreneurial mindset, ensure their sustainability, and explore development of new industries and contribute towards job creation in Africa. 

ABOUT THE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK  

The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) operates programs in 200 countries aimed at  making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. By fostering deeper  cross-border collaboration and initiatives between entrepreneurs, investors, researchers,  policymakers and entrepreneurial support organizations, GEN fuels healthier start and scale  ecosystems that create more jobs, provide education, accelerate innovation, and strengthen  economic growth. Learn more about GEN at genglobal.org and by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

ABOUT STARTUP GENOME  

Startup Genome’s data-driven insights provide innovation policy leaders with clarity, momentum, and strategy to help them define and execute growth-focused actions. Working side-by-side with 300 partner organizations, Startup Genome’s frameworks and methodologies are instrumental in building foundations for startups to grow. Startup Genome identifies key gaps in startup ecosystems and prioritizes actions to fuel sustained economic growth — rooted in more than a decade of independent research. Find out more by contacting Adam Bregu at adam@startupgenome.com or visiting startupgenome.com and LinkedIn.   

For interviews and further inquiries, please contact:  

Fikile Mlangeni 

PR and Marketing officer,  22 On Sloane  

fikile@22onsloane.co 

Kathryn Forrest 

Manager for Communications, Global Entrepreneurship Network 

kathryn@genglobal.org 

Anna Brashear 

Growth Marketing Manager Startup Genome 

annab@startupgenome.com