Kingston, Ontario – May 30, 2024 – StartupBlink announced its 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Index rankings today at a conference in London, UK. StartupBlink is the most comprehensive startup ecosystem mapping and research center and annually ranks 1,000 cities and 100 countries by their startup ecosystem strength.
For five years in a row, Kingston remains the top small city (100,000 – 500,000 population) in Canada for the strength of its startup ecosystem. Kingston ranked 9th overall among Canadian cities and moved up one spot from last year to 179th globally. Of note, Kingston demonstrated sector strengths in Healthtech (#4 in Canada) and Energy & Environment (#5 in Canada).
“We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Kingston, Canada for their impressive achievements in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2024. A special shoutout to Kingston Economic Development for their exceptional contributions and hard work in propelling the city to new heights. It is remarkable to see a city with a population under 500K like Kingston secure the 9th spot in Canada, solidifying its place in the national top 10. Furthermore, their outstanding 10th place worldwide ranking in the Cleantech industry, is a testament to Kingston’s dedication to sustainable innovation,” wrote StartupBlink’s CEO, Eli David Rokah.
The published report also notes that Kingston punches above its weight as the only Canadian city with a population under 500,000 in the top 200. Five Canadian cities are present in the top 30 of the world for the Cleantech industry: Kingston ranks 10th, Vancouver ranks 15th, Toronto ranks 17th, Montreal ranks 24th, and Edmonton ranks 30th worldwide.
“Kingston maintains its leadership by retaining its place in the rankings and demonstrating our commitment to sustainable innovation. Our city continues to foster a supportive ecosystem for startups and business partnerships, advance job retention and growth, and attract foreign investments. I am extremely proud of our community’s collaborative efforts to showcase what Kingston is capable of to Canada and the world,” noted Kingston’s Mayor Paterson.
“We’re excited about this year’s report and the confirmation that our key industries of health innovation and sustainable manufacturing are growing and being globally recognized. Our integrated economic development strategy leverages collaborations with academic and research institutions and industry leaders to foster an incredibly supportive start-up environment. We are grateful for the commitment from the City of Kingston, Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College and our many community partners to attract and grow our entrepreneurial community,” said Donna Gillespie, CEO, Kingston Economic Development Corporation.
Presenting virtually at the annual conference, Norman Musengimana, Kingston Economic Development’s Manager for Start-ups & Entrepreneurship, Kingston Economic Development noted, “Kingston’s entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem is among the nimblest and collaborative globally for communities our size. This agility has driven our success, and as we excel in the StartupBlink ranking, our ecosystem continues to flourish.”
Media Contact:
Daniel Solorio
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-329-9270
solorio@investkingston.ca
