(Ecofin Agency) - Nigerian city Lagos was ranked as the best startup ecosystem in Africa, according to Startup Blink’s 2019 Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings report based on data from 1,000 cities around the world. The report said Lagos has the highest concentration of quality startups and offers enabling environment for business expansion.
The city ranks 99th worldwide ahead of many US cities such as Kansas City, Cleveland, Columbia, and New Orleans; and European cities such as Rome, Lyon, Oslo, Cambridge or Rotterdam; where there are more facilities for innovators and promoters of ICT projects.
Other Nigerian cities (Abuja, Ikeja, Port Harcourt, and Benin City) also appeared in the ranking, between the 380th and 710th places. The capital of Kenya, Nairobi, is the second city with the most dynamic startup ecosystem on the continent, followed by Cape Town in South Africa, Cairo in Egypt, Tunis in Tunisia and Kigali in Rwanda.
The ranking also analyses the number of startups in 100 countries in the world. And, on this aspect, although Lagos is the leading city in Africa in terms of best startup ecosystem, South Africa is the country with the highest number of startups on the continent. It is followed by Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt. In total, 14 African nations appear in this top 100 ranking.