The latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2026 from Startup Genome has been released. You can access the full report here . Like every year, most discussions will focus on rankings. Which ecosystem moved up? Which city fell? Who entered the Top 10? After reading the report, I believe the rankings themselves are not the most interesting story. The real story is hidden in the data. The global startup economy is recovering. AI is creating unprecedented amounts of value.

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) manages more than $90 billion in assets. Since its founding in 2009, the firm has become one of the most influential venture capital firms in the world, backing companies such as Facebook, Airbnb, Coinbase, GitHub, Lyft, Robinhood, and OpenAI. Yet despite its global influence, a16z has never opened an office outside the United States. Until now. This summer, the firm's first overseas office will open in Tokyo. Not London. Not Singapore. Not Dubai. T

Most startup fundraising advice is written from Silicon Valley. Most founders building outside Silicon Valley face a very different reality. They are often building in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Turkey, Australia, or emerging startup ecosystems. They may have strong products, early customers, domain expertise, and even revenue. Yet many still struggle to raise from global investors. Why? That was the central topic of our recent discussion: Cross-Border F

One of the most interesting discussions during our recent Cross-Border Fundraising event wasn't about pitch decks, valuations, or even fundraising strategy. It was about something much more fundamental: How do investors actually discover startups? Many founders assume there is a single answer. Some believe warm introductions are the only way. Others spend months sending cold emails and LinkedIn messages. The reality is more nuanced. Martin Tobias: Cold Outreach Can Work Marti

Many founders think global expansion starts when they begin outreach. They hire SDRs. They buy lead lists. They start sending LinkedIn requests. They email investors. They contact potential partners. Then they wonder: "Why is nobody replying?" The answer is often uncomfortable. The problem is not the outreach. The problem started long before the outreach. The Hidden Due Diligence Nobody Talks About Let's imagine you send a LinkedIn connection request to: a potential customer

I officially graduated from Venture Institute Cohort 6 by VC Lab / Decile Group. On paper, that means I completed one of the most selective and rigorous venture capital programs out there. But this blog is not really about the certificate. It is about what the experience was actually like behind the scenes. Because if you are thinking about joining a program like Venture Institute, or if you are trying to move into venture capital from a non-traditional path, what matters mos

Raising a venture capital fund is often described as one of the hardest fundraising challenges in the startup ecosystem. Unlike startups that pitch a product or early traction, emerging fund managers are asking investors to trust their judgment, network, and long-term vision often before there is a track record. In a recent webinar hosted by VC Lab (Decile Group) , marketing leader Sarah Lacy sat down with Arzoo, GP at Treeo VC , to unpack a surprisingly effective str

In 2025, early-stage startups face funding challenges, while late-stage AI companies like OpenAI and Perplexity AI secure record-breaking investments, highlighting a significant shift in venture capital dynamics.