The city climbed 15 positions in the 2026 StartupBlink Global Ranking, which analyzed more than 1,500 cities.
Medellín continues to strengthen its position as an innovation benchmark after reaching a new milestone: for the first time, it ranked 130th in the 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, after climbing 15 positions compared to the previous report. As a result, the District now ranks ahead of cities such as Rome (Italy), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Monterrey (Mexico), and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), among others.
This ranking is produced by StartupBlink, the world’s leading organization for measuring innovation ecosystems. The methodology relies on objective and quantifiable data to assess factors ranging from the maturity of technology-based companies and investor participation to job creation, economic impact, and a city’s ability to attract investment and international talent. Thanks to the strong performance of Medellín and Cali in the ranking, Colombia also strengthened its position, moving from 36th to 35th place globally.
“The Startup Index results demonstrate Medellín’s consolidation as an ecosystem that has steadily strengthened its capabilities in innovation, high-impact entrepreneurship, and the attraction of specialized talent. A stronger position in the ranking becomes a tool to increase the District’s visibility before the world, attract new international partners, and serve as a reference for both public and private decision-making,” said Carolina Londoño, Executive Director of Ruta N.
The report also positions the capital of Antioquia as Colombia’s second-best city for startup development and the sixth-best in Latin America, within a highly competitive regional landscape led by São Paulo (Brazil), Mexico City, Bogotá (Colombia), and Santiago (Chile). One of the report’s most notable findings is the growth rate of the local ecosystem: Medellín recorded the fastest growth among the top 10 Latin American cities in the ranking, with an increase of more than 31%, reflecting the dynamism of its business and technology ecosystem.
In addition, the study highlights the city’s competitive advantages in sectors such as energy, healthcare, and finance — areas that local startups are actively strengthening. In this regard, over the past two years, Ruta N has intensified its efforts to create more opportunities through programs and strategies such as Medellín Next, StartIA, and FutuMed.
The collaboration among public institutions, private companies, academia, and entrepreneurs was also reflected in another indicator, as Medellín ranked second in Latin America in community activity, a metric that evaluates the level of interaction and engagement among ecosystem stakeholders.
StartupBlink’s 2026 report analyzed more than 1,500 cities and 120 countries in cooperation with global partners specialized in business and digital data.
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