Fueled by its strong commitment to innovation and sustainable economic development, Davao City has secured its place as the 3rd Best Startup Ecosystem in the Philippines and the leading startup hub in Mindanao, according to the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by StartupBlink.
This recognition places Davao City at the forefront of the country’s innovation landscape, setting it apart as the only Philippine city to have improved its national ranking this year. The city achieved a remarkable 97% national ecosystem growth rate—the highest in the country—leaping 163 spots globally to become the 580th best startup ecosystem in the world.
Startups, which are typically early-stage businesses offering technology-enabled solutions with potential for rapid growth and scalability, are increasingly seen as key drivers of economic progress and innovation. Davao City’s performance underscores the effectiveness of its support systems for these ventures.
From 4th place in the previous year, the city’s advancement to 3rd reflects not just numbers, but the energy and collaboration among its local stakeholders. According to Christian Cambaya, head of the Investor Assistance Servicing Unit of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC), the achievement is a result of the strong partnerships among startup enablers, who have collectively nurtured local entrepreneurs.
“This is noteworthy as Davao achieved a 97% growth rate, skipping 163 places to be the 580th best startup ecosystem in the world,” Cambaya noted. “We believe that this is the result of the productive collaborations among startup enablers who have committed wholeheartedly in developing Davao’s innovative entrepreneurs at the grassroots level.”
The report’s findings point to the city’s consistent upward trajectory—a sign of its maturing ecosystem that supports innovation, access to resources, and a collaborative community. This environment not only cultivates homegrown talent but also attracts interest from investors, tech mentors, and ecosystem builders.
As Davao City continues to climb the global rankings, stakeholders are optimistic that more partners from both public and private sectors will be drawn to the city’s vision for innovation-led growth.
“We hope that this collective success will draw in more stakeholders, so that our startup ecosystem will reach greater heights in the next years to come,” Cambaya said.
With a dynamic startup culture rooted in community and innovation, Davao City is proving that it is not only a key player in Mindanao’s economy—but a national leader in the country’s innovation frontier.