According to data published in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026 report, Iran’s startup ecosystem has continued to be assessed as active and dynamic despite economic pressures, international restrictions, human capital migration, and widespread internet disruptions. As a result, Iran has achieved notable positions in several key indicators of the global ranking.

According to the report, Iran ranked 72nd globally in Fintech. It also recorded its best performance among the various indicators in Corporate Engagement, where it ranked 58th worldwide. This indicator reflects the level of corporate participation and their interaction with startups within the country’s innovation ecosystem.

In addition, Iran ranked 81st globally in Startup Support, an indicator that refers to the presence of accelerators, investors, and universities actively supporting startups. In Talent & Employment, Iran was ranked 88th worldwide, and in Software & Data, the country placed among the top 100 ecosystems in the world, ranking 95th.

The report also emphasizes that Tehran continues to play a central role in the country’s innovation ecosystem. According to this ranking, Tehran placed 348th among startup cities worldwide and, with 36% growth and a rise of 20 positions compared to the previous year, has experienced an improving trend. Tehran also ranked 95th globally in Startup Support, highlighting the role of universities, accelerators, and domestic innovation networks in sustaining ecosystem activity.

In another section, the report refers to several prominent players in Iran’s ecosystem, including the Iran National Innovation Fund (INIF) as an institution that provides startups and knowledge-based companies with facilities, credit guarantees, and investment; Pardis Technology Park as Iran’s largest technology park and the organizer of the INOTEX exhibition; and Harakat Aval (MCI Ventures) as the investment arm of Mobile Communications Company of Iran in the fields of technology, e-commerce, and online services.

In reviewing the milestones of Iran’s ecosystem, the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026 report points to several notable events. Among them is the first INOTEX exhibition in 2012 at Pardis Technology Park, cited as one of the key milestones in the country’s innovation ecosystem. Other events mentioned in the report include MTN South Africa’s investment of around $22 million in Snapp in 2016, the adoption of Iran’s first startup law and the reduction of taxes for knowledge-based companies in 2017, Tapsi’s listing on the Tehran Stock Exchange in 2022 as the first official IPO of an Iranian startup, and Tapsell’s acquisition of Cafe Bazaar in 2025 as a sign of the beginning of a new wave of consolidation and integration in Iran’s digital ecosystem.

At the same time, the report stresses that these data do not yet fully reflect the impact of recent geopolitical developments in the region and their possible consequences for Iran’s startup ecosystem. At a time when the internet, international connectivity, and the free flow of knowledge have become vital infrastructure for the innovation economy, the experience of some countries shows that the resilience of technology ecosystems depends not only on financial capital but also on the preservation of human capital and the continuity of scientific and technological connections.

Nevertheless, the report concludes that Iran’s innovation ecosystem still has the capacity for continuity and growth. In this context, the INOTEX exhibition, as the country’s most important innovation and technology event, has played the role of a “turning point” in fostering networking, synergy, and stronger interaction among ecosystem actors.