Gujarat has emerged as India’s best-performing startup ecosystem for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2026 (5th Edition) released under the Startup India initiative. The ranking highlights the state’s consistent efforts in building a robust environment for innovation, entrepreneurship and startup growth.
The assessment evaluates states on parameters such as policy support, funding access, incubation infrastructure, talent development and regulatory ease. Gujarat topped the rankings by demonstrating sustained progress across these indicators, supported by proactive governance and industry collaboration.
According to the report, Gujarat’s strong network of incubation centres, innovation hubs and startup-focused policies has helped nurture early-stage ventures as well as scale-ups. The state has also benefited from close coordination between government, academia and industry, creating a favourable ecosystem for entrepreneurs.
Officials noted that Gujarat’s leadership position reflects its long-term focus on ease of doing business, digital governance and investor-friendly reforms. Startup founders in the state have access to structured mentoring, financial incentives and market linkages through government-backed programmes.
The ranking once again underlines Gujarat’s role as a national leader in startup development, setting a benchmark for other states seeking to strengthen their innovation ecosystems and attract entrepreneurial talent.
