Azerbaijan’s startup ecosystem comprises 161 companies and has an estimated value of $589.9 million, according to StartupBlink’s 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Index.
The ecosystem grew by 7.3% over the past year but fell seven places to No. 81 in the global ranking, according to StartupBlink’s Azerbaijan profile.
Azerbaijan ranks 20th in Eastern Europe, down two places from 2025. Baku is the country’s only city among the 1,000 startup hubs included in the index.
Growth Trails Global and Regional Rates
StartupBlink said the 7.3% growth rate was well below the global average of 26.6% and the Eastern European average of 28.1% over the same period.
Vusal Gasimli, executive director of Azerbaijan’s Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, also said the ecosystem’s value was approaching $600 million during the closing event of the “Startup School 4: Five Continents - 500 Startups” program, according to Report.az.
Gasimli said the market had the potential to develop more quickly. The StartupBlink index covers more than 120 countries and over 1,500 cities.
What the Valuation Represents
The $589.9 million figure is the estimated combined value of companies in the startup ecosystem. It does not mean that Azerbaijani startups received that amount in investment, government funding or revenue.
Source: Vesti Baku