Best Cities Rankings 2026: Top 5 Indian Cities to Start Up In
From robust access to venture capital and supportive policies to thriving innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurial communities, these top 5 Indian cities provide the ideal environment where start-ups can flourish, scale rapidly and turn bold ideas into successful businesses
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Delhi emerges as the top city in Outperformers Rankings 2026
Policy support and incubators' guidance are making Delhi a new favourite
City Rank 2026 1
Score 96.5/100
Total revenue $726mn
Total valuation $1.52bn
No. of start-up incubators 95
Rank last survey 2nd
Note: Figs are for growth-stage start-ups
Bengaluru
Start-ups still flock to Bengaluru
Ready access to capital and talent pool have cemented Bengaluru’s position as India’s Silicon Valley
City Rank 2026 1
Score 95/100
Total revenue $1.91bn
Total valuation $6.68bn
No. of start-up incubators 73
Rank last survey 3rd
Mumbai
Mumbai is turning out to be quite the challenger
India's financial capital is fuelling start-up growth and investments are readily turning into results
City Rank 2026 3
Score 85.9/100
Total revenue $2.89bn
Total valuation $6.33bn
No. of start-up incubators 41
Rank last survey 4th
Noida
Manufacturing-heavy clusters see Noida emerging as a start-up hub
Strong electronics manufacturing ecosystem is driving Noida's emergence as a start-up hub
City Rank 2026 4
Score 77/100
Total revenue $262mn
Total valuation $4.91bn
No. of start-up incubators 30
Rank last survey 7th
Hyderabad
Hyderabad has lost some of its charm
The city has lost some sheen since last year but affordability and governance still remain its strength
City Rank 2026 5
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Score 75.9/100
Total revenue $2.10bn
Total valuation 0.35bn
No. of start-up incubators 76
Rank last survey 1st