Onome Amuge
Lagos has been recognised as the fastest-growing tech ecosystem globally for 2025, according to the newly released Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025 report by Netherlands-based research firm Dealroom.co.
The Nigerian commercial capital’s ascent reflects its emergence as a dynamic hub for new enterprises, boosted by a growing tech scene and a strong pipeline of successful start-ups.
The report cited Lagos as home to five unicorns including Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay, and Moniepoint, solidifying its appeal for new ventures.
Ranked under the ‘Rising Stars’ category of tech cities, Dealroom.co lauded Lagos and its counterparts in this tier for supporting a new generation of tech companies.
“This year, Lagos (#1) is topping the list, having created 5 unicorns and grown its ecosystem valuation 11.6x since 2017 despite a smaller economy,” the report stated, underscoring the city’s growth trajectory.
Following Lagos on the list of fastest-growing tech cities is Istanbul, Turkey, at number two, with Pune, India, securing the third position. Other notable cities featured in this category include Belo Horizonte and Curitiba in Brazil, Mumbai in India, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
Dealroom.co’s ‘Rising Star’ methodology emphasizes growth in enterprise value and the creation of unicorns, adjusted for local GDP per capita and cost of living. This lens specifically spotlights rapidly expanding, emerging tech ecosystems across various markets, including Africa, India, Turkey, and Brazil.
Nigeria’s absence from Global Champions category
While Lagos takes the lead for Nigeria in the ‘Rising Stars’ category, the country remains absent from the ‘Global Champions’ category. This top tier comprises the world’s largest and most established start-up ecosystems, ranked by absolute metrics such as venture capital inflow, enterprise value creation, number of unicorns, and university linkages.
The ‘Global Champions’ list is dominated by American cities, with the Bay Area holding the undisputed top spot, followed by New York City at second and Boston at third. Dealroom.co noted that while the Bay Area remains dominant, newer hubs such as Austin (#5), Tel Aviv (#10), or Stockholm (#15) have started to build substantial ecosystems. In Europe, Paris (#4) emerged as the top hub, followed by London (#6).
