Moldova has been named Europe's fastest-growing startup ecosystem at the Startup Ecosystem Awards 2026 after StartupBlink recorded a 91.9% increase in the country's Global Startup Ecosystem Index score between its 2025 and 2026 editions, the highest growth rate in Europe and the third-highest worldwide. Moldova climbed eight places to rank 82nd globally and 21st in Eastern Europe. Chișinău ranks 464th worldwide and 35th in Eastern Europe, placing the capital among the world's top 500 startup cities.
More than 300 startups are active in Moldova, and local technology startups attracted over USD 17 million in investment in 2025 through equity investment, convertible financing, grants, angel investors and international venture funds. The ecosystem is producing exits: in 2025, Moldovan-founded platform Planable was acquired by SE Ranking after growing to more than 7,000 customers worldwide, and Parkopedia, founded by a Moldovan-born entrepreneur, was acquired by Sweden's EasyPark Group.
Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP) underpins the ecosystem with a single tax of 7% on sales revenue for eligible technology companies, replacing several separate taxes and contributions, with the regime guaranteed until 31 December 2035. In September 2026, MITP surpassed 3,000 active resident companies, up from 338 in 2018. These companies employ more than 27,000 people, with founders and investors from more than 50 countries. Approximately 90% of the products and services developed by MITP residents are intended for export.
A newly launched Moldova Innovation Fund has an initial budget of more than EUR 1 million for pre-seed and early-stage technology projects across four funding rounds over 24 months. A Fund of Funds with a First-Loss Tranche is also in place, with total public contributions planned at MDL 180 million (approximately EUR 9 million) for 2026–2027 and estimated overall capital mobilisation of approximately MDL 600 million (EUR 30 million).
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