Moldova climbed eight places to 82nd in the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, following a 91.9% rise in its score. The near-doubling makes it a notable fast-growing ecosystem, although the distance to larger regional markets remains substantial.
Moldova’s total score is 1.115, compared with Romania’s 6.379 and Bulgaria’s 7.962. Growth relative to the starting base is high, but the current score remains several times smaller. All figures are population-adjusted country scores.
| Ecosystem | Global rank | Score | Score change, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moldova | 82 | 1.115 | 91.9 |
| Romania | 44 | 6.379 | 32.9 |
| Bulgaria | 40 | 7.962 | 25.4 |
Momentum and scale answer different questions
The 91.9% figure describes the change in Moldova’s own score. It does not establish how much funding companies received or the market size for a foreign product. Those questions require transaction and customer data.
Romania and Bulgaria are improving more slowly but have substantially higher scores. Comparing growth rates alone could incorrectly suggest that the faster-growing country has already become the strongest operating location.
Assessing a smaller market
Moldova merits attention in partner searches as an ecosystem gaining visibility. Individual teams, international sales and experience outside the domestic market should be examined. The ranking identifies a direction for research rather than replacing company-level assessment.
A smaller base can also make the score more sensitive to individual outcomes. The breadth of progress across companies and its persistence in subsequent editions will help establish durability.
Watch the underlying outcomes
The practical conclusion is to widen monitoring of Moldova while keeping momentum separate from the level already achieved. Funding, export revenue and companies’ progression to later stages can show whether a sharp score increase develops into sustained technology growth.