InvestorInvesting in the future of luxury fashion and lifestyle brands.
The startup scene in Hungary
Prezi’s press archive attributes its founding to Budapest in 2009 and lists offices in Budapest and San Francisco. Bitrise says it was founded in 2014 as a spin-off from Bitfall; its inspected source does not specify a founding city.
About
Prezi’s press archive attributes its founding to Budapest in 2009 and lists offices in Budapest and San Francisco. Bitrise says it was founded in 2014 as a spin-off from Bitfall; its inspected source does not specify a founding city.
HVCA/EY reported national Hungarian investment of €606 million across 56 deals in 2024; one buyout accounted for nearly 80% of that total. Its 2025 report recorded €83.4 million across 22 transactions in Hungary, down 86.3% in value and 62.7% in transaction count year over year. These figures are national, not Budapest-specific.
The 2026 Danube Cup call was for student teams at BME, Corvinus, and Széchenyi István University, listed a HUF 1 million prize, and scheduled its final in Budapest for April 16, 2026. The April 13 application deadline and final date had passed as of October 2, 2026.
Startup ecosystem standing
Where Budapest ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Global Financial Centres Index | GFCI 40 | #107 | No prior edition | B | Finance, Competitiveness, Business Climate |
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (cities) | 2025 | #141 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
 Emerging Ecosystems Ranking (GSER Top 100) | 2026 | 81 to 90 | No prior edition | C | Ecosystem, Performance, Finance, Talent |
76 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Budapest
Investors 47
Investor
InvestorEmpowering Hungarian startups through early-stage investments.
InvestorInvesting in the future of CEE startups.
The 3 most prominent of 47. Browse all investors
Incubators 12
IncubatorLeading startup development center in Hungary.
IncubatorSupporting startups from idea to international markets.
IncubatorSupporting early-stage startups from ideation to market entry.
The 3 most prominent of 12. Browse all incubators
Accelerators 11
AcceleratorFostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
AcceleratorEmpowering early-stage innovators across Europe.
AcceleratorAccelerating sustainable greentech innovations in Hungary.
The 3 most prominent of 11. Browse all accelerators
Venture studios 6
Venture studioBuilding world-class startups from Hungarian inventions.
Venture studioBuilding ventures. Together.
Venture studioBuilding companies in the creative industries.
The 3 most prominent of 6. Browse all venture studios
Pick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in Budapest
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
Get investor introsFinding startups in Budapest
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
Get startups that fitScouting in Budapest
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
Start scoutingFrom public sources
What the sources say about Budapest
The 2026 Danube Cup call's application and Budapest final dates have passed; it is historical.
Source: Danube Cup 2026GEM's national survey reports both fear-of-failure barriers and near-term opportunity optimism; these are not city-specific.
Source: Facing Traditional and Digital Disruptions: Entrepreneurship in HungaryGEM describes a national study led by BUEB's Budapest LAB with over 2,000 surveys and 36 expert interviews.
Source: Facing Traditional and Digital Disruptions: Entrepreneurship in HungarySEON's own account describes a collaborative network while recalling limited access to angels and VCs.
Source: What I Learned Running a High-Growth Startup From a Non-Startup HubTechCrunch described SEON as London-based and Anglo-Hungarian in its coverage of the $94 million round.
Source: Anglo-Hungarian anti-fraud platform SEON pulls in a $94M Series B led by IVPBME InnoLab lists contact routes for project proposals, R&D, and mentors; eligibility and open status are not specified.
Source: BME InnoLab Ltd.
Questions about Budapest
How does Budapest rank as a startup ecosystem?
Budapest is #141 of 1,473 in StartupBlink Index (cities) (2025). It appears in 3 published rankings; the table above lists each one.
How many startup investors are based in Budapest?
47 investors based in Budapest have a profile here, including Vanguards, Hiventures and PortfoLion Capital Partners. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Budapest?
Yes. Budapest has 11 accelerators, 12 incubators and 6 venture studios on record, including Design Terminal, Aquincum Technology Incubator and SAFIS Group.
Geographic proximity
Nearby cities to Budapest
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