Victoria’s startups punch above their weight on the world stage, and exporters are leading the charge
Melbourne has climbed to third place globally for startup creation, overtaking Sydney, Singapore and Berlin, according to new ecosystem mapping data released by LaunchVic. The 2025 report shows a startup scene that’s maturing into a genuine global competitor.
The numbers tell the story. Victoria is now home to 2,811 startups, scaleups and unicorns, up 48% since 2020, with founders raising $2.4 billion in 2025 alone. Twenty Victorian firms have reached unicorn status, with a combined valuation approaching $100 billion — more than any other state in the country.
Victorian startups are exporting at more than five times the national SME rate — 44%, compared to just 8%. And they’re not playing it safe. Top markets include North America, the UK and Europe, with half of all exporting firms already operating across three or more countries. Of startups not yet exporting, 30% plan to start within the next 12 months, and a further 46% within the next two years, meaning staying domestic-only is fast becoming the exception, not the rule.
The report also points to why this matters. Exporting firms tend to be more productive than their domestic-only counterparts, often because competing internationally sharpens everything from product design to operations. Victoria’s startups are also racing ahead on AI adoption (44% using it broadly across their business, against just 5% of Australian SMEs), giving exporters a genuine technology edge as they compete for global customers.
For Victorian founders weighing up international growth, the message from this report is clear: you’d be joining a cohort that’s already outperforming the national average, and a state ecosystem that’s increasingly recognised on the world stage.
