Georgia

Tbilisi

Members: GITA, Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency

We're transforming Georgia into a regional innovation hub through global partnerships, a 0% tax regime, strong infrastructure, and accessible funding, offering one of the region’s most startup-friendly environments.

Avtandil Kasradze

Chairman of Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency

Highlights

Georgia is rapidly emerging as the region’s leading innovation and startup ecosystem through improved infrastructure, expanded tech parks, and strong engagement from local and international stakeholders.

Growth is powered by Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA). GITA supports startups through tailored programs and collaborations and will launch four full-scale accelerators annually starting in 2025, mentoring 160 startups each year. GITA’s proposed tax incentives include a 10-year tax break for innovative startups: 0% tax for the first three years, 300% tax credits, and 30% cashbacks for SMEs conducting R&D.

The country boasts a modern tech infrastructure with nine technology parks, including one in Tbilisi. A tenth tech hub is under development in Kutaisi and is set to become the largest in the country, strengthening the position of the Georgian ecosystem globally.

GITA’s new initiative, StartUP in Georgia, aims to position Georgia’s startup ecosystem on the global stage as the fast-growing and innovation-friendly destination. The project includes two pillars: international events (e.g, Web Summit, CES, GITEX, etc.) featuring Georgian startups and a digital one-stop-shop platform offering key programs, news, and opportunities. Its mission is to attract global innovators and support entrepreneurs in scaling and expanding to international markets.

In 2025, Georgia is launching its first-ever International Innovation Hub in San Francisco. Hub will serve as a physical space connecting ecosystems, supporting startups, and driving innovation, investment, and global partnerships. A dedicated StartUP in Georgia digital platform will launch soon, offering centralized access to information, support programs, tax incentives, and ecosystem players.

Ecosystem by the Numbers

ECOSYSTEM VALUE

(H2 2022 - 2024)

$243 M

GLOBAL AVG. $20.4 bn

NUMBER OF UNICORNS

(ACTIVE UNICORNS)

0

GLOBAL AVG. 4

SOFT. ENGINEER SALARY

(2024)

$43 K

GLOBAL AVG. $52 K

TIME TO EXIT

(2020 - 2024)

5 years

GLOBAL AVG. 11.2 years

TOTAL EARLY–STAGE FUNDING

(H2 2022 - 2024)

$10 M

GLOBAL AVG. $514.8 m

MEDIAN SEED ROUND

(H2 2022 - 2024)

$200 K

GLOBAL AVG. $889 k

EARLY-STAGE FUNDING
GROWTH

(2021 - 22 VS. 2023 - 24)

1

Scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest)

EXIT AMOUNT

(2020 - 2024)

$8.5 M

GLOBAL AVG. $8 bn

ECOSYSTEM VALUE GROWTH

(H2 2020 - H2 2022 VS H2 2022 - H2 2024)

27%

GLOBAL AVG. -14%

MEDIAN SERIES A ROUND

(H2 2022 – 2024)

NA

GLOBAL AVG. $6.8 m

TOTAL VC FUNDING

(2020 - 2024)

$30 M

GLOBAL AVG. $5.2 bn

EXIT COUNT (#)

(2020 - 2024)

1

0

2020

1

2021

0

2022

0

2023

0

2024

GLOBAL AVG. 86

Sub-Sector Strengths

AI

In 2024, the Georgian government announced the development of a National AI Strategy that aims to drive AI adoption across sectors. Artificial Intelligence is a priority technology area for Georgia, with plans to create Excellence Centers to drive research innovation and commercialize R&D. AI excellence center will be a collaborative platform providing facilities, expertise, services, and funding to stakeholders, including government, private sector, and academia. The center will feature essential physical infrastructure including data center facilities with GPUs to support advanced AI development and technological advancement nationwide.

Biotechnology

A 2022 EU Twinning project report identified Innovative Health Systems as a priority area for Georgia, highlighting bacteriophages as a key direction. Antibiotic resistant bacteria present a global health crisis, increasing demand for alternatives like bacteriophage therapy, viruses that target bacterial pathogens. In 2023, the World Economic Forum recognized phages among 10 Emerging Technologies. Georgia's Eliava Institute, established in 1923, pioneered bacteriophage research and continues offering treatments for antibiotic resistant infections worldwide.

AgriTech

The government prioritizes AI and Agritech for research, planning excellence centers to drive innovation and commercialization.Georgian startups are gaining recognition at key events like the World Agritech Summit. Additionally, In June 2024, Georgia's Farmers Association joined the FAO AgriTech Observatory to showcase Georgian Agritech innovations within Europe and Central Asia. A September 2024 EU-UNDP study identified high-growth sectors in Georgia’s economy, highlighting export opportunities for SMEs to expand into EU and European markets.

Reasons to Move Your Startup to Tbilisi

Educated Tech Talent

Georgia supports talent growth through STEM and ICT education, including the "Do IT in Georgia" initiative, which has trained up to 15,000 people. According to Galt & Taggart’s May 2024 report, 11,122 students were enrolled in IT programs across 21 universities in 2023/24, reflecting a growing talent pool aligned with the needs of over 120 international IT companies operating in Georgia.

Access to Funding

Georgia’s flagship Matching Grants Program supported 279 startups with $15.9M, attracting $217M in private capital. Since 2021, GITA and 500 Eurasia mentored 88 startups, with GITA investing $5M in its $20M VC fund to boost follow-on funding, reinforcing Georgia’s role as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.GITA supports AXEL, Georgia’s Business Angel Network, as a key source of early-stage angel investment, strengthening Georgia’s startup financing.

Tax Incentives

From 2025 Georgia will offer 10-year tax breaks for innovative startups: 0% tax for three years, 5% for the next three, and 10% for the final four. Incentives include 300% tax credits for innovative SMEs engaged in qualified R&D and 30% cashback opportunities on R&D expenses. International IT companies benefit from a 5% tax rate.

Selected Startup Organizations

Startup Genome Members

MEMBER

Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency

Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA), established in 2014 under the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, serves as the central pillar of Georgia's innovation ecosystem. With an explicit mandate to drive ecosystem expansion, GITA aims to create an effective environment for innovation development, facilitate the integration of cutting-edge technologies across all economic sectors, and build the necessary foundation for sustainable innovative growth nationwide.

Key Ecosystem Players

Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency

Established in 2014 under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, GITA serves as the central pillar of Georgia's innovation ecosystem with the explicit mandate to propel its expansion.

500 Eurasia Accelerator

500 Eurasia brings world-class acceleration expertise to Georgia, having mentored 88 local and international startups across 6 batches since 2021. Their presence attracts participants from across the region, reinforcing Georgia's positioning as a hub for entrepreneurship.

500 Eurasia VC Fund

500 Eurasia is a $20 million venture capital fund launched by 500 Global, focused on investing in startups, fostering innovation, and accelerating Georgian and regional ecosystem development. GITA is the fund’s LP with a 25% investment.

Georgian Business Angel Network Axel

Working in partnership with GITA to promote the development of angel investment in the country.

News from the Ecosystem

Explore more ecosystems

Work with us

If you are interested in working with us to drive global attention to your ecosystem, please get in touch with Marina Krizman, Director of Business Development.

GET IN TOUCH