Startup Passports: Nations That Welcome Builders

Visas, funding, and freedom: where your next venture can take root.

Author

Philip Saparov
May 22, 2025

In partnership with

Greetings, adventurous mind chasing bold horizons!

In 2025, entrepreneurship is more than a career—it’s a lifestyle. A path to freedom. And increasingly, a borderless pursuit.

Around the world, forward-thinking nations are rolling out the red carpet for builders, offering low taxes, fast-track visas, and startup ecosystems ready to fuel your next big idea.

This edition is your guide to the most exciting places to launch, grow, or pivot—where innovation isn’t just welcomed, it’s designed into the system.

Let’s dive in.

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Here’s a story that sounds made-up: A tiny Baltic country lets you open a European company, pay taxes, sign contracts, and run the whole business—without ever setting foot there. And yet… it’s 100% true. Estonia's e-Residency program has turned this 1.3 million-person nation into a launchpad for over 100,000 digital entrepreneurs worldwide.

Estonia was the first country to treat the internet like critical infrastructure. The result? A streamlined government and startup-friendly ecosystem where paperwork is extinct and regulation is digital-first.

But there’s more than just speed. Estonia’s flat 20% corporate tax (deferred until profit is distributed) makes it especially attractive for scaling. And the country’s embrace of AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity creates fertile ground for future-facing businesses.

📊 Fascinating edge: Estonia has the world’s highest number of unicorns per capita—7 startups worth $1B+ from a population smaller than San Diego’s.

This graph shows the number of startups per million people across six countries:

The UAE isn’t just oil and architecture anymore. It’s fast becoming one of the most ambitious startup laboratories in the world. From AI to fintech, space tech to climate startups, the Emirates have made one thing clear: if you’ve got a vision, they’ll give it a runway.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have built innovation free zones that eliminate income taxes, waive import duties, and offer 100% foreign ownership. The famed Hub71 in Abu Dhabi has already attracted over 200 startups with generous incentives and a curated investor network.

Then there’s the UAE’s “Golden Visa”—a 10-year residency for entrepreneurs, creatives, and investors. Unlike many programs, it’s not just a visa. It’s a vote of confidence.

💰 Surprise stat: In 2024, UAE startups attracted more VC funding than all other Middle Eastern countries combined—$1.2 billion and counting.

This graph illustrates the total startup funding raised in 2024 across six MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries:

If you could design a country for business from scratch, it might look like Singapore: clean, safe, efficient, and deeply connected to global markets. This is a place where the trains run on time, the contracts are enforceable, and the funding flows freely.

What makes Singapore shine? First, it’s a global gateway to Asia—with direct access to China, India, and Southeast Asia. Second, the government is deeply proactive, offering matched funding for promising startups, plus grants and equity programs through the Startup SG initiative.

Beyond tech, Singapore is a rising star in green energy, biotech, and sustainable food. And for solo founders or small teams, its vibrant co-working scene and expat community make it an easy place to land and grow.

📦 Logistics gold: Singapore ranks #1 globally for logistics and cross-border commerce—a dream for anyone building a global supply chain or e-commerce empire.

4. 🇵🇹 Portugal: Europe’s Most Surprising Startup Scene

What if we told you the best startup city in Western Europe also has 300 days of sunshine, oceanfront cafes, and one of the lowest costs of living on the continent? Welcome to Lisbon.

Portugal is punching way above its weight in the innovation world. The government has launched national accelerators, R&D tax breaks, and one of Europe’s most accessible tech visas. Add to that the Web Summit, one of the world’s largest startup conferences, and you’ve got a full-stack startup ecosystem in paradise.

Lisbon and Porto have become creative havens for software developers, sustainability startups, and digital nomads. You get EU market access, a laid-back lifestyle, and an environment that fosters creativity—without the sticker shock of Paris or Berlin.

🌞 Fun discovery: Portugal’s D7 visa lets retirees, remote workers, and entrepreneurs settle in—without requiring giant investment thresholds.

Chile isn’t just wine and mountains anymore. It’s become a serious contender for startup capital of Latin America. Why? Because it invested in something few governments dared to: global entrepreneurs.

In 2010, Chile launched Start-Up Chile—an accelerator that offers equity-free funding, coworking space, and mentorship to founders from around the world. The program became a blueprint for how governments can invest in talent instead of waiting for talent to find them.

Today, Chile’s stable economy, transparent legal system, and access to both North and South American markets make it an ideal hub for scaling across the Western Hemisphere. Agritech, energy, and SaaS are thriving sectors.

🌎 Regional impact: Start-Up Chile alumni have raised over $2 billion in global funding and created thousands of jobs across Latin America.

Most people don’t think of Georgia (the country) when they think “startup haven”—and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. Quietly nestled between Europe and Asia, Georgia has emerged as a magnet for solopreneurs and location-independent businesses.

With a “small business tax” of just 1%, no capital gains tax, and a fast-track business registration process, the Georgian government has rolled out the red carpet for entrepreneurs. You can open a business in one day—and get residency with minimal paperwork.

Tbilisi, the capital, is buzzing with creatives, developers, and crypto innovators, all drawn by low costs, vibrant culture, and a tech scene that feels authentic and exciting.

📈 Hidden gem: In 2023, Georgia ranked in the global top 10 for ease of doing business—beating out many EU nations and the U.S.

Canada has quietly built one of the most welcoming startup environments in the world—and if you're looking to scale with stability, it might just be the best-kept secret on the continent.

The Startup Visa Program grants permanent residency to founders who gain backing from an approved investor or incubator. That’s right—permanent, not a rotating 2-year scramble. Add in generous R&D credits, global research partnerships, and a multicultural workforce fluent in innovation, and you’ve got a recipe for long-term growth.

Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are leading hubs, but the real magic? Canada’s culture of inclusion. It’s a country where immigrant founders thrive, diverse teams are the norm, and family life and entrepreneurship actually coexist.

🌐 Noteworthy stat: Immigrant-led companies now employ over 25% of Canada’s tech workforce—underscoring its open-door policy for builders.

The age of local-only entrepreneurship is over. Today, your most strategic business decision might not be your product or your pitch—but your postcode. The Startup Nations we explored today aren’t just favorable environments—they’re invitations. Invitations to build boldly, live freely, and grow something that’s globally relevant.

Where you live can shape how you build. And in 2025, more places than ever are rolling out the red carpet for people just like you.

Stay curious, stay global, and keep building the life—and business—you deserve.

Warm regards,

Shane Fulmer
Founder, WorldPopulationReview.com

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