Ask HN: 2026, where is the best place in the world to create a startup?

by wewewedxfgdfon 2/28/2026, 1:23 AMwith 4 comments

by jackyli02on 2/28/2026, 3:43 AM

Overall probably still SV. But depending on the circumstances China, Singapore, Dubai are all good. The physical location matters so little from a business perspective now though. So I think it's actually more of a lifestyle choice vs a business one.

by RegnisGnawon 2/28/2026, 1:27 AM

China if its not politically sensitive. Singapore otherwise.

by codebitdailyon 2/28/2026, 4:48 AM

In 2026, the 'best place' isn't a physical city like SF anymore, but the jurisdiction that offers the best AI-compute subsidies and clear data privacy frameworks. We’re seeing a massive shift toward 'distributed hubs' in places that prioritize NPU-native infrastructure. If you're building hardware-adjacent software, look where the energy is cheap and the AI regulations are stable. The physical location is becoming secondary to the digital infrastructure you're plugged into