Téhéran

Tehran is Iran’s capital, the largest city in West Asia, and a metropolis where a deep cultural tradition meets one of the most resilient tech ecosystems in the region. The Alborz mountains rise directly north of the city, giving residents a dramatic outdoor escape — Tochal, Darband, and Darakeh are hiking and climbing destinations that draw thousands every week.

Community life in Tehran runs through distinct districts: the north (Tajrish, Saadabad) is greener and more affluent, the center (Valiasr Street, Downtown) is the commercial and social heart, and the south has deep-rooted bazaar and working-class communities. Universities including the University of Tehran, Sharif University of Technology, and Amirkabir University feed a constant stream of students and engineers into the city, and the Iranian startup ecosystem — companies like Digikala and Snapp — has grown into one of the most active in the Middle East despite sanctions. The coffee shop culture of central Tehran and the parks of the north anchor a busy social life, and the weekend runs Thursday–Friday.

For anyone looking to find or start an Origin, Tehran rewards choosing a district, building trust through repeated meetups, and leveraging the city’s extraordinary pool of talent and energy.