I would prefer a faster way to scroll through the markets. Reducing card size or having a light weight search field would improve it a great deal.

Tags on the "recent startups" that associated it with market/category/region to allow me to scan quicker without having to read the description for each company would be a huge plus.

I would include region on the top menu bar. Once I land on the region page I would like a map that broke it down into zones/continents/ clickable grid. It would help eliminate scroll fatigue.

I would move the email signup and get those "recent start ups" above the fold. I feel like you are more worried about me signing up vs. actually using the site.