Using the doing-business environment (DBE) index and cross-regional venturing capital (VC) events in 271 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2022, this study examines the impact of local DBE on cross-regional VCs. The findings reveal that cities with favorable local DBE attract more cross-regional VC. Mechanism analysis reveals that a favorable DBE mitigates the negative effects of macroeconomic policy uncertainty, signals positive local development prospects, and reduces investment barriers caused by information asymmetry, thereby strengthening the willingness of cross-regional VC investors to invest and take risks. Furthermore, this study finds that a favorable DBE serves as a prerequisite for cities to effectively implement regional innovation policies to attract cross-regional VC. Moreover, the positive effects of the favorable DBE on attracting cross-regional VC can enhance the vitality of innovation and entrepreneurship in cities.