As the first ranking country in the Startup Blink Ecosystem Report by a considerable margin, the USA has the strongest startup ecosystem in the world, with more excess capital and talent than any other nation. Entrepreneurs can build a robust and lucrative business in one of the largest markets in the world and then use that as a strong base from which to expand to other regions. In this article, we discuss the ten best startup cities in the USA.
- San Francisco Bay
- New York
- Boston
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
- Chicago
- Austin
- Atlanta
- Dallas Fort Worth
- Miami
The Best Startup Cities in the USA
To find out which cities are the best places to run a startup, StartupBlink has analyzed startup ecosystems in 1,000 cities and 100 countries to publish its annual Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings Report 2020.
In the report, the USA ranks first, retaining its position in previous years. In total, US cities account for 383 of the top 1000 cities – More than a third of top startup ecosystems worldwide.
1. San Francisco Bay
The Bay Area is now used as an international archetype for entrepreneurship, especially for a startup. Like a self-perpetuating machine, it continues to grow. Venture capital pulls even more venture capitalists to the area to invest, increase, and produce more. Despite this, San Francisco is strained with the reality of big money, big business, and somewhat of a goldrush mentality. For budding entrepreneurs, the city offers little in affordable housing, and other costs of living have continued to grow. In the next decade, true innovators may start to look elsewhere to start their business – and yet regardless, silicon valley is likely to remain a mecca for entrepreneurs worldwide.
2. New York
Often called the center of the US economy, New York holds the 2nd position in not only the best startup cities in the USA but also the world’s leading startup cities. The most diverse city in the US and often considered the Worlds economic capital, with a thriving creative arts community to boot, New York has remained a consistent second in our global startup rankings over the last couple of years.
3. Boston area
In 2020, Boston has moved up by one position, stealing third place from its national counterpart Los Angeles. Boston works as an incubator of technology talent because of its considerable number of educational institutes, helping to push industry forward. Therefore, we see a high concentration of the most exciting Biotech and AI startups in the city. In addition to this, more than 40,000 small businesses in Boston contribute to its economy and provide opportunities for new investors.
4. Los Angeles area
In our Ecosystem Report earlier this year, LA fell by one spot. It however remains one of the top 5 ecosystems in the world. The city’s tax relief efforts could be a reason there has been major growth in the number of its startups since 2013. LA represents a significant gap between the top 5 and other startup ecosystems. To surpass LA and gain a spot in the top 5 is a difficult feat.
5. Seattle
Ranked 11th in the world, Seattle can be recognized as the home of companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and a number of other major corporates, providing a large number of opportunities for open innovation. Although falling two places from its position in 2019, it remains one of the top 5 ecosystems in the most competitive nation on earth.
6. Chicago
In 2020, Chicago ranks 13th in the world’s leading growing startup cities. This city provides a diverse business culture for entrepreneurs and offers various opportunities. Its tech business is growing with speed and accounts for 14% of the local economy. Major unicorns in the city include Avant & Uptake.
7. Austin
Austin stands out as a city that is becoming increasingly popular due to its highly educated workforce and cultural scene. Many believe that the city is destined to replace Silicon Valley as the main US hub for innovation in the coming years and it is easy to see why. As the a major corporate epicenter for the U.S oil industry, the city has no shortage of capital but is still relatively affordable and low in taxes.
8. Atlanta
The capital of the US state of Georgia, Atlanta is home to the Headquarters of major companies such as the Coca Cola company and Delta Air lines. A side effect of an abundance of major corporates in any city is an offspin of talent and entrepreneurs. Alongside this, the city has many tech incubators such as “The Advanced Technology Development Center”.
9. Dallas Fort Worth
Dallas provides the perfect business environment for startup organizations. Dallas is famous as a hub of Texas’s economic and cultural center, with more than 500 companies and ventures. The range of industries makes the city full of potential entrepreneurs with industry-specific knowledge, and therefore breeds an environment where disruptive technologies can be applied.
10. Miami
Miami is a city with a majority population of immigrants (almost 53%). Such a vast amount of immigrants means there exists a diversified culture in the city and moreover, it means that the entrepreneurs there bring fresh prospectives, a high work ethic, and a solid foundation for expansion into other markets. Miami is also considered a financial hub for Latin America, standing at 25th among the world’s top startup cities.
The Original Innovators
The success of American industry has been somewhat of an aspirational ideal for many companies and economic development corporations outside of the nation, with many attempting to imitate the country’s attitude towards entrepreneurship and access to capital that has seen over more than 100 unicorns become established.
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