Yearly, extra U.S. cities roll up their sleeves to again the dreamers and doers launching startups.
Our survey of the highest 150 startup-friendly cities – primarily based on native authorities assist – reveals simply how widespread this development has turn into.
From heavyweights like Dallas and New York Metropolis to smaller gamers like Bozeman and Provo, municipalities are pouring sources into fostering innovation.
We now have analyzed this listing and pulled out some contemporary takes on what’s driving this shift, why it issues, and what it means for entrepreneurs with large concepts.
Right here’s what stood out:
RankingCityState11DenverColorado12RaleighNorth Carolina13GreenvilleSouth Carolina14Las VegasNevada15Los AngelesCalifornia16CharlotteNorth Carolina17SavannahGeorgia18BostonMassachusetts19PhoenixArizona20ChicagoIllinois21San DiegoCalifornia22HartfordConnecticut23Grand RapidsMichigan24SeattleWashington25ChattanoogaTennessee26PittsburghPennsylvania27Ann ArborMichigan28Salt Lake CityUtah29TucsonArizona30HonoluluHawaii31FlagstaffArizona32PortlandOregon33RochesterNew York34San FranciscoCalifornia35PhiladelphiaPennsylvania36BoulderColorado37CharlestonSouth Carolina38RichmondVirginia39IndianapolisIndiana40AthensGeorgia41Kansas CityMissouri42MemphisTennessee43HuntsvilleAlabama44DetroitMichigan45Kansas CityKansas46New OrleansLouisiana47RenoNevada48LouisvilleKentucky49St. LouisMissouri50Fort CollinsColorado51NewarkNew Jersey52BaltimoreMaryland53DurhamNorth Carolina54Oklahoma CityOklahoma55ColumbusOhio56St. PaulMinnesota57WilmingtonDelaware58MinneapolisMinnesota59New HavenConnecticut60MadisonWisconsin61AlbuquerqueNew Mexico62HuntingtonWest Virginia63TulsaOklahoma64ArlingtonVirginia65HendersonNevada66LexingtonKentucky67Santa FeNew Mexico68BendOregon69PortlandMaine70PrincetonNew Jersey71DoverDelaware72Sioux FallsSouth Dakota73State CollegePennsylvania74Green BayWisconsin75HiloHawaii76Little RockArkansas77MobileAlabama78CamdenNew Jersey79EugeneOregon80MorgantownWest Virginia81OmahaNebraska82PortsmouthNew Hampshire83KahuluiHawaii84RockvilleMaryland85CincinnatiOhio86ColumbiaSouth Carolina87RochesterMinnesota88CambridgeMassachusetts89Des MoinesIowa90OxfordMississippi91Rapid CitySouth Dakota92College ParkMaryland93MissoulaMontana94ShreveportLouisiana95BirminghamAlabama96BloomingtonIndiana97BoiseIdaho98LincolnNebraska99StamfordConnecticut100JacksonMississippi101Idaho FallsIdaho102MilwaukeeWisconsin103PeoriaIllinois104CharlestonWest Virginia105NormanOklahoma106Iowa CityIowa107RutlandVermont108SpokaneWashington109AnchorageAlaska110FargoNorth Dakota111LaramieWyoming112NewarkDelaware113NewportRhode Island114CharlottesvilleVirginia115OgdenUtah116CovingtonKentucky117ProvidenceRhode Island118WorcesterMassachusetts119ClevelandOhio120Baton RougeLouisiana121TacomaWashington122Las CrucesNew Mexico123MontpelierVermont124West LafayetteIndiana125CheyenneWyoming126WichitaKansas127ManchesterNew Hampshire128BurlingtonVermont129FairbanksAlaska130BozemanMontana131BangorMaine132BillingsMontana133Coeur d’AleneIdaho134ColumbiaMissouri135NashuaNew Hampshire136BentonvilleArkansas137FayettevilleArkansas138JuneauAlaska139AmesIowa140CasperWyoming141PawtucketRhode Island142LawrenceKansas143StarkvilleMississippi144Champaign–UrbanaIllinois145Grand ForksNorth Dakota146BrookingsSouth Dakota147BismarckNorth Dakota148Grand IslandNebraska149Lewiston–AuburnMaine150ProvoUtah Copy the code beneath and paste it into the physique of the HTML of your internet web page. <iframe src=”https://www.marketbeat.com/originals/innovation-incubators-survey-of-entrepreneurs-reveals-the-cities-most-supportive-of-startups/[SOURCE_URL]” width=”[FRAME_WIDTH]” top=”[FRAME_HEIGHT]” id=”data_map_iframe” allowfullscreen allowtransparency=”” fashion=”border:0;”frameborder=”0″></iframe><p fashion=”text-align:heart”><small>Created by <a href=”[BRAND_URL]” goal=”_blank”>[BRAND]</a> • <a href=”[FULL_SIZE_URL]” goal=”_blank”>View bigger model</a> </small></p><script>window.addEventListener(“message”,operate(e){e.knowledge.hasOwnProperty(“FrameHeight”)&& (doc.getElementById(“data_map_iframe”).fashion.top = e.knowledge.FrameHeight+ ‘px’)}),doc.getElementById(“data_map_iframe”).onload=operate(){ doc.getElementById(“data_map_iframe”).contentWindow.postMessage(“FrameHeight”,”*”)}; </script>
Key Findings:
Texas Takes the Lead, However It’s Not Simply Massive Names
Dallas, Austin, and Houston acquired the highest three spots – Texas has lengthy been a magnet for enterprise with its no-income-tax vibe and pro-growth perspective.
What’s fascinating, although, is how these cities aren’t resting on their laurels.
Dallas is leaning into its company connections, Austin’s constructing a tech playground, and Houston’s doubling down on area of interest industries like vitality and aerospace.
Smaller Texas cities like Arlington (No. 64) are creeping up too, proving the Lone Star State’s startup love runs deep.
Florida’s Quiet Rise as a Startup Haven
Florida’s exhibiting up sturdy with Orlando (No. 4), Tampa (No. 5), and Miami (No. 9) within the prime 10.
It’s extra than simply sunshine and tax breaks drawing founders right here.
This trio’s success hints at a broader shift – Florida’s not only a retirement spot anymore; it’s a launchpad.
Underdog Cities Punch Above Their Weight
Look past the same old suspects, and also you’ll discover locations like Buffalo (No. 10), Chattanooga (No. 25), and Boise (No. 97) making waves.
Buffalo’s throwing thousands and thousands at startups via initiatives like 43North, whereas Chattanooga’s betting on its lightning-fast web to lure techies.
Boise’s acquired that low-cost, high-quality-of-life mixture working in its favor.
These smaller cities show you don’t want an enormous finances or a well-known skyline – sensible, focused assist can stage the enjoying subject.
School Cities Are Startup Goldmines
Cities like Ann Arbor (No. 27), Boulder (No. 36), and Athens (No. 40) spotlight an rising benefit: universities.
These spots churn out expertise, concepts, and analysis that startups can faucet into.
Ann Arbor’s acquired Michigan’s mind belief, Boulder’s driving Colorado’s innovation wave, and Athens is leveraging UGA’s vitality.
It’s a reminder that proximity to a campus could be a game-changer for founders attempting to find each staff and inspiration.
The West’s Huge-Open Alternative
These cities mix out of doors enchantment with rising tech scenes, and native governments are leaping in with incentives and infrastructure.
Denver’s acquired altitude and ambition, whereas Provo’s driving Utah’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Rust Belt Reinvention
Pittsburgh (No. 26), Detroit (No. 44), and Cleveland (No. 119) sign a Rust Belt comeback.
These cities are shaking off outdated stereotypes by backing startups with grants, reasonably priced house, and a gritty can-do perspective.
Pittsburgh’s tech pivot, Detroit’s scrappy resurgence, and Cleveland’s slow-but-steady climb present how industrial roots can sprout new progress.
It’s not flashy, however it’s working.
Small States, Massive Ambitions
Vermont’s acquired three cities – Rutland (No. 107), Montpelier (No. 123), and Burlington (No. 128) – on the listing, which is spectacular for a state its measurement.
Delaware’s Wilmington (No. 57) and Newark (No. 112) are holding their very own too.
These smaller states are proving {that a} tight-knit neighborhood and somewhat authorities muscle can go a great distance. It’s much less about scale and extra about focus.
Remaining Ideas
This listing of 150 cities isn’t only a rating – it’s a snapshot of how native governments are rewriting their playbooks to again the following large factor.
From Texas titans to Vermont villages, the message is obvious: supporting startups isn’t a luxurious, it’s a method.
Whether or not it’s tax breaks, mentorship, or simply clearing via forms, these efforts are turning cities into springboards for entrepreneurs.
For anybody with a startup dream, the takeaway’s easy – decide a spot that’s acquired your again, and also you’re already forward of the sport.
