U.S. Cities Rank Highly as Locations for Startups

The Startup Genome Project ranks the Silicon Valley as far and away the best location in the world for startup businesses, but other American cities appear all over the top ten.

1 minute read

July 29, 2015, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Richard Florida shares the results of a new ranking for the world's reading startup cities. According to Florida, the 2015 edition of the Startup Genome Project "is based on data from 11,000 global startup companies, interviews with more than 200 entrepreneurs worldwide, and data from Crunchbase and other sources." The result is a ranking of the world's "startup ecosystems" (i.e., "the broad infrastructure of talent, knowledge, entrepreneurs, venture capital, and companies that make up a startup community").

According to the ranking, the worldwide list of startup ecosystems is lead by the Silicon Valley and followed by three more American locations: New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston. Chicago and Seattle come in at number seven and eight, respectively. The article also includes more insights into the findings of the rankings and what they say about the cities included on the list.

For another take on a similar idea, focusing just on the United States, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation maintains a "Metropolitan Area Rankings for Startup Activity" index. The 2015 version of that index places the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan area at the top of the ranks.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015 in CityLab

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

7 hours ago - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.