A startup ecosystem is defined by the amount of companies launching in a particular city. But variety can go a long way in cultivating an environment of support and interest in the startup world. While a lot of cities have particular focuses when it comes to burgeoning businesses, the best startup ecosystems display a wide range of industries as successful and prolific.
But which cities have the most diversified selection of startups? 1776 and the US Chamber of Commerce cultivated a list of the most popular 25 cities and their respective startup ecosystem layouts. The report evaluated the launches, exits, champions and acquisitions of startups in four industries: health, education, energy and smart city, and assigned each city a score out of 25 for each industry.
The report showed that, yes, the Bay Area is still king when it comes to startup variety. Other cities like New York, Boston and Chicago also showed an even split between the four important industries. However, some cities, like Dallas, Nashville and Philadelphia, have disproportionate ecosystems.
Feel free to check out the list below to see if your city is diversified or not.
- San Francisco – Our list wouldn’t be complete without this famed city. Yes, it’s insanely expensive, but San Francisco does offer benefits to counterbalance that. The city acts as a lodestone to venture capital, ambitious young talent, and risk-takers willing to bet on expensive longshots. As Silicon Valley became the tech Mecca, numerous resources for businesses in San Francisco opened their doors, from incubators to mentorship networks to competitions. Entrepreneurs can find all the tools they need for success in the famous home of startups.
- Kansas City – Startup exit count: 50
- Baltimore – Startup exit count: 112
- Houston – Startup exit count: 128
- New Orleans – Startup exit count: 7
- Phoenix – Startup exit count: 83
- Houston – Startup exit count: 128
- Washington DC – Startup exit count: 224
- Los Angeles – Startup exit count: 452
- New Orleans – Startup exit count: 7
- Atlanta – Startup exit count: 167
