Silicon Valley and San Francisco are the focal centers for 13.5% of all global startups, says the Centre of American Entrepreneurship (CAE). For decades, the annual global entrepreneurial statistics justified the same.
Apart from the epicenters, other cities are making a grand entry in the list of most entrepreneurial cities of the United States, over the years by outgrowing the startup failure rates with the increasing success rates.
Analyzing the rate of new entrepreneurs, the startup density, the Venture Capital (VC) investments, and a lot of other factors, we bring to you the list of
Most Entrepreneurial Cities of the U.S.
Key Statistics of the U.S.
- The number of small businesses in the U.S. was 30.7 million in 2019 (U.S. Small Business Administration).
- 59.9 million jobs were created by small businesses in the U.S. in 2019 (U.S. Small Business Administration).
- Small businesses generate 50% of the United States GDP (U.S. Small Business Administration)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach,
- FLPopulation: 6,198,782
- The population of self-employed: 457,579
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.56%
- Venture Capital investments: $1.3 billion
The city of sizzling beaches is the home to ignited entrepreneurial minds. Miami emerged as the second most entrepreneurial city in the U.S. by the Kauffman Foundation, in recent years. This tourist heaven has the second-highest startup density of 107.8 per 1000 employer businesses and has the highest rate of new entrepreneurs.
The city has the highest concentration of self-employment in the mining, fishing, forestry, and agriculture industries
Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Population: 2,168,316
- Population of self-employed: 129,227
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.51%
- Venture Capital investments: $1.3 billion
The motherland of ballet is the home of many universities, including the University of Texas, which are the backbone of Austin’s educated population.
Austin has a lesser cost of living, with zero personal income and corporate tax rates, and has been nurturing entrepreneurial minds and inviting immigrant entrepreneurs, for many years. There are mostly tech startups in the capital city, with a startup density of 104.5 per 1000 employer businesses.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Population: 13,310,447
- The population of self-employed: 900,848
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.41%
- Venture Capital investments: $7.57 billion
The joyous city of Los Angeles produces the largest number of engineering graduates. Possibly, under the influence of a big engineer population, LA boasts the establishment of many tech startups.
The metropolitan area has a startup density of 92.3 per 1000 employer businesses.
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Population: 3,340,000
- Population of self-employed: 206,126
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.49%
- Venture Capital investments: $1.548 billion
The startups at San Diego have the most inclination towards the aerospace industry and life sciences. The southernmost city of California has a startup density of 95.9 per 1000 employer businesses.
New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Population: 1,280,000
- Population of self-employed: 70,893
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.471%
According to the Startup Genome Report 2018, New Orleans ranked third in the startup density. Crescent City has established startups in almost all industries.
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Population: 2,890,000
- Population of self-employed: 192,182
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.39%
- Venture Capital investments: $501.6 million
Apart from the beautiful landscape that the city of Denver beholds, there is a big population of the workforce aged between 25-44, that is qualified to earn a bachelor’s degree.
The city of mountains was the 5th most entrepreneurial city of the nation, in the recent rankings of the Kauffman Index, and has a startup density of 92.3 per 1000 employer businesses, with the startups mostly in the real estate business, and insurance and finance sectors.
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Population: 4,730,000
- The population of self-employed: 290,644
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.37%
- Venture Capital investments: $23.4 billion
The global tech hub, San Francisco, is the flourishing ground for many successful tech startups. Renowned for the Golden Gate Bridge, the city has a startup density of 86.5 per 1000 employer businesses.
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
- Population: 2,450,000
- The population of self-employed: 146,118
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.26%
- Venture Capital investments: $297.1 million
The food paradise, Portland, witnesses dozens of ongoing constructions daily.
Which industry of Portland is, thus, the most trafficked by the self-employed? Construction.
Entertainment, Arts, and food services being the other prominent areas of startup activities, Portland has a startup density of 82.8 per 1000 employer businesses.
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Population: 5,880,000
- The population of self-employed: 329,966
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.43%
- Venture Capital investments: $754 million
Atlanta, also known as Hotlanta, is the cynosure of all the tourists for its dazzling nightlife.
This sodden city is the home to a huge number of startups, spread over almost all the industries, and has a startup density of 89.9 per 1000 employer businesses.
Oklahoma City, OK
- Population: 1,380,000
- The population of self-employed: 76,587
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.45%
- Venture Capital investments: $43 million for a single investment
The Kauffman Foundation ranked Oklahoma City as the 6th city with the highest startup density. The startups of the city have spread the wings over most of the industries.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Population: 3,090,000
- The population of self-employed: 157,193
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.34%
- Venture Capital investments: $110.5 million
The city of stunning museums is the residence of many entrepreneurial minds. From warehousing to transportation and utilities, Tampa has ongoing startup activities in various industries. The city has a startup density of 89 per 1000 employer businesses.
Nashville-Davidson—Murfreesboro—Franklin, TN
- Population: 1,900,000
- The population of self-employed: 115,086
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.27%
- Venture Capital investments: $317.7 million
The heart of Nashville oozes out with the soulful country music and devotional church bells and the worth mentioning, startups.
With hospitals and information technology being the most startup-prone industries, Nashville has a startup density of 82.2 per 1000 employer businesses.
Sacramento—Roseville—Arden-Arcade, CA
- Population: 2,320,000
- Population of self-employed: 114,710
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.31%
- Venture Capital investments: $110.7 million
The capital city of California has preciously safeguarded its culture and history over the decades. Sacramento has almost all the industries covered by the startups and has a startup density of 81 per 1000 employer businesses.
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
- Population: 2,510,000
- Population of self-employed: 128,251
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.25%
- Venture Capital investments: $69.2 million
Orlando has an eye-popping startup density of 105 startups per 1000 employer businesses. With such a high startup density, the city is looked upon as the rising tech hub. Industries of mining, fishing, and agriculture are most sought-after by the entrepreneurs.
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Population: 20,300,000
- Population of self-employed: 1,051,859
- Rate of new entrepreneurs: 0.41%
- Venture Capital investments: $7.56 billion
The sparkling city of New York is witnessing rapid growth in startup activities in almost all industries. This entrepreneurial city of the United States has a booming startup density of 86.5 startups per 1000 employer businesses.