Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Register

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Register

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Register is a curated listing of various cities and their entrepreneurial resources from around the United States.

The register includes entrepreneurial ecosystems from around the globe. It is an evergreen catalog we are maintaining for those interested in entrepreneurship within specific cities.

Resources found within these ecosystems include Entrepreneur Meetups, Entrepreneurial Events, Startup Competitions, Co-working Spaces, a Makerspace, Incubators, Accelerators, Angel Groups/ VCs, and Newsletter Coverage.

This listing includes an overview of each city, their location, and rating, as well as a link to the original article with more detailed information. Listings are in alphabetical order, with new additions on a continuing basis.

Atlanta

Ecosystem Spotlight: Atlanta

Location: Georgia

Rating: #3 Best City for Minority Entrepreneurs (source, Entrepreneur)

Overview: Atlanta, GA is the hub of the nation’s ninth-largest metropolitan area and the largest in the southeast. It was named as a beta+ city in 2016 by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, meaning it is an important world city that is “instrumental in linking its region or state into the world economy.”

Augusta, GA

Ecosystem Spotlight: Augusta

Location: Georgia

Rating: #8 Top city for startups (source, WalletHub)

Overview: Augusta scores high as a result of its affordable real estate, low corporate taxes, and low average incomes. Well known for the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, Augusta is developing a strong entrepreneurial reputation.

Austin Entrepreneural EcosystemEcosystem Spotlight: Austin

Location: Texas

Rating: #8 Top City to Start a Business (source, WalletHub)

Overview: Austin, TX serves as the Lone Star State’s capital and was named by the U.S. News & World Report as the nation’s best place to live in 2017. Home to major music and cultural festivals like Austin City Limits and South by Southwest, Austin has declared itself the “Live Music Capital of the World”.

Baltimore

Ecosystem Spotlight: Baltimore

Location: Maryland

Rating: #1 City for Business Women (source, Businesswomen Power City Index)

Overview: Baltimore, MD is the largest city in the state and the 30th-largest in the country.  Additionally, it was number five on ExpertMarket’s list of the best cities for minority entrepreneurs. The Kauffman Index ranked the Baltimore metropolitan area 17th in entrepreneurial growth and 12th in main street entrepreneurship, which measures established small business activity.

Baton Rouge

Ecosystem Spotlight: Baton Rouge

Location: Maryland

Rating: #6 Best City for Black-Owned Businesses (source, Blacktech Week)

Overview: Baton Rouge, LA is the state’s capital as well as its second-largest city. Though the city only ranked 143rd on WalletHub’s list of the best large cities to start a business, it made appearances in the top-100 in some of the same website’s other 2018 rankings, the best metro areas for STEM professionals and the best cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs.

Boston

Ecosystem Spotlight: Boston

Location: Massachusetts

Rating: #1 City for Digital Entrepreneurship (source, U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Overview: Boston, MA, one of the nation’s oldest cities, is Massachusettes’ capital and the largest city in the entire New England region. Additionally, the Greater Boston metropolitan area is the nation’s tenth-largest. In 2017, WalletHub ranked the city of Boston as the nation’s 27th-best to start a business in, including ranking number two in the “Access to Resources” category. Additionally, according to a Forbes survey, the city is the nation’s best for social entrepreneurship. Finally, the Kauffman Index ranked the Boston metropolitan area eighth in terms of entrepreneurial growth and second in established small business activity.

Charleston

Ecosystem Spotlight: Charleston

Location: South Carolina

Rating: #47 Best Large Cities to Start a Business (source, Wallethub)

Overview: Charleston, SC, is one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities since 2010 has become a hot spot for startups – including software company Atlatl, which has raised over $12 million in funding. Accounting startup Ceterus, which has raised over $10 million since relocating to Charleston from Michigan several years ago. Additionally, the same website listed Charleston as the 67th-best metropolitan area for STEM professionals. Finally, Business.org ranked the city as one of the top 50 best for women to start a business.

CharlotteEcosystem Spotlight: Charlotte

Location: North Carolina

Rating: #3  best large cities to start a business (source, Wallethub)

Overview: Charlotte, NC is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. Known as the Queen City, it also earned the nickname “The Hornet’s Nest” during the Revolutionary War. The city is also one of the nation’s best for entrepreneurs: in 2017, Charlotte ranked #3 on WalletHub’s list of the best large cities to start a business and on CNBC’s list of the 15 best cities in America to start a business.

Chattanooga,TNEcosystem Spotlight: Chattanooga

Location: Tennessee

Rating: #4 Top City for startups, #2 for Access to Resources (source, WalletHub)

Overview: Chattanooga, once known as one of America’s dirtiest cities, has built a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is the first city in the western hemisphere to have gigabit-speed internet service and has rebranded itself as the “Gig City”.

Chicago

Ecosystem Spotlight: Chicago

Location: Illinois

Rating: #14 Best City for Established Entrepreneurial Activity (source,Kauffman Index)

Overview: Chicago, IL, known as the “Windy City,” is the third-largest city in the United States as well as the principal city of the nation’s third-largest metropolitan area. In a 2017 survey of the world’s tech leaders done by KPMG, Chicago was named one of the 10 best places outside of Silicon Valley for tech innovation. Additionally, the city ranked 38th in the “Access to Resources” category of WalletHub’s 2017 rankings of the best large cities to start a business. In the 2017 Kauffman Index rankings, the Chicago metropolitan area ranked 27th in entrepreneurial growth, 31st in startup activity.

CincinnatiEcosystem Spotlight: Cincinnati

Location: Ohio

Rating:  Best Place in America to Start a Startup (source: Forbes)

Overview: Cincinnati, OH sits on the bank of the Ohio River and is the third-largest city in the state. Both the state of Ohio and the city of Cincinnati are among the country’s best places for young entrepreneurs.

Columbia, SCEcosystem Spotlight: Columbia

Location: South Carolina

Rating: #2 out of Top 10 Cities with Lowest Startup Costs (source, smartasset.com)

Overview: Columbia, also known as Cola Town, is also the home of the University of South Carolina, which was formed in 1801. It is the home of Fort Jackson, the country’s largest Army base providing basic combat training.

Columbus, OH

Ecosystem Spotlight: Columbus

Location: Ohio

Rating: #3 in Growth of Entrepreneurship (source,Kauffman Index)

Overview: Columbus, OH, named after explorer Christopher Columbus, is the state’s capital and largest city, and the 14th-largest in the US. The city also ranked 40th among large cities in the “Access to Resources” category of NerdWallet’s 2017 rankings. Additionally, Inc.com ranked Columbus 3rd on their list of the best cities to start a business.

Dallas

Ecosystem Spotlight: Dallas

Location: Texas

Rating: #11 Best Place for Business and Careers (source, Forbes)

Overview: Dallas, TX is the country’s 9th most populous city and the hub of the nation’s 4th-largest metropolitan area. Despite being less populous than two other cities in the Lone Star State, Dallas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. It’s also one of the best cities for entrepreneurs, ranked 30th in WalletHub’s 2017 list of the best large cities to start a small business and named in Inc.com’s list of great cities for female entrepreneurs.

Denver

Ecosystem Spotlight: Denver

Location: Colorado

Rating: #5 Best Place for Young Entrepreneurs (source, NerdWallet)

Overview: Denver, CO is the state’s capital and most-populous city as well as the center of the country’s 19th-most populous metropolitan area. Known as the Mile High City, Denver actually has an elevation around one mile above sea level. In late 2016, NerdWallet ranked the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan area as the nation’s fifth-best for young entrepreneurs, while the Kauffman Index ranked the metro area as the nation’s 10th in terms of startup activity. By itself, Denver came in at 28th in WalletHub’s 2017 list of the best large cities to start a business.

El Paso

Ecosystem Spotlight: El Paso

Location: Texas

Rating: #19 Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs (source, Wallethub)

Overview: El Paso, TX, located right on the Mexico-United States border, is the sixth-biggest city in the state. The city ranked 58th in WalletHub’s 2018 list of the best large cities to start a business. Additionally, the El Paso metro area was ranked as the 74th-best for STEM professionals.

Fort Lauderdale

Ecosystem Spotlight: Fort Lauderdale

Location: Florida

Rating: #31 Best Large to Start a Business (source, Wallethub)

Overview: Fort Lauderdale, FL, one of the major cities in the Miami metropolitan area, is the state’s eighth-biggest city and the county seat of Broward County. In 2018, WalletHub ranked Fort Lauderdale 41 on a list of the best cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs. Additionally, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area ranked first in the Kauffman Index’s measure of startup activity.

Grand Rapids

Ecosystem Spotlight: Grand Rapids

Location: Michigan

Rating: #2 Best Place to Start a Small Business (source, Lending Tree)

Overview: Grand Rapids, MI, the county seat of Michigan’s Kent County, is the state’s second-largest city. It finished fifth overall in WalletHub’s 2017 rankings. Additionally, another 2017 WalletHub list ranked Grand Rapids as the fourth-best city in the country to start a career, finishing third in the “Professional Opportunities” category.

Greenville

Ecosystem Spotlight: Greenville

Location: South Carolina

Rating: #4 Fastest Growing City (source, U.S. Census Bureau 2015-2016)

Overview: Greenville, SC is the state’s sixth-largest city and the center of its third-largest urban area. WalletHub ranked the city 43rd on its 2018 list of the best small cities to start a business, and the metropolitan area as a whole ranked 56th on WalletHub’s list of the best metro areas for STEM professionals.

HoustonEcosystem Spotlight: Houston

Location: Texas

Rating: #1 Best City in the nation for minority entrepreneurs ( source, Expert Market )

Overview: Houston, TX, named after former Republic of Texas president Sam Houston, is the state’s largest city and the nation’s fourth-largest. Home to NASA’s Mission Control Center, the “Space City” holds the 18th spot on NerdWallet’s 2017 list of the best large cities in which to start a business. In addition, Expert Market named Houston the best city in the nation for minority entrepreneurs.

Jacksonville

Ecosystem Spotlight: Jacksonville

Location: Florida

Rating: #8 Best City for Tech Jobs (source, Time’s Money Magazine)

Overview: Home to several well-known businesses and companies including Fidelity National Financial and Firehouse Subs, Jacksonville has also become known as a great place for new ventures, especially technology startups. As a whole, Jacksonville 48th on WalletHub’s 2018 list of the best large cities to start a business.  Additionally, Jacksonville was 28th on Business.org’s rankings of the best cities for entrepreneurs and start-ups, the top-ranked city in the state of Florida, while Florida as a whole was ranked as the second-best state for business by Chief Executive magazine.

Kansas City

Ecosystem Spotlight: Kansas City

Location: Missouri

Rating: #15 Best City for Startup Activity (source, Kauffman Index)

Overview: Kansas City is home to a number of recognizable brands and companies, including Hallmark Cards, Inc., Sprint and H&R Block. More recently, the area has seen a surge in entrepreneurship and startups. That includes Rx Savings Solutions, a startup that aims to solve high drug costs that have raised over $22 million in funding. Kansas City ranked 30th in WalletHub’s 2018 list of the best large cities to start a business. Similarly, FitSmallBusines listed Kansas City at 31 on their list of the most entrepreneurial small cities for 2018.

Knoxville, TNEcosystem Spotlight: Knoxville

Location: Tennessee

Rating: #4 out of Top 10 Cities with Lowest Startup Costs (source, smartasset.com)

Overview: Knoxville, TN, also known as K-Town and the Heart of the Valley, is the third largest city in the state of Tennessee. It is also the home of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the University of Tennessee, which was formed in 1794 as Blount College, and is known as one of the gateways to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The city is located between the Great Smoky Mountains to the east and the Cumberland Plateau to the west.

Lincoln

Ecosystem Spotlight: Lincoln

Location: Nebraska

Rating: #14 Best Access to Resources (source, Wallethub)

Overview: Lincoln, NE is the state’s capital and second-most populous city, and the 71st-largest in the United States. Recently, Chicago-based venture firm M25 Group ranked Lincoln as the 18th-best city in the Midwest for startups. On a more national scale, the city finished 82nd in WalletHub’s 2018 rankings of the best large cities to start a business. WalletHub also listed Lincoln 78thon their 2018 list of the best cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs.

Louisville

Ecosystem Spotlight: Louisville

Location: Kentucky

Rating: #12 Best City for Women in Tech (source, SmartAsset)

Overview: Louisville, KY, home of the Kentucky Derby and sometimes known as “The Derby City,” is the state’s largest city and the 29th-most populous city in the United States. Yelp’s 2018 Q2 Local Economic Outlook, which measures business success in cities around the country, ranked Louisville 18th overall. Similarly, WalletHub listed the Louisville metro area 71st on their 2018 list of the best metropolitan areas for STEM professionals.

Los Angeles

Ecosystem Spotlight: Los Angeles

Location: California

Rating: #3 Best City for Startup Activity (source,Kauffman Index)

Overview: Los Angeles, CA is the second-most populous city in the country, behind only New York City. One of the most powerful cities in the world, L.A. ranked 11th overall in the 2017 Global Power City Index, with a ranking of number four in the “Research and Development” category. In the same year, WalletHub ranked the city as the nation’s 33rd-best in which to start a business, with rankings of ninth and 30th in the “Business Environment” and “Access to Resources” categories, respectively.

Madison

Ecosystem Spotlight: Madison

Location: Wisconsin

Rating: #6 Best Area for STEM Professionals (source, WalletHub)

Overview: Madison, WI is the state’s capital and second-largest city. In 2018, WalletHub ranked Madison 49th on their list of the best large cities to start a business, with a ranking of fifth in the “Access to Resources” category. Additionally, a list published by NerdWallet in late 2016 ranked the metro area as the nation’s 12th-best for young entrepreneurs.

Memphis,TNEcosystem Spotlight: Memphis

Location: Tennessee

Rating: #4 in the US as one of 2016’s Best Cities for Women-Owned Businesses, and #7 Top City for Startups (source, WalletHub)

Overview: Memphis, Tennessee’s largest city and the third largest in the southeastern United States, is located in the southwestern corner of Tennessee. Known as the Barbecued Pork Capital of the World and considered the Home of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock and Roll, Memphis has developed a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

MiamiEcosystem Spotlight: Miami

Location: Florida

Rating: #2 Best City for Minority Entrepreneurs (source, Expert Market)

Overview: Miami, FL is the fourth-largest urban area in the United States as well as the principal city of the country’s eighth-most populous metropolitan area. Miami ranked 35th in the 2017 WalletHub list of the Best Large Cities to Start a Business. In addition, the Kauffman Foundation named the Miami metropolitan area the most active area for startups.

Nashville

Ecosystem Spotlight: Nashville

Location: Tennessee

Rating: #4 Best City for Entrepreneurial Growth (source,Kauffmann Index)

Overview: Nashville, TN, known as the Music City, is the state’s capital and most populous city. It ranked 47th in the “Access to Resources” category in WalletHub’s 2017 rankings of the best cities to start a business. In 2016, the same site ranked the Nashville metropolitan area as the nation’s best for women-owned businesses.

New York

Ecosystem Spotlight: New York City

Location: New York

Rating: #1 Best City for Women Entrepreneurs (source, Dell’s Women Entrepreneur Cities Index)

Overview: New York is a city by many names – The Big Apple, The Concrete Jungle, The City That Never Sleeps, and many more monikers. Not only is it the largest metropolitan area in the United States, it’s also known as the #1 city for female entrepreneurs and the #7 best city for startup activity. WalletHub’s 2017 rankings of the best large cities to start a business ranked New York 77th overall, with rankings of 36 and 41 in the “business environment” and “access to resources” categories, respectively. According to ExpertMarket, New York is one of the nation’s top-10 cities for minority entrepreneurs.

Orlando

Ecosystem Spotlight: Orlando

Location: Florida

Rating: #15 Best U.S. City for Entrepreneurs to Live and Launch (source, Entrepreneur)

Overview: Known as the Theme Park Capital of the World, Orlando is the fourth-largest city in the world and the 73rd-largest in the country. The city ranked 19th in WalletHub’s 2017 rankings of the best large cities to start a business. As a whole, the metropolitan area ranked 29th in entrepreneurial growth and 22nd in startup activity in the Kauffman Index’s 2017 research.

Oklahoma City

Ecosystem Spotlight: Oklahoma City

Location: Oklahoma

Rating: #1 Best Large City to Start a New Business (source, Wallethub)

Overview: Oklahoma City, OK, is the state’s capital and most populous city. The city is also the 27th-largest in the United States as well as the principal city of the United States’ 41st-largest metropolitan area. In 2017, WalletHub named it the 10th-best for Hispanic entrepreneurs. Additionally, Business Insider also ranked Oklahoma City as the nation’s best big city to start a business in 2017.

Phoenix

Ecosystem Spotlight: Phoenix

Location: Arizona

Rating: #8 Best City for Startup Activity (source, Kauffman Index )

Overview: Phoenix, AZ is the state’s capital and most populous city, and the fifth-biggest in the nation. Despite the city’s size, it’s somewhat cheap relative to other major cities – WalletHub’s 2017 list of the Best Large Cities to Start a Business ranked Phoenix 56th in the “Business Costs” category, well above similarly-large cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In 2017, The Phoenix metropolitan area, the 12th-most populous in the nation, was ranked 15th in entrepreneurial growth and 8th in startup activity by the Kauffman Index.

PortlandEcosystem Spotlight: Portland

Location: Oregon

Rating: #7 Top Places to Launch a Startup (source: Huffington Post)

Overview: Portland, OR is the state’s largest city and is known as the “City of Roses,” because the local climate is perfect for growing the flower. According to Forbes, the area is locally known as “Silicon Forest” because their technology community is growing even faster than Silicon Valley’s.

Raleigh

Ecosystem Spotlight: Raleigh

Location: North Carolina

Rating: #10 Best Large City to Start a Small Business (source: Wallethub)

Overview: Raleigh, NC, known as the City of Oaks, is the state’s capital and second-largest city. As one of the principal cities of North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, Raleigh is a major hub of innovation and research. WalletHub listed Raleigh as the 22nd-best metro area for STEM professionals, while another had the city as the 56th-best for Hispanic entrepreneurs, including a ranking of 23 in the “Hispanic Purchasing Power” category.

Richmond

Ecosystem Spotlight: Richmond

Location: Virginia

Rating: #9 Best Large City for African American Entrepreneurs (source: Rolling Out)

Overview: Richmond, VA is the state’s capital and the fourth-most populous city as well as the principal city of the nation’s 44th-largest metropolitan statistical area. Though the city ranked just 79th in WalletHub’s 2018 list of the best large cities to start a business, it finished 33rd and 15th in the “Access to Resources” and “Business Costs” categories, respectively. Additionally, the metro area ranked 19th in WalletHub’s list of the best metro areas for STEM professionals.

Salt Lake City, UTEcosystem Spotlight: Salt Lake City

Location: Utah

Rating: #12 Best City to Found a Startup (source: Datafox)

Overview: Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah and its most populous city. The region is known for its outdoor recreational prowess as a ski location and host of the 2002 Winter Olympics.  Historically known as the “Crossroads of the West” due to its railroads, mining and heavy industry, it is now gaining acclaim as an entrepreneurial hot-spot.

San AntonioEcosystem Spotlight: San Antonio

Location: Texas

Rating: #13 Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs (source: Wallethub)

Overview: San Antonio, TX, home of The Alamo, is the second-most populous city in the state and the seventh-most in the entire country. The city ranked 22nd on WalletHub’s 2017 list of the Best Large Cities to Start a Business, with a number two rank in the “Business Environment” category. The Kauffman Index listed the San Antonio metropolitan area 14th in entrepreneurial growth and sixth in startup activity.

San Diego

Ecosystem Spotlight: San Diego

Location: California

Rating: #23 Best City for Young Professionals (source: Forbes)

Overview: San Diego is the second-largest city in California and the eighth-largest in the country. Thanks to a wonderful climate and beautiful sights, San Diego has earned the nickname, “America’s Finest City.”

San Francisco

Ecosystem Spotlight: San Francisco

Location: California

Rating: #7 Best City for Entrepreneurial Growth (source:Kauffman Index)

Overview: San Francisco, known as the City by the Bay, is the fourth-most populous city in California and one of the nation’s most well-known and recognizable cities. As one of the principal cities in Silicon Valley, it’s also one of the nation’s biggest hubs for entrepreneurship. WalletHub ranked the city 72nd on their 2017 list of the best large cities to start a business, with top-10 rankings in both the “Business Environment” and “Access to Resources” categories. The Bay Area as a whole ranked second in the 2017 Dell Women Entrepreneur City Index.

San Jose

Ecosystem Spotlight: San Jose

Location: California

Rating: #4 Best City for Entrepreneurs (source:Business.org)

Overview: San Jose, CA, known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” is the state’s third-most populous city and the 10th-most populous in the United States. WalletHub’s 2017 list of the best large cities to start a small business ranked it 70th, with rankings of 13 and 23 in the “Business Environment” and “Access to Resources” categories. The Bay Area, including San Francisco and San Jose, ranked second in Dell’s 2017 Women Entrepreneur Cities Index, and Expert Market ranked San Jose as the sixth-best city for minority entrepreneurs. Finally, the Kauffman Index listed the San Jose metropolitan area sixth in the nation in entrepreneurial growth.

Seattle

Ecosystem Spotlight: Seattle

Location: Washington

Rating: #6 Best Place for Young Entrepreneurs (source: NerdWallet)

Overview: Seattle, WA is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and boasts one of the most famous skylines in the US thanks to the Space Needle, built in 1962 when Seattle hosted the World’s Fair. In addition, the Dell Women Entrepreneur Cities Index ranked Seattle the 10th-best city in the world for female entrepreneurs.

St.Louis

Ecosystem Spotlight: St. Louis

Location: Missouri

Rating: #7 Best Large City to Start a Business (source: Wallethub)

Overview: St. Louis, MO, known as the Gateway to the West, is the state’s second-largest city as well as the principal city of the nation’s 19th-largest metropolitan area. As a major port city on the Mississippi River, St. Louis is one of the state’s main economic hubs, home to nine of the 10 Fortune 500 companies based in Missouri. A 2018 study by Business.org found the city to be the 30th-best for entrepreneurs and startups.

Tampa, FLEcosystem Spotlight: Tampa

Location: Florida

Rating: #23 Best City to Start a Business (source: Wallethub)

Overview: Tampa, FL is Florida’s third most-populous city. Its nickname “The Big Guava” was coined in the 1970s after Tampa Tribune columnist Steve Otto created the phrase as a reference to New York City’s famous nickname with a Sunshine State twist. In addition, the metropolitan area of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, was ranked the nation’s 18th-most active metropolitan area in terms of startup activity by the Kauffman Foundation’s Kauffman Index.

Tri-Cities EcosystemEcosystem Spotlight: Tri-Cities, TN/VA

Location: Bristol, Tennessee / Virginia, Johnson City and Kingsport, Tennessee.

Rating: #14 Best Small Places for Business and Careers (source: Forbes)

Overview: Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, the Tri-Cities is a Combined Statistical Area of more than 500,000 residents. The area is also the home of Davy Crockett, the “Lost State of Franklin” and the Bristol Motor Speedway. The attributes of affordable housing and below average utility, transportation, and health care costs are shared by each of the communities across the Tri-Cities.

Tulsa

Ecosystem Spotlight: Tulsa

Location: Oklahoma

Rating: #12 Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs (source: Wallethub)

Overview: Tulsa, OK, is the state’s second-largest city as well as the 47th-largest in the United States. Once known as the “Oil Capital of the World,” Tulsa is a hotbed for business and entrepreneurship. According to a 2016 survey performed by Thumbtack Journal, Tulsa is the best city in the United States for women to start up a business. More recently, WalletHub ranked the city 25th on their 2018 list of the best large cities to start a business.

Washington, D.C.

Ecosystem Spotlight: Washington D.C

Location: District of Columbia

Rating: #7 Best City for Women Entrepreneurs (source: Dell Women Entrepreneur Cities Index)

Overview: Washington, D.C. is the nation’s capital and the principal city of America’s 6th largest metropolitan area. The 2017 Dell Women Entrepreneur Cities Index ranked it the 7th best city in the world for women entrepreneurs. In April 2017, nearby Alexandria, part of the metropolitan area, was declared the best city for entrepreneurs in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine. Additionally, D.C. landed at 17th in the “Access to Resources” category on WalletHub’s 2017 list of the best large cities to start a business in.

Winston-Salem

Ecosystem Spotlight: Winston-Salem

Location: North Carolina

Rating: #3 Best City for Young IT Professionals (source: Verizon 2017)

Overview: Winston-Salem, NC, perhaps best known as the City of Arts & Innovation, as it is sometimes known, is also home to a number of successful businesses outside of the tobacco industry, including Krispy Kreme, Hanesbrands, and BB&T. The city ranks 34th on WalletHub’s 2018 list of the best large cities to start a business. In 2016, both Winston-Salem and nearby Greensboro, NC made the list of the top 10 cities with the lowest startup costs. Finally, in 2017 the online Verizon newsletter ranked Winston-Salem as the third-best US city for young IT professionals.

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Dave Clark