What Are The Biggest Startup Hubs In The USA?

The US has long been at the heart of the global startup world. It’s the birthplace of companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta.

And if that isn’t an impressive line-up, we don’t know what is.

According to Wikipedia, the US is the country with the most unicorns in the world, with an impressive 1,050. That’s 2.29 unicorns per million people.

But whilst Silicon Valley, California has long been named one of the best tech-hubs in the world, other parts of the US are setting out to make their own stamp on the global startup stage…and many of them are doing a very good job.

Why Does The US Have So Many Startup Hubs?

The US has so many startup hubs for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the country is geographically very big, so it wouldn’t make sense for all of the activity to be condensed into one area.

Secondly, the US tax system works on a federal and state level, this means some states are able to adjust their corporate taxes to attract more entrepreneurs and businesses. This means that different hubs compete in different ways, attracting startups and businesses in all different directions.

So, where are some of the best tech hubs in the US?

New York City, New York

New York’s tech and startup sector has long-dominated the East Coast of America.

With a tech industry that competes in areas like fintech, fashion, cybersecurity and media, it’s a densely populated city full of some of the country’s best tech talent.

Combine that with its 5 hour time different from Europe, and it’s a great city for startups with global ambitions.

Austin, Texas

Austin is a more recent startup hub that has developed its own collection of high-achieving companies. In fact, Austin is home to Silicon Hills, the nickname for the tech hub near the city.

With considerably lower costs than rivals like New York and Silicon Valley, as well as a business friendly environment and a lot of government innovation support, Austin is solidifying itself as one of the biggest US tech hubs in the deep south.

Miami, Florida

Up next? Welcome to Miami.

According to Krowdspring, The Kauffman Index recently named Miami the most entrepreneurial city in the U.S., with the country’s highest startup density, 107.8 startups per 100,000 people.

Miami has recently seen a huge influx of entrepreneurs due to its tax benefits, which include no state income tax and low corporate taxes. With more affordable costs than other hubs and a big influx of young, highly educated Americans, Miami is slowly becoming a hotspot of innovation.

Los Angeles, California

Located in the same state as Silicon Valley (but a solid 5 hour drive away), Los Angeles has established itself as a startup hub of its own.

Previously known for being the centre of the world’s film industry, LA also has a growing number of VC firms, investors and entrepreneurs looking to build on its doorstep.

The city is also home to universities like UCLA and USC, meaning it produces highly educated and technically strong talent.

Boston, Massachusetts

Home to Harvard and MIT, Boston is a city with a strong presence in science, AI and fintech.

In addition to this, Boston has a big venture capital network. In fact, a report by the US Chamber of Commerce and 1776 ranked Boston as the number 1 U.S. city to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. (Boston Gov).

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is home to some impressive names, including Microsoft, Google and Visa. No surprise then that it is also attracting a wave of startups.

According to KnowAtlanta, the metro city is home to 700 technology companies and has been called “The Technology City of the South.”

And with universities like Georgia Tech, Emory and Georgia State on its doorstep, it’s a great city for growing companies to access some of the US’ best talent.