OpenVC, a platform that helps tech founders connect with the right investors, recently published a list of the 15 best cities for startups in the United States. By evaluating each city across the five factors that matter most to early-stage teams—funding environment, affordability, ecosystem and support, talent pool, and quality of life—and scoring them on a 1–10 scale before combining those scores into a total out of 50, the authors were able to identify those cities that best met fundamental startup criteria. Excluded from the survey were
Silicon Valley and New York City, whose ecosystems are in a league of their own.
So, what are the 15 cities in the US best suited for startups in 2026? Click on and scroll through this gallery to find out.