Where Startups Thrive

For more on startup research and advocacy firm Startup Genome, which tabulated the Surge Cities list, go to startupgenome.com.

Surge Cities, our second annual ranking of choice metro statistical areas for planting and growing companies, is ostensibly about places. But it’s really about people.

For entrepreneurs, what matters is whom you know—also how many you know, how well you know them, how willing they are to help you, and how far you have to go to meet for coffee.

Startup founders with high local connectedness—defined as quality relationships with about 25 other founders, eight investors, and 10 experts—double the revenue growth of those with low connectedness, says Startup Genome, the research and policy organization that is ’s Surge Cities partner. The best way to develop those relationships is through “centers of gravity—places people can meet and build meaningful connections and continue to create value from them,” says Arnobio Morelix, Startup Genome’s