Tech Mecca

Where does Dallas-Fort Worth rank among the world’s top high-tech places?

Startups, patents — we've got 'em.

Two-step aside, Austin. Dallas-Fort Worth has been deemed one of the world’s most high-tech spots. In a ranking of the world’s top 25 tech-savvy cities published by Business Insider, Dallas-Fort Worth ranks No. 11 — ahead of places like Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. San Francisco leads the list, followed by New York and London.

Dallas-Fort Worth is the only locale in Texas that appears in the top 25; Austin, Houston, and San Antonio are nowhere in sight.

Business Insider tapped Australia-based data provider 2thinknow to compile the 2017 list. Last year, Dallas-Fort Worth ranked 28th. The website says the growth of venture capital and technology integration in DFW accounts for the surge.

The 2thinknow ranking is based on 10 factors, including the area's number of patents, startups, and high-tech venture capitalists.

Last year, commercial real estate services company CBRE put Dallas-Fort Worth at No. 10 on its list of the top U.S. markets for high-tech job growth. Close to one-third of the high-tech jobs in Texas are in DFW, according to the Dallas Regional Chamber, compared with 12 percent in Austin.

“DFW has become a major tech market to be reckoned with. Our tech workforce is twice the size of Austin’s and growing,” Jeff Eiting, vice president and co-leader of the technology and media practice in CBRE’s Dallas office, said in a 2016 release. “Tech companies will continue to be attracted to the large, well-educated labor pool that DFW offers, as well as our relatively low cost of living and cost of office space.”

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State of innovation

Texas ranks among 5 best states to start a business in 2025

Photo by Mykyta Kravčenko on Unsplash

Texas' friendly business climate has allowed the state to regain its rightful position among the top five best states to start a new business.

As one of the largest states in the U.S., it's no surprise Texas is big on business and entrepreneurship. Now the state is earning new praise among WalletHub's 2025 list of "Best & Worst States to Start a Business."

The Lone Star State claimed the No. 4 spot in the report's rankings — putting Texas in a better shape than it was last year when it earned No. 8 in WalletHub's 2024 report.

The study compared all 50 states across 25 metrics to determine the best places to start, grow, and find success with a new business. Factors that were considered include the number of startups per capita, job growth rates, financing accessibility measures, labor costs, and corporate tax rates.

The three states to outperform Texas are Florida (No. 1), Georgia (No. 2), and Utah (No. 3). Idaho rounded out the top five.

Across the study's three main categories, Texas performed the best in the "business environment" rank, earning No. 1 nationally. This section compared the states based on its five-year business survival rates, average business revenues growth, and more.

Texas ranked No. 12 in the nationwide comparison of "access to resources" – which covers working age population growth, venture investment amounts per capita, and other means – and earned a fair No. 34 in the report's "business costs" ranking.

But Texas can still do better with its business friendliness to reclaim a top-three overall ranking, which the state last earned in 2023.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report that it is imperative for potential new business owners to establish their enterprise in a place that can maximize their ability to succeed.

"Around half of all new businesses don’t survive five years, so the idea of becoming a business owner can be daunting, especially with the current high cost of living," Lupo said. "The best states have low corporate tax rates, strong economies, an abundance of reliable workers, easy access to financing and affordable real estate. On top of that, you’ll need to make sure you start in a place with an engaged customer base, if you’re operating locally."

Dallas has also proven to be at the top of the destination list for entrepreneurs who are looking for their next venture.

The top 10 best states to start a new business in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Florida
No. 2 – Georgia
No. 3 – Utah
No. 4 – Texas
No. 5 – Idaho
No. 6 – Oklahoma
No. 7 – Nevada
No. 8 – Colorado
No. 9 – Arizona
No. 10 – Kentucky

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