From San Diego to Austin and Seattle, these are the 15 best US cities to launch a startup

Entrepreneurship score: 81.34 Startup density: 7.8% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.7% Percentage of self-employed workers: 8.6% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 79.8% The Twin Cities don't just have startup accelerators or incubators — they have Twin Cities Startup Week, which gives entrepreneurs a chance to network and learn from one another.Entrepreneurship score: 81.75 Startup density: 10.3% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.6% Percentage of self-employed workers: 8.9% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 76.9% In the growing world of fintech, Charlotte has emerged as the new industry's capital, with companies like LendingTree setting up headquarters there. But it's a great place for startups, too: the Charlotte Angel Fund is one of many Charlotte-based accelerators.Entrepreneurship score: 82.35 Startup density: 10.1% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.7% Percentage of self-employed workers: 10.7% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 76.1% Atlanta is no stranger to big business: both Coca-Cola and Delta have their headquarters there. But Atlanta is also home to incubators like Atlanta Technology Village for new startups.Entrepreneurship score: 82.41 Startup density: 9.9% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.7% Percentage of self-employed workers: 9.9% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 80.0% The Arizona Commerce Authority offers startups the Angel Investment Tax Credit, which amounts to a total of $2.5 million every year.Entrepreneurship score: 82.7 Startup density: 10.3% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.7% Percentage of self-employed workers: 12.0% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 74.5% According to a 2016 study by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the city has the second-highest concentration of science and engineering professionals in the country.Entrepreneurship score: 83.37 Startup density: 9.2% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.7% Percentage of self-employed workers: 8.7% Reason for starting a business isn't lack of work: 81.1% You've heard of Silicon Valley, but what about Silicon Prairie? That's the nickname Kansas City earned for its startup culture, which includes LaunchKC, a local startup accelerator.Entrepreneurship score: 83.79 Startup density: 8.1% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.6% Percentage of self-employed workers: 8.5% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 79.3% Several Boston-area universities have their own startup accelerators. For example, MIT has the LaunchX Summer Program, and Harvard has the Harvard i-lab.Entrepreneurship score: 84.59 Startup density: 11.2% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.5% Percentage of self-employed workers: 14.5% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 72.1% Miami is home to several organizations helping startups, including a branch of the Silicon Valley-based accelerator 500 Startups and the University of Miami's accelerator, the Launch Pad.Entrepreneurship score: 85.22 Startup density: 9.7% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.7% Percentage of self-employed workers: 11.0% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 79.6% These three bordering cities are gaining notoriety as the Silicon Forest thanks to their numerous startups and incubators. One incubator, VertueLab, only invests in startups with a positive impact on the environment.Entrepreneurship score: 85.24 Startup density: 9.3% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.6% Percentage of self-employed workers: 7.9% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 79.2% According to Volusion, Raleigh's combination of universities (North Carolina State University, Duke University) and accelerators (Triangle Investor Alliance, Wolfpack Investor Network) make it ideal for startups.Entrepreneurship score: 88.32 Startup density: 10.8% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.6% Percentage of self-employed workers: 11.0% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 77.9% According to online startup community Built In Colorado, the legal cannabis industry is gaining traction both with the number of startups and consumers.Entrepreneurship score: 89.25 Startup density: 9.7% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 1.1% Percentage of self-employed workers: 10.6% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 80.4% Nashville may be known for country music, but it's becoming a hub for healthcare startups, including healthcare insurance startup Clover Health.Entrepreneurship score: 90.77 Startup density: 10.1% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 1.7% Percentage of self-employed workers: 8.7% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 72.4% San Jose has plenty of programs to get your startup off the ground, like the Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship for students at San Jose State University.Entrepreneurship score: 93.03 Startup density: 11.6% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 0.5% Percentage of self-employed workers: 10.8% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 80.0% According to Volusion, Austin has the third-highest startup density in the country.Entrepreneurship score: 99.20 Startup density: 10.0% Percentage of firms receiving venture capital investment: 1.9% Percentage of self-employed workers: 9.7% Reason for starting business isn't lack of work: 77.5% Seattle's government is very supportive of startups. The Only in Seattle initiative grants seed money and provides consulting to startups in local business districts.

From San Diego to Austin and Seattle, these are the 15 best US cities to launch a startup

15. Minneapolis – St. Paul – Bloomington (Minnesota and Wisconsin)

14. Charlotte – Concord – Gastonia area (North Carolina and South Carolina)

13. Atlanta – Sandy Springs – Roswell area (Georgia)

12. Phoenix – Mesa – Scottsdale area (Arizona)

11. San Diego – Carlsbad area (California)

10. Kansas City (Missouri and Kansas)

9. Boston – Cambridge – Newton area (Massachusetts and New Hampshire)

8. Miami – Fort Lauderdale – West Palm Beach area (Florida)

7. Portland – Vancouver – Hillsboro area (Oregon and Washington)

6. Raleigh (North Carolina)

5. Denver – Aurora – Lakewood area (Colorado)

4. Nashville – Davidson – Murfreesboro – Franklin area (Tennessee)

3. San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara area (California)

2. Austin – Round Rock (Texas)

1. Seattle – Tacoma – Bellevue area (Washington)