Missouri Cities Rank Best in Midwest for Startups

Multiple Missouri cities topped the list in a new ranking of the best Midwest cities for startups in a report published by M25, an early-stage venture firm based in Chicago. M25 evaluates cities based on multiple factors, including startup activity, access to resources and business climate.

St. Louis, Missouri, ranked 5th best in the study. The region ranked 4th overall for startup activity, and 5th for access to resources and business climate. Missouri’s St. Louis region, and the 2.1 million people who call it home, are a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, recognized globally as a leader in agtech, financial services, advanced manufacturing, defense, health innovation and distribution.

Kansas City, Missouri, ranked 12th best in the Midwest. The region ranked 9th overall for startup activity and business climate, and 13th for access to resources. The Kansas City Region sits on the Missouri River at the crossroads of four major interstates, three major highways, five Class 1 rail lines, and is served by the Kansas City International Airport. This combination of logistical assets offers direct connections to markets across North America and around the world.

Other Missouri cities on the list include Columbia, Springfield and Jefferson City. Located in central Missouri, Columbia is anchored by the University of Missouri. The city ranked 29th overall, 37th for startup activity, 31st for access to resources, and 10th for business climate.

Springfield, Missouri, ranked 37th overall on the list. The Springfield region includes Missouri’s third largest city and metro area. The region is highly rated for its tax climate, livability factors and growth in jobs and population.

The state capital in Jefferson City also made the list at number 54. Located near Columbia, the central Missouri city ranked 49th for startup activity, 57th for access to resources, and 4th for business climate.

You can check out the full listings for 2020 here.

What Next?