Not Only is Houston Hot, We’re Up and Coming

Apparently, we at Startup Houston are not alone in how great we think Houston is for technology startups. Forbes announced their Top 10 Up-and-Coming Tech Cities yesterday and Houston was listed #4 above a litany of other great cities. Here is the short list:

1. Columbus, OH
2. Santa Fe, NM
3. Palm Beach County, FL
4. Houston, TX
5. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
6. Pittsburgh, PA
7. Boise City, ID
8. Iowa City, IA
9. Lake Charles, LA
10. Yuma, AZ

How well Houston fared on this list was no surprise to those of us who understand what this city has to offer with its centers in life science, nanotechnology and energy related technology as well as becoming a major center for social media. What will be challenging is how well the city can commercialize innovations and discoveries.

Great quote by Walter Ulrich, chief executive officer of the Houston Technology Center in the piece:

“Fifteen years ago, we had all the assets, but we weren’t really developing them. So all the leaders of Houston got together and recognized that the city needed to diversify its economy. There’s been this tremendous transition.”

Tremendous indeed!