Austin Ranked as Most Entrepreneurial

According to the new Visa Innovation Index, which examines variables of innovation for its Ideas Happen campaign, Austin, Texas is the most entrepreneurial city in the country, receiving a score of 95 out of 100.

The index was created by Foster City, Calif.-based Visa International to measure elements of cities' innovation on a per capita basis. Those elements are community support, entrepreneurial ambition and creativity.

Houston and Dallas also made the top 10 most entrepreneurial cities, ranking fourth and sixth respectively.

According to the Innovation Index, Austin is a city of self-expression. Ranking 10th in the category with a score of 87, Austin falls behind cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, but remains the only Texas city to rank in the top 10.

Austin ranked 22nd among the cities that are most supportive of the community. Dallas ranked above Austin in the 19th place, with a score of 19, and Houston placed 41st, with a score of 24.
Providence, R.I., with a score of 83, ranked first in the category.

In the overall Ideas Happen Index, however, Austin placed second, with a score of 78. Those scores reflect combined community support, entrepreneur and self expression scores.
Seattle ranked first in the overall category, with a score of 81.

The Ideas Happen campaign, which generated the rankings, is also a contest that encourages 18- to 29-year-olds to submit ideas online for the chance to receive one of a dozen $25,000 awards to help make their ideas a reality.

More here.