small successes

Austin tops new list as the best U.S. metro to start a small business

This is an Austinite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

Austinites whose New Year's resolution is to start their own small business will be happy to learn they're in the right city to do it. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown has been ranked the No. 1 best metropolitan area to start a small business in a new report.

The report by personal finance website The Credit Review touts the Austin area's rapid growth, its diverse economy, and its ever-expanding population as several attractive reasons for its top ranking.

"Austin is a cultural mecca filled with live music and nightlife that attracts talented young professionals and sparks creative ideas," the report's author wrote.

Small business owners in the city specifically thrive in three sectors: arts, entertainment, and recreation. The iconic "Keep Austin Weird" motto still rings true for many thriving local businesses — and thanks to that call to action, many Austinites maintain explicit cultural values around shopping local.

"Given that Austin is the yearly host of the celebrated South by Southwest conference, it’s not very surprising they ranked as the top metro area to start an arts and entertainment small business," the report said. "Austin ranked No. 1 overall for all small business purposes, but its thriving arts and culture scene is especially celebrated."

Austin is also the No. 1 destination for small businesses in the information services sector, the study found. Outsiders don't call Austin "Silicon Hills" for nothing, as the report states venture capitalists invested over $5.5 billion in more than 400 unspecified "deals" in Austin in 2021, which is more than double the amount in 2020.

With the shift to remote work, it's now much easier for Austinites to launch their business than ever before, the report claims. But in order to ensure longevity with a small business, the study suggests launching the venture in a place with the right number of resources and connections.

"The more resources a small business owner has, the better chances they have to succeed," the report says. "This is why, despite the overall shift to a remote-centric world, geographic location matters more than ever for a small business’s long-term success."

Another thriving Texas metro that earned a spot in the top 10 is Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (No. 8). The North Texas region is the No. 1 hotspot for businesses in the "management of companies and enterprises" industry, which widely includes finance and accounting companies.

Elsewhere in Texas, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ranked No. 22 and San Antonio-New Braunfels ranked No. 32.

The top 10 U.S. metros for starting a small business are:

No. 1 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
No. 2 – Provo-Orem, Utah
No. 3 – Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina
No. 4 – Salt Lake City, Utah
No. 5 – Boise, Idaho
No. 6 – Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee
No. 7 – Jacksonville, Florida
No. 8 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
No. 9 – Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina-South Carolina
No. 10 – North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida

The report analyzed the top 100 U.S. metro regions across 10 factors to determine the rankings, including unemployment rates, growth rates, new business success rates, and more.

The full report can be found on thecreditreview.com.

austin small businesses reports

SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts