According to Entrepreneur Magazine, Washington, DC, and Baltimore rank first and second respectively as the best cities in the eastern United States for entrepreneurship, based on entrepreneurial activity, small-business growth and risk.

Two of Inc. magazine’s top ten fastest-growing companies for 2003—180s Performance Wear and Under Armour—started in Baltimore.

The Baltimore area boasts an exceptionally large number of venture capital firms and business incubators. One Baltimore-based venture firm, New Enterprise Associates, has been the most active in the nation for three years running.