10 Promising Tech Hubs Beyond New York and San Francisco Article originally posted on Globe St. on July 25, 2025 A highly skilled and stable tech talent pool plays an important role in the performance of office markets across regions and the country. Emerging tech hubs and established headquarters vary in labor market performance and opportunities, with hybrid work and more affordable living costs driving population growth trends, according to Colliers’ July U.S. tech trends report. Colliers evaluated the top tech markets based on population growth, employee earnings, affordability and educational attainment. Here are the 10 top tech markets that aren’t New York or San Francisco. Washington, D.C. – Proximity to decision-makers and an educated workforce make the nation’s capital a top market for attracting and retaining technology talent. However, uncertainty in federal contracts leading to layoffs is causing some uncertainty in the city. D.C.’s tech focus is mainly on business-to-business solutions rather than consumer applications, with a significant focus on cybersecurity and defense technologies. Dallas/Fort Worth – With robust job growth and substantial investment in startups, the Dallas/Fort Worth metro has continued its emergence as a dynamic tech hub with high demand for professionals skilled in software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science. Notably, Nvidia is building a major AI supercomputer manufacturing hub in Fort Worth with up to one million square feet of space that is expected to support thousands of high-tech jobs. Atlanta – Atlanta has emerged as a major data center hub, buoyed by its fiber connectivity and power infrastructure, which are driving significant demand for office space among companies requiring high-performance computing capabilities, including AI companies, cloud providers and data analytics firms, according to Colliers. The city also benefits from its strength as a financial services center, which has attracted fintech startups and established companies in the payment processing, digital banking and financial software space. Atlanta has become a favorite location for large technology companies establishing satellite offices as part of geographic diversification strategies, thanks to its lower costs, strong university talent pipeline and business-friendly environment. Los Angeles – The Los Angeles tech sector has contracted over the past few years, leading to hiring freezes, workforce reductions and selective capital deployment, according to Colliers. The market has experienced a corresponding decline in office leasing in L.A., and no significant new lease transactions from tech firms have been recorded so far this year. Boston – Tech leasing in Boston has slowed considerably in recent years, with such companies accounting for only 10% of active tenants in the market today compared with 35% in early 2019. The slowdown has impacted occupancy in traditionally tech-heavy submarkets like East Cambridge, as well as low-rise space in core submarkets. However, Boston’s well-educated population and sizable tech workforce allow it to successfully compete for high-value-added companies, said Colliers. The top three venture-capital segments in Bean Town are biotechnology, drug discovery and business software. Phoenix – Phoenix is another experiencing a leasing slowdown, notably during the first quarter, but Colliers said it expects that to rebound throughout the year. Notably, Amazon is searching for up to 400,000 square feet of space to expand within the market. The majority of the tech companies coming into the market are in the manufacturing space and are leasing industrial buildings. South Florida – The South Florida market has made significant strides in attracting tech companies, but if it wants to develop into a major tech hub, it will have to cultivate and retain a robust local talent pool, according to Colliers. Many local graduates leave the region for jobs elsewhere. However, tech tenants accounted for 15.4% of all office leasing activity in the region, the highest share in more than five years, which signals renewed confidence in South Florida’s business environment and long-term growth potential. Seattle – Most tech company deals are happening in Seattle’s Bellevue submarket, and medium-sized companies with 15,000 to 35,000 square feet are showing the strongest growth in the market through renewals, expansions and subleases. Companies focused on AI are growing at all size levels in Seattle. Austin – Although Austin’s tech sector is experiencing a downturn in employment as many jobs shift back to coastal cities amid return-to-work mandates, the city attracted nearly $3.4 billion in startup deals during the first quarter, a sharp increase from Q4 and a new all-time high. The market is regarded as a top innovation ecosystem, attracting an increasing amount of venture capital and is rapidly establishing itself as a prominent center for AI-related job postings. Portland – Many tech offices in Portland, where environmental awareness is a strong element of the local culture, are adopting green building certifications, using eco-friendly materials and implementing energy-efficient systems. Biophilic design is becoming popular in Portland’s office spaces, and companies are implementing designs that foster collaboration, creativity and a sense of community. Portland’s top venture-capital-backed tech sectors are business software, network management software and healthcare technology systems.