Austin Tops the CNBC Metro 20: America’s Best Places to Start a Business List

The top start-up mecca in the US is far from Silicon Valley

Jason Ballard has found Austin, Texas, to be very hospitable to his retail store TreeHouse, a sustainable home-improvement store. The 25,000-square-foot facility stocks eco-friendly items such as bamboo flooring, and thermostats that allow users to turn down the heat when they are away.