There are many metrics you could use, as you and a couple other commenters have suggested, including the diverse verticals in NYC. In the end we made the claim

There are many metrics you could use, as you and a couple other commenters have suggested, including the diverse verticals in NYC. In the end we made the claim based on deal volume + total amount, using that as a proxy for company formation and growth, both now and into the future. New York is WAY behind Bay Area but ahead of New England and the Northwest. (The CB Insights/Money Tree data goes by regions.) Here's the report: https://www.cbinsights.com/reports/CB-Insights_MoneyTree-Q4-2017.pdf https://www.cbinsights.com/reports/CB-Insights_MoneyTree-Q4-...