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Start-up boom in Germany: Courageous founders defy the crisis!
The number of start-ups in Germany is increasing despite the crisis. In 2024, 2,766 new companies were founded, especially in the software sector.
Start-up boom in Germany: Courageous founders defy the crisis!
The number of start-ups in Germany is recording a pleasing increase, despite the ongoing financing crisis. A total of 2,766 growth companies were founded in 2024, an increase of around 11% compared to the 2,498 founded in 2023. This data comes from the Startup Association, which has noted a positive recovery in start-up numbers from the declines of previous years.
What is particularly striking is that over 20% of start-ups (618 in total) are in the software sector, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence. Although the start-up level of 2022 was slightly exceeded, it remains below the peak value of 2021, when almost 3,200 new start-ups were recorded. The number of bankruptcies has also increased since 2021, particularly among online retailers that are suffering from the current economic downturn.
Regional priorities and future forecasts
Most start-ups in 2024 focused on metropolises such as Berlin (498), Munich (203) and Hamburg (161). Heidelberg has the highest rate with a start-up rate of 13.5 per 100,000 inhabitants and is followed by Munich and Berlin. University cities such as Aachen, Darmstadt and Potsdam take fourth to sixth place.
The German start-up scene benefited from digitalization and low interest rates during the pandemic. However, investors held back in 2023 due to rising inflation and interest rates, leading to a decline in investments and job cuts. Nevertheless, forecasts from KfW and EY indicate an imminent recovery in financing options for start-ups in the current year, which lays the foundation for further growth.
In a broader context, this emphasizes Manager Magazine that entrepreneurship in Europe is a challenging journey and only a few companies led by outstanding founders are successful. In order to remain competitive, Europe needs more founders who dare to take the step into self-employment. Investors play a crucial role in directing capital across borders to the right talent, of which there is both talent and available capital in Europe. Currently, it is highlighted as a good time to found, invest in or join a start-up in Europe. The launch of new funds is seen as support for such projects.
The dynamic development in the start-up landscape shows that, despite existing challenges and an uncertain financing landscape, there is potential for good growth and innovation.