Is this the Trump effect? The proportion of entrepreneurs wanting to start a business in the United States has halved in just one year.
When asked which startup founders would choose if they had the choice, only 15 percent now name the USA. A year ago, this figure was 32 percent. At the same time, the number of those who would start a business in Germany again rose from 44 to 68 percent. However, the USA remains the second most popular location after Germany. Just 2 percent of the 252 IT and internet startup founders surveyed would prefer Great Britain and Israel.
Bitkom satisfied with German politics
The industry association Bitkom, which commissioned the study, attributes this shift to the negative image of the USA in Germany since the election of Donald Trump. Bitkom Managing Director Niklas Veltkamp But the results also provide a positive assessment of German politics:
"At the same time, the results also show that a lot has happened in Germany. After several years in which many statements and agendas were formulated at the political level, we can see that action is now being taken—to the satisfaction of founders in Germany."
Founders seek financing and shy away from regulation
It's interesting to look at the motives of German founders for wanting to leave their home country: 70 percent of those who would start a business abroad are looking for better financing conditions. 62 percent believe there are fewer regulations in their chosen country. 48 percent are looking for greater proximity to other startups, 29 percent for better access to personnel, and 24 percent for proximity to potential customers. One in eight (12 percent) of those who would want to start their business in another country cite personal reasons for doing so.
