An exit is the goal of many startup founders. A study examines which universities founders who were able to sell their companies studied at.
The fitness startup recently caused a stir Freeletics caused a stir with an exit. The founders, who had previously studied at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, raised a "high double-digit million-dollar sum," according to media reports.
In light of this, one might wonder whether there is a connection between the university where founders studied and their prospects for an exit. Analysis of the startup fair Startupnight has now looked at 57 startup exits from 2017 and 2018 and counted which alma maters their 125 founders have.
LMU on the exit podium
The aforementioned LMU Munich ranks second in Germany with six graduates who were able to exit. Technische Universität München also ranks highly, sharing seventh place in Germany with six other universities. Three of the listed founders studied at TUM. WHU Koblenz ranks first in Germany with seven founders. Behind LMU in third place is the University of Paderborn.
Almost every second successful founder (43 percent) studied a business degree program. Following at a considerable distance are computer science (11 percent), natural sciences (9 percent), engineering (8 percent), and communication and media studies (7 percent).
Incidentally, the most common university degree among founders is a master's degree at 36 percent, followed by a diploma at 28 percent. 18 percent of founders have "only" a bachelor's degree, and at least 13 percent can call themselves doctoral.
