The difficult economic situation is also leaving its mark on German startups. Currently, around one in ten startups (11 percent) fears insolvency in the coming twelve months due to economic developments. Almost half (45 percent) say that the situation for startups in Germany has deteriorated over the past two years. A year ago, the figure was still 30 percent. However, only seven percent see a deterioration in the situation for their own startup. In 2023, the figure was still 14 percent. This emerges from a survey of 172 tech startups commissioned by the digital association Bitkom.
23 percent see an improvement in the general situation of startups (2023: 30 percent). 26 percent of those surveyed see no change (2023: 33 percent). With regard to their own startup, however, 30 percent have noted an improvement (2023: 36 percent). And 41 percent speak of an unchanged situation here (2023: 44 percent).
“Founders are naturally optimistic, which is particularly evident when looking at their own company. However, the skeptical assessments of the general situation of startups should give us pause,”
explains Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst.
“The federal government has set itself ambitious goals with regard to startup support and has already implemented some of them, such as improving employee participation and strengthening growth financing through the growth fund. Now the economy has become more clouded, and the federal government should expand its startup programs accordingly.”
The AI voucher announced in the federal government’s startup strategy should be introduced quickly. This could support collaboration between medium-sized businesses and startups in artificial intelligence. Bitkom also recommends reversing the cuts to the Invest program for business angels that were made at the beginning of the year.
