In Germany, more people are increasingly motivated to start their own companies. This trend is paramount during a time of crisis as start-ups bolster innovation, competitiveness, and growth. The motives for pursuing self-employment vary widely. On the one hand, new technological opportunities, such as those created by Artificial Intelligence (AI), serve as motivation. On the other hand, due to challenging economic conditions and significant transformation in various sectors, people are looking for alternatives because they fear losing their current jobs or cannot find employment. To foster a broader entrepreneurial upswing, Germany requires better perspectives for start-ups and a significant reduction in hurdles towards establishing a business.

AI and New Technologies Offering Opportunities

According to the current DIHK Startup Report, the IHKs recorded a total of 143,756 introductory consultations in 2025 (an increase of 13% compared to the previous year) and 27,637 in-depth consultations (up 15%). Technological advancements remain an important driver. AI enables new business models and lowers market entry barriers in many areas. Simultaneously, new business opportunities are emerging in future-oriented fields like robotics, communication, security technologies, or space travel. Technological start-ups, in particular, have the potential to provide significant innovation boosts.

Start-ups as an Alternative Strategy

Technological progress is currently overshadowed by another trend: 36% of potential new entrepreneurs express that they want to start their businesses mainly due to a lack of viable employment alternatives. This is the highest figure in eleven years. In industrial regions, the IHKs have observed increasing pressure on employees due to staff reductions, insolvencies, and transformation processes. Many move from industrial value chains into often smaller-scale service sectors. Therefore, the growing interest in starting businesses also reflects the ongoing economic and structural challenges in Germany.

A hopeful development is that the proportion of women in IHK start-up consultations remains at an all-time high of nearly 50%. About two decades ago, the figure was around one-third. In 2025 alone, IHKs nationwide supported around 75,000 women in their journey to self-employment.

What Start-ups Expect from Germany as a Business Location

The report's findings come during economically challenging times. The current DIHK Economic Survey reveals that companies are evaluating their business conditions as critically as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, investment plans remain weak. For many start-ups, this creates a less attractive market environment.

At the same time, a survey conducted within the framework of the DIHK Start-up Report, which involved 791 entrepreneurs, start-ups, and young businesses, highlighted their concerns: Three-quarters demand faster and simpler processes as well as more efficient administration. Nearly two-thirds desire simpler tax regulations. The third most cited issue is the access to public funding. Additional obstacles include high energy prices and the lack of social appreciation for entrepreneurship.

Start-ups have identified key elements for forward-looking start-up policies: Double entries, media disruptions, and week-long waiting times, such as for tax identification numbers, must be replaced by fully digital processes where data only needs to be entered once. Additionally, entrepreneurship must be more deeply rooted in society and education—by, for example, teaching economic contexts in schools.

Policymakers have already initiated important measures, such as enabling company formations within 24 hours. The onus is now on implementation.