Founding climate in Germany: DIHK warns of significant decline

Founding climate in Germany: DIHK warns of significant decline

The situation for founders in Germany is increasingly difficult, according to a current report by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), which shows alarming trends. As early as 2024, many see the country as little attractive for start -ups. "I am very worried about our location," said Peter Adrian, President of the DIHK, and refers to a worrying development.

The report that summarizes the results of a current analysis shows a decline in consultations for starting a business by six percent compared to the previous year. This is remarkable, since this is the deepest level since the DIHK was founded. The numbers are a clear indication that potential founders not only show falling interest, but also find the framework conditions disadvantageous.

growing concern about the founding location Germany

The DIHK fears that fewer and fewer citizens take the step into self -employment. Adrian stated that this could lead to a dramatic loss of innovative strength and growth potential. "If industry experiences a farewell to installments due to production restrictions and emigration tendencies, it is an alarm signal," he warned.

The challenges are very real. According to a study, start-ups received significantly fewer venture capital last year than in 2022, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia. This decreasing willingness to invest is another sign of the unfriendly conditions for start -ups. While the individual start -up consultations have actually increased by 17 percent, the report painted a picture that this is not due to an improvement in the situation. Rather, it is catching up to the corona crisis that let the auxiliary inquiries increase.

The DIHK also interviewed 952 founders as well as young companies and start-ups to obtain their opinions on the founding location of Germany. The results of this survey are also worrying: the assessment of the founding location is as bad with an average grade of 3.6 than ever before. A "satisfactory" has become a "sufficient", which speaks for the current conditions.

The founders' answers are particularly highlighted by the simplification of taxation and the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles. Adrian complained that the enormous costs associated with the leadership of a company and the thick bureaucracy thicket suffocated motivation to entrepreneurship. This is a clear call to politics to deal with the concerns of founders.

In order to improve the situation, the DIHK calls for a relief when founding a company through bureaucracy. The report proposes specific measures, such as purification of forms and the creation of a central contact point for start -ups. This would significantly reduce the effort for founders and help them to start self -employment faster.

need for action in location policy

The DIHK has the clear message that the need for action in location policy must not be ignored. "The signals for a better location policy could hardly be clearer," sums up Adrian. This clearly shows that not only individual efforts of the founders are required, but also a rethink at the political level is necessary to create optimal conditions for start -ups.

The challenge of managing the founders in Germany today is not only an economic problem, but also an indicator of the future viability of the entire location. If the start -up is downhill, the far -reaching consequences for innovations and the competitiveness of the country.

A look at the current developments shows that not only private investments, but also organizational structures and state support are crucial in order to rewind the start -up spirit in Germany. A dynamic environment for company founders could not only boost the economy, but also help to secure innovative strength in the long term.

political framework conditions

The founding culture in Germany is strongly influenced by political framework conditions. In recent years, there have been various changes in laws and regulations that affect company founders. In particular, tax policy and labor market regulations have repeatedly caused discussions. A frequently expressed concern is the Bürden reduction for start-ups that often suffer in the rigid bureaucratic environment.

The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection has launched numerous initiatives in recent years to promote the start -up landscape, including subsidized financing options and innovation grants. Nevertheless, there is criticism of the slow implementation and the lack of visibility of these offers for potential founders. In its report, the DIHK also speaks of a "" reform "investment climate, which underlines the need for far -reaching revision of existing laws.

economic effects of founding policy

The economic framework for founders in Germany have deteriorated in recent years, which affects not only the number of start -ups, but also on the general innovative strength of the country. A decline in venture capital investments is an established problem that is strongly linked to founding policy. In 2023, the venture investments in Germany amounted to around 6.4 billion euros, a decline compared to previous years, such as the Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate Protection Report.

Current statistics show that in many European countries that implement more aggressive start -up programs that are much higher. In comparison, Germany recorded a founding rate of 5.3% in 2023, while countries like Sweden reached 11.2%. This discrepancy indicates that it is not only due to the number of founders, but also because of the attractiveness of the location itself.

changes in the startup culture

The decline in the start-up in Germany is also reflected in the startup culture. In big cities such as Berlin and Munich, a variety of networks, incubators and accelerators have established themselves on offering support for young entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, many founders report on increasing isolation and a lack of practical support during the critical early phases of their undertaking.

The challenges that continue to exist, despite such initiatives, are often seen as a hindering for creative solutions and innovative projects. In competitive analyzes, other European countries achieve comparable or even better results in the startup scene due to better funding structures and more aggressive investment strategies.

expectations and needs of the founders

founders in Germany repeatedly express the desire for specific changes that would make work easier for them. The frequently mentioned needs include transparent and simplified taxation, access to capital and resources as well as a general reduction in bureaucracy. According to the DIHK report, 78% of the founders want to be clearer communication of funding programs in order not to get stuck in the bureaucratic jungle.

These requirements reflect the desire that the political and economic landscape in Germany becomes more dynamic and adaptable, which would ultimately benefit both the founders and the entire economy.