July 22, 2025.
– On average, German start-ups need 2.5 million euros in fresh capital
– Only 23 percent consider the capital available in Germany to be sufficient
– Economic situation makes it difficult to find investors
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Entrepreneurship
Bitkom: Lack of capital in Germany: One in four startups is thinking of moving away
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Berlin, July 22, 2025 – A lack of venture capital could lead to start-ups leaving Germany. One in four young companies (26 percent) are currently considering going abroad for this reason. 81 percent have noted that investors have become more cautious due to the economic situation, while only 23 percent believe that there is sufficient venture capital for start-ups in Germany. These are the results of a survey of 152 tech start-ups commissioned by the digital association Bitkom. On average, start-ups will need around 2.5 million euros in fresh venture capital over the next two years. Only just under a quarter (24%) are sufficiently financed for the next two years. “The difficult financing situation compared to other countries has been a problem for many German start-ups for years. Politicians have recently taken countermeasures with initiatives such as the Future Fund, but we now need to step up our efforts,” says Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst. “Our goal must not only be to keep tech startups in Germany, but also to make Germany really attractive for founders from other European countries or the USA.”
Among the startups that are thinking about relocating, there is no clear preference for a destination country. For example, 28 percent are considering relocating to the USA, 25 percent to another EU country and 25 percent to a European country outside the EU. 23% do not yet know which country is being considered or did not want to specify.
Despite the capital concerns, the vast majority of start-ups that need fresh money for the next two years are confident that they will be able to successfully complete the financing rounds. 29% think it is very likely that they will raise the capital, 50% think it is more likely. In contrast, only 17% consider it rather unlikely and 2% very unlikely that they will succeed in raising the financing. Going public is also an option for a small majority of start-ups. 53% can imagine going public in principle. For 40 percent, a foreign stock exchange is an option, for 45 percent a German one.
