Start-ups need an average of 3.3 million euros

According to a survey by the digital association Bitkom, almost 80 percent of German start-ups will need new capital in the next two years. Almost a third of start-ups believe that there is not enough venture capital in Germany.

Eight out of ten start-ups in Germany (79%) will need fresh capital within the next two years, according to a survey by the digital association Bitkom. On average, these start-ups need to raise 3.3 million euros - slightly less than a year ago, when the average capital requirement was four million euros. Around 150 start-ups from Germany took part in the survey. Only four percent of start-ups have no capital requirements in the next 24 months, 17 percent do not yet know.

Of the start-ups with capital requirements, 15 percent have already secured financing. In contrast, 84% are still looking for new money. "Start-up financing is not getting any easier in view of the economic conditions with the war in Ukraine, rising inflation and turbulence on the stock markets," says Bitkom President Achim Berg. At the same time, the importance of digital technologies has increased in recent months. This means that founders with truly innovative ideas still have a good chance of finding financing.

The majority of start-ups are optimistic in their search for capital. For example, 38% consider it very likely that they will receive the necessary funding and 48% consider it somewhat likely. However, around a third (38%) of those surveyed are of the opinion that there is not enough venture capital in Germany. As a result, 31% of start-ups say they are thinking about going abroad.