Student Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025

The Startup Association presents the first Student Entrepreneurship Monitor in cooperation with the Gründungsmagnet network. Very surprising figures on the start-up potential among German students.

Berlin, May 28, 2025 - The German Startup Association (Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V. - Startup-Verband) published the Student Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025 for the first time today. The study analyzes the start-up potential among German students. Interest in entrepreneurial activity is high in this area, but structural support falls short of the possibilities. According to the results, around one in five students can imagine starting their own business.

While around 3,000 start-ups currently emerge from the university environment every year, the authors of the study believe that there is an untapped potential of up to 18,000 new start-ups per year.

Entrepreneurial spirit meets lack of preparation

The survey focuses on the question of how strongly entrepreneurial thinking is anchored in students and what barriers stand in the way of its implementation. The results show: 92% of students interested in starting a business want to learn new things, 85% want their work to be socially relevant. In contrast, security, regular working hours or traditional career paths play a subordinate role.

At the same time, there is a lack of early impetus and systematic preparation for the topic of entrepreneurship. 84% of those surveyed stated that they would have liked to have been taught about entrepreneurship at school. In fact, only 17% of them had had corresponding lessons or offers in the school environment.

High motivation and entrepreneurial mindset

According to the Monitor, the group of students interested in starting a business shows above-average motivation. More than half of them expect to work more than 50 hours a week if they start a business. In addition to a clear vision and a high level of resilience, the target group is characterized by a strong entrepreneurial mindset and a willingness to take risks.

Studying is an ideal time to promote entrepreneurial thinking - this is where career paths are defined and life decisions are made.

Dr. Kati Ernst, Deputy Chairwoman of the Startup Association

The motivation stems primarily from idealistic values; personal fulfillment, self-efficacy and the creative power in one's own project are at the forefront. The desire to found a company is therefore closely linked to personal commitment.

Role models instead of frontal teaching

According to the study, a key lever for promoting start-ups among students is the role model effect. While professors or teachers are only rarely perceived as a source of inspiration, many respondents cite well-known entrepreneurial personalities or direct experiences in exchange with founders as formative.

The Startup Association is therefore calling for the topic to be addressed earlier and in a more targeted manner, both in school and university education.

About the study

The Student Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025 was created in cooperation with the start-up magnet network. It is based on a survey of 1,006 students at over 160 German colleges and universities between the third quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. The focus was particularly on students interested in starting their own business who can imagine becoming self-employed later on.

Start-up potential exists, more support structures are needed

The monitor clearly shows that the next generation of founders is ready and waiting. However, without targeted support and structural visibility, this potential is at risk of remaining untapped. For Germany as a location for innovation, leveraging this potential could represent an important economic and social opportunity. If only 50% of this potential were to translate into start-ups, it would have a long-term impact on the German corporate landscape.

The Student Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025 can be found at the Startup Verband.