DSM 2025 Sneak Peek: Geschäftsklima (Startup-Verband)

Summary

• The German startup business climate index drops significantly to 31.7 points in 2025, reaching the level recorded in 2020p.2
• Founders maintain long-term optimism, with 70.5% expecting positive business development by the end of 2026p.2
• 52.0% of startup founders expect an improvement in their business situation over the next six monthsp.2
• The survey rests on a data base of 1,846 startups surveyed between June and August 2025p.2

Key insights

1. Startup business sentiment falls to 31.7 points, matching the level seen during the pandemic year 2020p.2
2. 55.5% of founders evaluate the current investment environment as satisfactory or good, compared to 49.3% in the prior yearp.2
3. 39.0% of surveyed startups report finding it difficult to assess their future business developmentp.4
4. Long-term optimism for a better situation by late 2026 stands at 70.5%, down from 79.8% in 2024p.4
5. 41.5% of surveyed founders expect investment conditions to remain unchanged in 2025p.6