OWL Startup Monitor 2023 (Startup-Verband)

Summary

• 183 startups were founded in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) between 2019 and mid-2023, led by the district of Paderborn (56) and the city of Bielefeld (46).p.5
• Only 5% of all financed OWL startups have raised more than 2 million so far, versus 30% in Germany.p.5
• 66% of OWL startups received university support in the past (Germany: 49%), and 83% of them rate it as (very) good.p.5
• Among OWL startups, 71% have external capital needs in the next 12 months (Germany: 70%), but on average only €760,000 (Germany: €2.5 million).p.19
• Venture capital (14%) and business angels (30%) are little used in OWL as capital sources.p.19
• The share of female founders in OWL is 9%, well below the federal average of 21%.p.10

Key insights

1. In Germany, the number of startup foundings was 2,619 in 2022, below the 3,196 of 2021, while 2022 was a record year for OWL.p.7
2. The share of startup foundings outside Berlin, Munich and Hamburg rose from 59% to 67% in 2022.p.8
3. Six in ten OWL startups generate more than 90% of their revenue in B2B, versus only 49% nationwide.p.22
4. 56% of OWL startups say revenues are growing more slowly than planned, and 38% notice more customer restraint.p.14
5. On average OWL startups employ 7 people versus 19 nationally, and 96% plan new hires (Germany: 91%).p.20
6. 57% of OWL startups say AI plays a major role in their business model (Germany: 52%).p.21
7. 95% of OWL startups wish for simpler and faster administrative processes, and 81% see potential in more public procurement from startups.p.24
8. Only 28% of founders rate the region's attractiveness for talent from outside positively.p.27