Saxony makes significant gains in start-ups

Saxony has seen a significant increase in start-ups in the past year. According to an analysis by the Startup Association, the number of new start-ups in 2025 rose from 77 to 120 within a year. With an increase of 56 percent, the Free State even leads the field nationwide. The state with the most new start-ups is Bavaria (785), followed by North Rhine-Westphalia (658).

Start-up boom despite economic crisis

Despite the crisis, the number of start-ups founded nationwide rose to a record high. Last year, 3,568 new growth companies were created, 29% more than in 2024. The figures are even higher than in the boom year of 2021, when the coronavirus pandemic provided a digitalization boost and boosted delivery services and financial apps, for example. The reason for the record figures is the euphoria surrounding artificial intelligence, which facilitates start-ups and opens up new business areas.

Weaknesses in financing continue

"Over 3,500 start-ups, a third more than in 2024 - that shows the courage and dynamism of German entrepreneurship," says Kati Ernst, Deputy Chairwoman of the Startup Association. However, there are still weaknesses in financing when it comes to making start-ups big. The upward trend in start-ups was recorded in almost all federal states. At 619, Berlin once again saw the most start-ups (up 24%), well ahead of Munich (290).

Artificial intelligence as a component of the business model

27% of all start-ups founded used AI as an important component of their business model, according to the study, which was conducted in collaboration with the analysis company startupdetector. Most new companies were founded in the software sector (853). Artificial intelligence is shaping many areas, said Arnas Bräutigam, co-founder of startupdetector. "We are increasingly seeing AI where concrete problems are being solved - from software to medicine to industrial applications, it is becoming the foundation of new business models."