Only 19% of start-up founders in Germany are women, study shows #NewsGerman

The share of women among start-up founders in Germany stands at only 19% and has seen a slight decline over the past year, according to a study.

That means when a start-up is founded, the entrepreneur is a man in more than four out of five cases, a survey conducted by the Start-up Association among 1,800 start-up entrepreneurs and 1,000 students showed.

The analysis, conducted on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation, identifies several causes for the low proportion of women, starting from early life phases. Women are said to be hindered by a lack of role models and stereotypes and many find it challenging to balance family and entrepreneurship.

Women still do the majority of care giving work and starting a family often coincides with starting a business.

According to the study, the gender gap is also linked to traditional role models that influence the career preferences of young people.

Women explore entrepreneurship later than men

About two-thirds of male start-up founders already planned to start a business as teenagers or during their studies, while women typically consider entrepreneurship later, as their priorities differ initially.

Around 60% of female students aim for secure jobs, which is a priority for less than a third of male students, showing how societal expectations shape the risk awareness of women and men differently.

Consequently, women rarely pursue start-ups at an early age. Their perspective changes later: One-third of female founders make their decision in the first years of their careers, while another quarter decide even later.

Female entrepreneurship is not hindered by a lack of interest but by conditions that must improve for women, the analysis concludes.

The Start-up Association emphasizes that Germany cannot afford to overlook the potential of women, especially during times of economic stagnation, as start-ups bring new impulses, dynamism and innovation to the economy.