Knowledge

An equity story explains why your startup will gain value in the long term. In the early phase, it is more important than turnover or KPIs because these are usually still lacking. Private investors therefore make their decision based on structure and logic rather than numbers.

The year 2025 was a milestone for the German startup scene: 3,568 new startups - that's 29 % more than in 2024 and even more than in the previous record year of 2021. After the weaker years of 2022 and 2023, the momentum is back - and stronger than ever before. A good omen for the new year! Find out what the market looks like and what opportunities await startups in 2026.

To be fast enough so that nobody can keep up. A wish that many start-ups harbour. But the reality is often different: As soon as a start-up enters the market with a good idea, the big players take notice. Suddenly you are competing with players that have budgets in the millions, established structures and market power.

Growth feels like success - more customers, more projects, more people in the team. However, there often comes a point when the energy levels drop: Communication problems, overload, declining motivation. What used to be familiar suddenly becomes exhausting.

Many founders know the feeling: the money in the account is melting away, the next round of financing is not yet certain - and suddenly every month becomes a risk. The investor thinks about it, delays the decision or wants to see „a few more figures“ first. This phase often determines whether a start-up survives or not.

Sometimes an idea sounds so good that you're sure someone needs it! Founders invest months in their product, fine-tune the design, write code, optimise the pitch deck - and then...nothing happens. No customer wants it. No investor jumps on board. No market interest in sight.

When a startup grows, the shareholder structure quickly becomes complex: founders, early investors, employees with stakes - everyone has voting rights, everyone has influence. This is exactly where pooling comes into play.