Start-up scene in Saxony with strengths and pent-up demand

There is still plenty of room for improvement for start-up companies in Saxony. This is one of the findings of the "Saxony Start-up Monitor 2025". According to this, the state is on the upswing with 698 active start-ups, more than one billion euros in investments since 2020 and two unicorns - start-ups worth billions. However, in order to keep up with top locations such as Berlin or Munich, it needs more international talent and better access to venture capital, it concludes.

The Saxony Start-up Monitor 2025 is a special regional analysis of the German Monitor. The study was conducted by the German Startups Association on behalf of the Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs. Nationwide, 1,828 founders took part in the survey, including 86 start-ups from Saxony. Commercial register and financing data were also evaluated.

Founders benefit from universities

In Saxony, founders particularly value the proximity to research institutions, according to the report. 65 percent benefit from universities (nationwide: 55 percent). This puts them at the top nationwide. 14 percent of Saxon start-ups are so-called deep-tech companies that develop innovative technologies based on scientific breakthroughs or complex engineering.

The Saxon start-up scene is concentrated in Dresden (254) and Leipzig (234). Their particular strength lies in the areas of software, Industry 4.0 and medical technology, the makers of the study stated. 68 percent of the companies would focus on corporate customers. "This specialization creates long-term growth prospects and makes Saxon start-ups an important driver in the digital transformation of industry."

Massive pent-up demand for employees from abroad

"There is massive pent-up demand when it comes to attracting talent from abroad. From the founders' point of view, Saxony performs very poorly when it comes to cultural factors such as language requirements (22 percent) and social openness (20 percent)," the creators of the study stated.

Currently, only a quarter (24 percent) of founders rate access to capital positively (nationwide: 30 percent) and only 21 percent of employees have foreign roots (nationwide: 31 percent). "Saxony as a whole must become more active here in order to become more attractive for highly qualified specialists from all over the world," the report continued.

State could boost growth as a customer of start-ups

According to Verena Pausder, Chairwoman of the Startup Association, it is now important for Saxony to take the next step. "Politically, this requires a clear course to be set - in particular the simplification of public contracts for start-ups. The state as a customer could give many young companies in Saxony a decisive boost to growth."