{"id":33764,"date":"2026-01-08T16:35:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highest-darmstadt.de\/news\/uncategorized\/studie-start-up-gruendungen-wachsen-deutlich\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T17:39:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:39:12","slug":"start-up-formation-growing-strongly-study-reveals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/highest-darmstadt.de\/en\/news\/news-en\/start-up-formation-growing-strongly-study-reveals\/","title":{"rendered":"Start-up Formation Growing Strongly, Study Reveals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
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\n TU Darmstadt and HIGHEST strengthen deep-tech spin-offs, with Darmstadt continuing to position itself as a research-driven start-up hub. <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
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Darmstadt, 8 January 2026 \u2013<\/strong> A recent biannual study<\/strong> on the start-up landscape highlights a strong year for new ventures in Germany in 2025: 3,568 start-ups were founded<\/strong>, marking a 29 percent increase<\/strong>. Hesse also saw significant growth, with 247 new start-ups<\/strong>, reflecting the same 29 percent rise<\/strong>. On a national level, Hesse ranks 5th among German states<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n

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In Hesse, most new start-ups are concentrated in the larger cities: Frankfurt recorded 80<\/strong>, while Darmstadt saw 20 new ventures<\/strong>. In the city ranking, Darmstadt currently holds 7th place<\/strong> (down from 5th previously). At the same time, the study highlights the strength of research-driven start-up hubs<\/strong>, which includes Darmstadt. With a founding rate of 12.0 start-ups per 100,000 inhabitants<\/strong>, Darmstadt ranks just behind Heidelberg, Potsdam, and Aachen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n Source: German Startups Association & startupdetector <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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TU Darmstadt: Deep Tech as a Core Focus \u2013 Scaling Support Expanded<\/strong><\/p>\n

Darmstadt is particularly shaped by deep-tech start-ups<\/strong>, which often emerge from research and therefore require longer development and scaling phases<\/strong> before achieving market impact. Harald from HIGHEST<\/strong> contextualizes the recent drop in the rankings:<\/p>\n

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\u201c2025 clearly shows that Hesse and the Rhine-Main region are benefiting from the start-up boom. Darmstadt remains a strong deep-tech hub \u2013 many teams from TU Darmstadt naturally require extended development and scaling periods. At the same time, consistency is measurable: in per-capita rankings, Darmstadt has been at the top for years. This also benefits the surrounding region: spin-offs from TU Darmstadt are emerging in nearby areas, such as the Darmstadt-Dieburg district.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Against this backdrop, TU Darmstadt and HIGHEST<\/strong>, the university\u2019s innovation and start-up center, are working to further unlock the potential of research-driven spin-offs<\/strong>. A key initiative is the Company Builder<\/strong>, launched by HIGHEST in 2025 to provide early-stage support for deep-tech teams<\/strong>. In addition, the potential is being further developed in collaboration with FUTURY<\/strong>. Harald<\/strong> adds:<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are therefore working consistently to expand this potential \u2013 together with FUTURY and through the Company Builder we launched in 2025, to provide even stronger early-stage support for deep-tech teams.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n Source: German Startups Association & startupdetector <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n Source: German Startups Association & startupdetector <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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Context: AI as a Growth Driver, Software and Healthcare Leading<\/strong><\/p>\n

The study identifies artificial intelligence (AI) as a key growth driver<\/strong>, with 27 percent of new start-ups incorporating AI<\/strong> as a significant part of their business model. The most common sectors for new ventures are software (22 percent) and healthcare (12 percent)<\/strong>. The study also notes that overall insolvencies declined in 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n Source: German Startups Association & startupdetector <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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Hintergrund zur Studie<\/strong>
\nDie Studie wird alle sechs Monate<\/strong> erhoben und fokussiert Unternehmen in der Fr\u00fchphase<\/strong>. Die Datengrundlage stammt vom Bundesverband Deutsche Start-ups<\/strong> in Zusammenarbeit mit der Datenbank startupdetector<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n

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\n Bleib auf dem Laufenden mit dem HIGHEST-Newsletter <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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