Predictions and Emerging Trends that will shape the start-up landscape in 2023
Berlin’s thriving start-up ecosystem has been helped by the city’s relatively low cost of living compared to other tech hubs such as London and San Francisco. This has made it easier for entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses, without having to worry about high overhead costs.
Germany’s start-up scene faced numerous challenges in 2022, but it was an eventful year nonetheless, with six new unicorns emerging and 34 VC firms raising funds. However, as analysts anticipate a bumpy road ahead for the global economy, what can we expect for the start-up scene in 2023?
Anticipating a Surge of New Fintech Start-ups in 2023
Despite the challenges and uncertainties faced by the business community, it seems to hold the strong belief that 2023 will witness a surge in entrepreneurship. While macroeconomic conditions are likely to create market instability, resulting in insolvencies and a general consolidation of the market, cheap capital can no longer sustain inefficient business models. However, venture capitalists (VCs) are still holding significant reserves of capital, waiting to be invested in promising opportunities.
With this positive outlook, the emergence of a new wave of fintech start-ups in 2023 seems optimistic. Furthermore, a highly skilled pool of tech talent will be available in the market as a result of layoffs or business closures, who have substantial savings and are increasingly motivated to start their own ventures.
The hiring of top talent, particularly product designers, has become more feasible in recent times. While it was once a competitive market, there has been an increase in experienced candidates. In 2023, start-ups will need to show evidence of sustainable growth and establish their business models more rigorously. Despite these challenges, it is expected that venture capitalists will place early-stage bets on promising start-ups.
German Government Expected to Acknowledge start-up Potential for Economic Growth
A group of start-up founders from across Germany have recently issued an appeal to the federal government in light of the economic uncertainty. The founders stressed that the government should focus not only on protecting established industries, such as carmakers, but also on promoting sustainable innovation and growth in start-ups to emerge stronger from the crisis.
The appeal emphasized three core issues that the government must address: making Germany more attractive to international talent by accelerating visa procedures and recognizing professional and educational qualifications, mobilizing capital for growth and making Germany a prime location for IPOs, and reducing bureaucracy and accelerating digitalization.
Ignoring these critical issues would hamper a dynamic part of the economy. However, the outlook for policy changes in 2023 is optimistic, as positive signs are already emerging. For instance, the proposed new traffic light system for immigration in Germany is encouraging and has the potential to alter the way that talent views Germany as a place to live and work.
This is an urgent need, and it is hoped that policymakers will give more consideration to these crucial issues. Together, policymakers and the start-up community have a unique opportunity to leverage an unparalleled growth engine, and 2023 could be the year to seize it.
Significant Rise in First-Time Founders Expected in 2023
Both the global financial crisis of 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 have demonstrated that crises often lead to a surge in innovation and new waves of entrepreneurs. This trend is set to continue, as Q4 2022 witnessed more layoffs in the tech sector than in the entire dotcom crash of 2000-2001, resulting in a mass migration of skilled individuals who will likely start building their own start-ups, businesses, and future security.
In contrast to the high levels of spending and inflated valuations observed in 2020-2021, the upcoming wave of ventures in 2023 is likely to adopt a more cautious approach towards business models and profitability.
Climate Tech Companies Continue to Attract Investment in 2023
Despite the anticipated great innovation at pre-seed and seed levels in 2023, many start-ups may struggle to survive a period of slow growth, tighter budgets, and more cautious investors. As the bridge financing rounds from 2022 begin to run out throughout the year, we may see a rise in start-ups either being acquired by stronger competitors or failing altogether.
Although this outlook appears bleak, the climate tech sector continues to offer hope and optimism. Highly skilled individuals are increasingly attracted to entrepreneurial opportunities that enable them to directly address climate change, while investors are keen to support climate tech and energy innovations. In fact, some of the strongest people in Germany are currently transitioning to the climate tech space.
Investing in Climate Tech Solutions for Long-Term Benefits
With COP27 behind us and the rollout of sustainability regulations across Europe, businesses are expected to invest in robust ESG (environmental, social, and governance) goals and climate technology solutions in 2023.
To narrow the gap between sustainability rhetoric and tangible emission reductions, businesses will need to understand their carbon impact and factor this into their 2023 plans. Despite operational pressures such as soaring costs, global supply chain issues, inflation, and a developing recession, the need to address carbon impact remains a top priority.
This emphasis on sustainability is driving growth in the carbon calculations market. As demand for sustainability data and analytics increases, the market’s value is projected to exceed $13.7 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% during the forecast period of 2022-2028.
The climate crisis is a pressing issue that cannot be ignored. Those who prioritize and invest in their sustainability efforts in 2023 will reap long-term benefits for their businesses, both operationally and financially, as we navigate these critical years.
Increasing Demands for Health-tech in Consumer Apps
In 2023, consumer technology companies are poised to evolve from single-use apps into global platforms that can meaningfully assist their customers. This trend is one that we at Clue have been anticipating and actively pursuing. Through discussions with our users, we identified the need to offer more than just period tracking and become a trusted companion for our users throughout their reproductive health journey. Our users’ data empowers them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.
As customers’ expectations for the technology they invest their time and money into continue to rise, companies must meet the high bar set for personalized, engaging, and frictionless experiences. This is especially true in health-tech, where customers demand evidence-based and regulated solutions, particularly in areas such as family planning.
By meeting and exceeding these expectations, companies will not only provide their customers with the value they seek, but they will also establish a solid foundation for continued success in the industry.
Logistics Companies Gain Competitive Edge with AI Integration
Companies that incorporate machine learning and artificial intelligence to merge their proprietary data with relevant external information from third parties such as carriers, customs brokers, and freight terminals are poised to gain a competitive edge moving forward.
By combining historical and real-time data from a diverse pool of sources, businesses can account for a wide range of factors that may lead to disruptions and automatically forecast delivery dates and pricing. For instance, extreme weather events often necessitate freight diversion, leading to increased congestion and delays. However, with access to the right data at the right time, businesses can quickly identify potential disruptions and mitigate their impact.
Automation can also be leveraged across various stages of the supply chain process. At the earlier stages, it can expedite the assignment of containers to specific vessels based on given constraints. Only companies that automate their processes can scale their operations and enhance the customer experience.
Centurion Plus
Are you an entrepreneur, a start-up or a SME with the goal to start up between or in Africa and Germany? Then our team will happily assist you on the legal side! We are specialized both in supporting multicultural businesses in Germany, in supporting African businesses in Germany and in supporting businesses across various African jurisdictions. While our support starts with providing help on immigration and relocation matters, it does not stop there – taxes, tech, intellectual property…You heard us! Contact us today to find out more!
