2021 is the year of e-commerce start-ups

Last year was a difficult year for business founders all over the world. Many had to abandon their plans after COVID-19 hit and left the economic outlook insecure and unstable. In Germany, government measures including financial aids helped the start-up industry to recover relatively fast, though. The number of new start-ups had already increased in the first quarter of 2021 compared to Q1 2020. The development continued through Q2 2021.

A total of 806 new start-ups were founded in this years’ second quarter. This is 213 businesses more than in the same period in 2020. The new businesses range across several business sectors, but many center around certain industries.

Most new businesses founded in the software industry

Most new businesses were founded in the software industry. A total of 140 start-ups were registered in Germany in the second quarter of 2021. This means 35 start-ups more than in the same period in 2020.

E-commerce is the second most attractive industry

E-commerce has become the second most attractive industry for start-up founders. Meanwhile in Q2 2020, it was the medical field which was in rank two of the top ten start-up industries. E-commerce has outrun the medical field in terms of start-up foundations in Q2 2021.

60% increase of new e-commerce start-ups

A total of 95 new e-commerce start-ups were registered with the German authorities in the second quarter of 2021. This means an increase of almost 60% in the number of new e-commerce start-ups compared to Q2 2020.

The number of medical start-ups increased by only 18% in the same period. It is likely that the general trend towards more online shopping – sparked off not least by COVID-19 – is responsible for the wave of start-ups in the e--commerce sector.