Startup statistics matter because they tell a story – one full of lessons, pitfalls, and possibilities. Starting a business can be exhilarating but risky. The stats say a majority of startups fail and should invite you to ask why. Was it poor cash flow management? No market demand? When you understand the reasons, you can improve your strategies, spot danger earlier, and avoid known pitfalls.

Statistics help you evaluate risk, refine your vision, and make informed, confident decisions. Treat startup stats as you would any good advice: listen carefully, question what’s behind the numbers, and use what you learn to shape your path forward. Below, we’ll explain the startup trends you should know to run your business better.

What’s in this article?

• What are the latest statistics on startup success and failure rates?
  
• What are the top reasons for startup failure, according to data?
  
• How funding trends affect startup longevity and growth
  
• How do startup survival rates vary by region?
  
• Statistics on startup employment growth and job creation
  
• What does startup data say about emerging trends in 2025 and beyond?
  

What are the latest statistics on startup success and failure rates?

The latest statistics on startup outcomes provide important context about what to expect as you launch your own business. The failure rate is high: about 90% of startups fail. For those that succeed, it typically takes two to three years to become profitable, though this varies depending on a startup’s industry, funding, and spending. The founders’ age and experience level tend to matter, too: founders who have worked for at least three years in the same industry as their startup are 85% more likely to launch a highly successful startup compared with those who have no relevant experience, and the average age of people who founded the highest-growth startups is 45.

Here are the industry-specific success rates in 2023:

• Information technology (IT) startups had the most “unicorns” (privately held startups valued at over $1 billion) since 2016 with a total valuation of $3 trillion.

• Consumer products and services had the second-highest number of unicorns with a total valuation of $1.2 trillion.

• Business products and services had the third highest with a total valuation of $534 billion.

What are the top reasons for startup failure, according to data?

Understanding why startups fail can help entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls. Here are the primary reasons, according to a 2021 business analytics report:

• Insufficient funding: About 38% of startups that closed ran out of cash or did not secure adequate financing.

• Lack of market need: About 35% of startups that failed found there wasn’t a real market demand for their product or service.

• Strong competition: About 20% of startups failed because their competitors outperformed them.

• Bad business model: About 19% of startup failures were due to an inadequate business model.

• Regulatory issues: About 18% of startups that closed faced regulatory or legal challenges they couldn’t recover from.

• Pricing and cost issues: About 15% of startups priced products or services incorrectly and couldn’t manage costs effectively.

• Internal problems: About 14% of startups that failed had team-related problems, such as a lack of necessary skills or cohesion. And about 7% of startup failures were due to conflicts among founders, team members, or investors.

• Poor timing: About 10% of startups that failed launched their product too early or too late.

• Poor product: About 8% of startups that closed delivered a sub-par product that didn’t meet customer expectations.

How funding trends affect startup longevity and growth

Funding can determine a startup’s ability to survive and grow. By looking at funding trends, founders can see what their odds of survival are at every phase of the funding process and understand how industry and geographic location affect access to capital.

Funding rounds

Each funding round substantially affects a startup’s odds of survival, but the stakes increase with every stage. Startups that raise seed funding gain important time to develop their product and prove market demand. On average, 1 in 3 startups that raise seed or pre-seed funding go on to raise Series A or later-stage funding rounds. For businesses that raise at least $1 million, more than half successfully raise funding that is Series A or later. The challenge is demonstrating enough market traction to attract further investment.

For later funding rounds, Series A funding often signals a startup is graduating from validation to expansion, while startups with Series B funding typically start to increase market share and achieve operational efficiency. At Series C and beyond, businesses tend to focus on acquisitions, international expansion, or preparations before an initial public offering (IPO).

The likelihood of acquisition increases with each funding stage. It maxes out at Series E, with about 16% of businesses that have raised Series E getting acquired. But overfunding or inflated valuations throughout the funding process can create growth expectations that startups can’t meet and lead to post–Series B collapses. This phenomenon was visible in the 2022 funding downturn, when many overvalued startups experienced layoffs or shutdowns.

Alternative funding models such as revenue-based financing are also increasing. Though this method can offer flexibility, it’s available only to businesses that are generating revenue.

Funding distribution

The distribution of funding also heavily influences the survival and growth of startups. Here’s a closer look at US venture capital (VC) funding by sector in 2023:

• Software: Software businesses accounted for nearly $66.6 billion of all VC funding.

• Commercial products and services: Startups that sell commercial products and services received nearly $27.5 billion of all VC funding.

• Pharma and biotech: Pharma and biotech businesses got about $21.4 billion of VC funding.

• Healthcare services and systems: Startups in healthcare services and systems received about $13.1 billion of VC funding.

• Consumer goods and services: Startups selling consumer goods and services received almost $10.7 billion of VC funding.

Geographic trends

The geographic location of a startup is another indicator of its access to capital. This is what VC investment by country looked like in the first three quarters of 2024:

• United States: US startups received the bulk of global VC; investment in the US totalled $128.8 billion, four times more than in any other country.

• China: China’s VC investment came in second at $29.3 billion.

• United Kingdom: In Europe, UK startups saw the most funding. The UK’s VC investment totalled $12.4 billion.

• India: VC investments totalled $10.7 billion.

• Germany: Germany ranked second in Europe and fifth overall, with $6.6 billion in VC investment.

The increase in remote work brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has begun to distribute funding more evenly, with secondary US cities such as Austin and Miami seeing more startup investment. Internationally, funding in African fintech startups is increasing.

How do startup survival rates vary by region?

Startup survival rates differ across regions because of factors such as economic conditions and access to capital. Regions with strong VC networks, such as North America and parts of Europe, often see higher survival rates because of better funding opportunities. Stable economies, business-friendly regulations, and ease of doing business also provide a conducive environment for startups and increase survival rates. Finally, access to incubators, accelerators, and mentorship programmes can make a difference in a startup’s chances of success.

Here’s a comparison of how startups fare in various parts of the world:

• US: About 35% of businesses survive 10 years.

• UK: 50% of businesses survive beyond three years.

• European Union: About 45% of businesses survive five years.

• India: About 10% of startups survive five years.

• Brazil: 50% of startups survive four years.

• Africa: On average, 46% of startups survive early on, with Kenya and Egypt holding the highest success rates in the region. But startups in Africa rarely make it beyond the Series B funding stage.

Statistics on startup employment growth and job creation

Startups can create jobs reliably. Although big businesses tend to hire conservatively or cut jobs during downturns, startups add roles as they grow, many of which focus on improvement, customer experience, and solving tough operational challenges. This creates opportunities for a range of different workers with diverse skill sets. Recent job creation statistics show:

• In 2023, US startups less than a year old created over 3.7 million jobs, a slight increase from the previous year.

• US entrepreneurs filed 5.2 million “likely employer” business applications (demonstrating a plan to hire employees) between January 2021 and December 2023, roughly a third more than during 2017–2019.

• Younger businesses in the US consistently exhibit a higher net job creation rate than older businesses; their rate ranges from 15% to 20%, while that of older firms is often about 0% or negative.

Startup location also affects job growth. Major hubs such as San Francisco see the most startup hiring in the US, but other cities such as Austin have seen their startup scenes grow in recent years. Globally, startup investment – and therefore hiring – is also increasing in regions such as francophone Africa.

As the number of startup jobs grows, job seekers should remember that early startup employees tend to work long hours but gain substantial experience and influence over the business’s direction. Startups also tend to hire quickly during expansions, but layoffs can follow if funding runs dry or market conditions shift.

Some sectors are leading in job creation, such as:

• Tech: Software businesses, software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven startups hire engineers and build teams for product management, marketing, customer success, and operations. Tech startups can often scale quickly, which means they need to hire quickly, too.

• Healthcare and biotech: These businesses create jobs in research and development (R&D), compliance, and patient services. Compared with tech, their hiring tends to be slower initially because of regulatory hurdles but accelerates as products go to market.

• Retail and e-commerce: These brands create jobs in logistics, marketing, and customer service. E-commerce startups demonstrate that there’s still plenty of room for growth in the retail industry.

• Sustainability: Startups in renewable energy, carbon offsetting, and sustainable materials hire for engineering roles, project management, and customer outreach as they scale to meet climate goals and investor interest.

What does startup data say about emerging trends in 2025 and beyond?

In 2025 and beyond, startups will focus on the areas that data has shown have the most potential for growth (e.g. AI, sustainability). Here’s a closer look at these emerging trends.

AI

AI is expanding beyond automating simple tasks. A McKinsey & Company report found that 72% of businesses were using generative AI in at least one process in early 2024. Startups are using it to personalise customer experiences at scale, analyse market trends in real time, and refine operations such as inventory management. Generative AI tools are helping founders test ideas more quickly and for less money. By 2025, startups that don’t integrate AI into their core processes might struggle to keep up with competitors.

Sustainability

Sustainability is quickly becoming a market advantage. Customers are demanding transparency, and 51% of Gen Z and millennial customers say they prefer to buy from eco-friendly brands. Investors are taking notice, too. Climate tech businesses raised $51 billion in VC and private equity funding globally in 2023, with businesses in low-carbon energy and transport receiving the most funding.

Digital transformation

Digital-first startups can change course faster and offer experiences that traditional businesses struggle to match. Startups are now digitising everything from customer interactions to back-end operations. About 90% of organisations are forecast to adopt a hybrid cloud approach up to 2027. New fintechs have built entirely digital banking systems with features such as real-time cross-border payments and AI fraud detection and built healthcare platforms that enable telemedicine and virtual diagnostics.

Human-centric technology

Startups are increasingly designing tools to solve real human problems, such as accessibility and mental health needs, with a growing emphasis on usability and inclusivity. Startups such as Calm and Headspace, which focus on wellbeing, have shown how profitable human-centric technology can be, with a combined valuation of about $5 billion.

Overcoming skill gaps

Startups are facing a growing challenge: finding people with the right skills to keep up with the above trends. AI and digital tools require expertise that’s in short supply, particularly in emerging industries such as sustainability. Over the next five years, 23% of jobs worldwide are expected to change because of industry transformation, and forward-thinking startups are tackling this shift by offering on-the-job training, partnering with online education platforms, or using AI to identify skill gaps and predict workforce needs.