Nr.

Challenges of German Start-ups:

Development phases

Pre-founding

Founding

Build-up

Growth

Maturity

1

Ensuring market demand/potential or meeting customer needs

2.50

2.81

3.31

2.67

2.83

2

Establishing appropriate financial planning/coverage of capital requirements

2.56

3.44

3.26

2.12

1.67

3

Avoiding errors in product and concept development

2.51

2.53

2.92

2.45

2.33

4

Managing and supplying the production process

2.43

2.75

2.91

2.24

2.50

5

Recruiting and retaining new employees

2.31

2.63

2.55

2.73

2.33

6

Flexible scalability across all business areas

2.56

2.66

2.61

2.36

2.50

7

Strategic alignment of the business model

2.25

1.78

2.31

2.30

2.33

8

Asserting against strong competitors

1.75

1.91

2.14

1.73

2.49

9

Sustainable pricing and cost calculation as well as profitability

1.69

1.75

2.03

1.73

0.67

10

Establishing an effective sales strategy and maintaining customer relationships

1.69

1.63

1.85

1.38

1.67

11

Building an effective and impactful marketing strategy

1.63

1.68

1.57

1.73

1.83

12

Addressing discrepancies, disagreements within the founding team, and personal reasons

0.59

1.31

1.86

1.76

1.33

13

Internal team communication and coordination

1.81

1.56

1.37

1.51

2.00

14

Constraints imposed by national and international legislation/policy

1.25

1.19

1.28

1.39

1.50

15

Difficulties in choosing a location

0.69

0.91

0.91

0.94

1.00