AI boom provides a boost for start-ups
Published: Friday, Jun 21st 2024, 09:30
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The number of start-ups is rising. And here too, artificial intelligence (AI) is providing a boost.
In the first half of the year, around 3 percent more new companies were entered into the Swiss commercial register across Switzerland, wrote Startups.ch, which specializes in online start-ups, in a press release on Friday. In terms of regions, French-speaking Switzerland was particularly strong (+5.9 percent), but the economically strong canton of Zurich also saw an increase of 2.9 percent.
The economic engine is currently humming and young entrepreneurs are founding companies from a position of strength, explained Startups.ch CEO Michele Blasucci. And the AI boom is also evident here. "Our internal data shows the purpose of company start-ups - and we have seen a lot in the field of AI," Blasucci told the news agency AWP.
Consulting companies that help companies to use AI are also on the rise, he explained. "Currently, one in ten newly founded consulting companies is an AI consultant - in the past, the focus was clearly on SAP consulting." Such consultants support established companies in areas such as automating their accounting, programming bots for initial customer advice or marketing via Tiktok and Co. in order to reach the younger generation.
More young founders
In general, the young generation is close to the new technologies and this is having a positive effect on the start-up sector. The proportion of young founders aged between 18 and 27 also rose by one percentage point to currently 20.8%. In contrast, the share of the largest group of 28 to 37-year-olds fell significantly from 39.4% to 32.8%.
However, it is not only AI, but also the lower interest rates that are driving up the number of start-ups. "Demand in the real estate, construction and skilled trades sectors is high. Many tradespeople are taking advantage of this to become self-employed - a professional sector that can hardly be displaced by AI," says Blasucci. Tradespeople are also in demand in the vehicle and bodywork sectors, which is probably due in no small part to the camping boom of recent years.
According to Startups.ch, the positive trend is likely to continue - CEO Blasucci expects a record number of new companies to be founded in 2024.
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