Switzerland remains in a founding mood for start-ups in 2022

In 2022, around 50,000 new companies were entered into the Swiss commercial register. This data comes from the National Analysis of Swiss Company Formations 2022, carried out by the IFJ, an institute offering support to start-ups. Compared with the record year 2021, this equates to a slight decline of -1.4 percent. However, the number of start-ups is still above the average recorded over the past decade. Many start-ups are also spin-offs from universities like ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. 

Most of the new companies were set up in the canton of Zurich (9,035). Therefore, this canton has recorded growth of +1.9 percent in comparison to the previous year. This equates to six start-ups per 1,000 inhabitants in what is Switzerland’s most populous canton.

At more than 23 start-ups per 1,000 inhabitants, the canton of Zug boasts the highest density of start-ups on a per capita basis in Switzerland. In this regard, Greater Zurich Area member Zug is followed by GZA-member canton of Schwyz, which recorded just over eight start-ups per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022.

Most start-ups were established in the trade, real estate, consulting, and retail sectors. Marketing and communication is meanwhile the largest growth sector with an increase of +15.9 percent. 

The study also reveals that 36.6 percent of all new companies were founded by women, with female entrepreneurs additionally involved in 46 percent of all newly established companies in 2022.

Based on current economic indicators, the IFJ expects an overall slight decline in the number of start-ups founded in 2023, although this should still remain stable at a high level. ssp