The Most Important Startup Statistics for 2025

The most recent data shows that the US experienced a substantial rise in home-based startup foundations, and many companies found alternative solutions for interacting with existing and prospective customers.

Furthermore, research tells us that people of all ages start new businesses and that startup failure rates significantly vary among them.

Key Startup Statistics for 2025 – Editor’s Choice

• SpaceX is the world’s highest-valued startup, with a worth of more than $350 billion in 2025.
• The United States is home to more than 33.3 million small businesses in 2025.
• 4% of entrepeneurs started up their business in 2024 with less than $50,000.
• 40% of American startups have at least one woman in an executive position.
• More than 65% of small businesses reported profits in 2024.

Around 50% of American entrepreneurs start their businesses at home.

(US Small Business Administration)

Approximately half of all small businesses start from home - that’s more than 16 million companies.

Only 50% of businesses with employees survive past the first five years.

(Commerce Institute)

The number of businesses continuing operations drops considerably over time: Four out of five make it through the first year, while seven out of 10 survive the first two years. Half of them are still around after the fifth year, while only about 30% are in business after a decade.

On average, approximately 25% of employer small businesses survive more than 15 years.

In general, small business failure statistics indicate that most businesses cease operations because they fail to find the right market and run out of funds.

35% of American small businesses couldn’t fill their vacancies in December of 2024.

(NFIB)

The latest report found that over 55% of small business owners hired or tried hiring new employees in the last month of the previous year. 

A 50-year-old startup founder is three times more likely to succeed than a 30- or 20-year-old founder.

(Kellogg Insight)

Successfully executing strategies and creating value gets easier with more experience. Being comfortable enough to lead and understanding precisely what not to do is vital.

Therefore, a 50-year-old is more than twice as likely to achieve success as a 30-year-old founder, demonstrating that experience is one of the critical factors for creating and managing a thriving business.

SpaceX is the world’s highest-valued unicorn startup, worth around $350 billion in 2025.

(Dynamic Business)

Bytedance, a Chinese-based artificial intelligence and tech company, is now in the second place with a $300 billion valuation.

29% of startups fail because they cannot secure the necessary funds. 

(CB Insights)

A good business idea is mostly about responding to unmet demand and following that up with enough cash to stay afloat.

In 2024, another big reason that business owners stated was misaligned selling a misaligned product that did not fit the market.

According to a recent survey, more than 65% of small businesses reported profits in 2024.

(Guidant Financial)

What's more, 77% of small business owners stated that they expect their business to survive today's economy.

77% of startups rely on personal savings for their initial funds.

(Gallup)

American entrepreneurs continue to rely on their personal funds when starting businesses. Only a negligible percentage of small businesses (0.05%) resort to venture capital.

Only 4% of entrepeneurs started up their business in 2024 with less than $50,000.

(Guidant Financial)

The latest data showed that 27% startup owners stated that the costs of opening their businesss were between $50k and $175k.

In 2024, retail dominated the US startup market, making for 16% of new businesses.

(Guidant Financial)

Restaurants and other food-related companies are next, comprising 13% of startups, followed by health, beauty and fitness startups at 12%.

45.6% of unicorn startups in 2024 were focused on developing AI.

(CB Insights)

This staggering number indicates just how much of a push into the artifical intelligence market there was last year.

Immigrant entrepreneurs created around 25% of tech and science startups in the US.

(Forbes)

Immigrants have started 55% of businesses (319 of 582) worth at least $1 billion. Lastly, 80% of US unicorn companies feature at least one immigrant among the founders or assuming some pivotal role in the business.

81% of American startup owners work overtime. 

(Fundera)

Small business owners typically work longer hours than their employees. In addition to staying late after work, a recent study found that 89% of small business owners also regularly work on weekends. Most startup owners report working between 40 and 49 hours per week, with 81% saying they often work nights.

There are 82,583 startups in the US in 2025.

(Startup Ranking)

India follows in the far second place with 17,678 startups, the United Kingdom comes in third with 7,578 startups.

Global venture funding was up by 3% in 2024.

(Crunchbase)

The latest data shows a slight increase from $304 billion in 2023 to $314 by the end of 2024, and the rise was fueled mostly by AI.

57% of total global venture funding went to the US in 2024.

(Crunchbase)

This was a significant increase from 48% just a year before.

Almost 30% of US tech unicorn startups in 2024 were unprofitable.

(Silicon Valley Bank)

The percentage almost doubled from 2023, with more and more companies becoming "zombiecorns", either shrinking or being unprofitable.

The Bottom Line

Small businesses play an enormous role in the national economy and development, making up almost 100% of American companies.

Making a startup succeed requires various skills, good predictions, a well-thought-out business plan for continuous results, and plenty of luck.

Choosing the right investor is essential, too.