Fear of failure still stops 36% of would-be founders, even as new capital and technology reshape how businesses form and scale. Venture capital hit US$ 695.6 billion globally in 2022 and cloud adopters reported 27% higher profits on average in 2022, yet pricing missteps still cause 25% of startup failures. Put together, these signals raise a sharp question worth unpacking across the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- 36% of respondents in the 2023 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey reported having high fear of failure preventing them from starting a business.
- $9.1 trillion is the estimated value added by new and growing businesses in the United States (measured by OECD/World Bank-style entrepreneurship contribution metrics in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ecosystem analysis).
- US$ 695.6 billion of venture capital investment occurred globally in 2022 (PitchBook).
- $3.9 billion was invested in European venture capital in Q4 2023 (PitchBook Quarterly).
- 25% of startups fail due to pricing issues (CB Insights startup failure reasons, 2019 report).
- Gallup estimated that engaged employees show 21% greater profitability (Gallup business performance meta-analyses, widely cited).
- Companies using cloud reported 27% higher profits on average in 2022 (McKinsey global survey on cloud adoption economic impact).
- 76% of buyers say they plan to implement new AI features in the next 12 months (Gartner AI survey on implementation intent).
- $334 billion in US venture capital was invested in 2021 (PitchBook, 2022 year-end venture report).
- The US received $37.8 billion in angel investment in 2022 (UK/US angel market estimates by OECD/Angel Capital Association—see report).
- Venture debt market size reached $115.2 billion in 2022 globally (Precedence Research venture debt report).
- 4.0% of US adults were self-employed with employees in 2022
- The US had 14.5 million employer firm establishments in 2022 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, QCEW)
- The number of business dynamism (firm entry rates) in the US was 9.2% in 2022
- In Canada, 348,000 new businesses were created in 2023 (business ownership and entry)
With fear of failure holding 36% back, stronger ecosystems and smarter tech adoption are driving business growth worldwide.
Related reading
Entrepreneurship Rates
136% of respondents in the 2023 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey reported having high fear of failure preventing them from starting a business.[1]
Verified
Entrepreneurship Rates Interpretation
In the Entrepreneurship Rates context, 36% of 2023 GEM respondents reported having high fear of failure that is holding them back from starting a business, showing a substantial barrier to new venture activity.
Market Size
1$9.1 trillion is the estimated value added by new and growing businesses in the United States (measured by OECD/World Bank-style entrepreneurship contribution metrics in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ecosystem analysis).[2]
Verified
2US$ 695.6 billion of venture capital investment occurred globally in 2022 (PitchBook).[3]
Verified
3$3.9 billion was invested in European venture capital in Q4 2023 (PitchBook Quarterly).[4]
Verified
4The global alternative lending market reached about US$ 342 billion in 2022 (Precedence Research).[5]
Verified
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size angle, the data shows that entrepreneurship is backed by massive capital and activity levels, from new and growing US businesses adding $9.1 trillion to the global flow of about US$695.6 billion in venture capital in 2022 and the alternative lending market reaching roughly US$342 billion that same year.
More related reading
Survival & Failure
125% of startups fail due to pricing issues (CB Insights startup failure reasons, 2019 report).[6]
Verified
Survival & Failure Interpretation
From a Survival & Failure perspective, the fact that 25% of startups fail due to pricing issues shows that getting the price right is a make or break factor for staying in business.
Operating & Productivity
1Gallup estimated that engaged employees show 21% greater profitability (Gallup business performance meta-analyses, widely cited).[7]
Verified
2Companies using cloud reported 27% higher profits on average in 2022 (McKinsey global survey on cloud adoption economic impact).[8]
Verified
376% of buyers say they plan to implement new AI features in the next 12 months (Gartner AI survey on implementation intent).[9]
Directional
486% of SMEs in a European survey reported digital tools helped them improve business performance (European Commission SME digitalisation survey results).[10]
Verified
5In the EU, 55% of SMEs in 2022 used at least basic digital tools (European Commission Digital Economy and Society data).[11]
Verified
6In developing economies, women-owned businesses are 38% less likely to receive bank loans than men-owned businesses (IFC/WB enterprise surveys analysis).[12]
Verified
7Global entrepreneurship ecosystem research finds that 1 standard deviation increase in entrepreneurial framework conditions is associated with about 0.5 standard deviation increase in entrepreneurship activity (OECD/related peer-reviewed ecosystem studies).[13]
Verified
Operating & Productivity Interpretation
Across Operating & Productivity measures, the data points to a clear pattern that digital engagement and technology use are strongly tied to better business outcomes, with engaged employees linked to 21% higher profitability and cloud adoption associated with 27% higher average profits, while 86% of European SMEs say digital tools improved performance and 55% used at least basic digital tools in 2022.
More related reading
Funding & Investment
1$334 billion in US venture capital was invested in 2021 (PitchBook, 2022 year-end venture report).[14]
Single source
2The US received $37.8 billion in angel investment in 2022 (UK/US angel market estimates by OECD/Angel Capital Association—see report).[15]
Verified
3Venture debt market size reached $115.2 billion in 2022 globally (Precedence Research venture debt report).[16]
Directional
Funding & Investment Interpretation
In the Funding and Investment landscape, 2021 saw the US deploy $334 billion in venture capital while 2022 added $37.8 billion in angel investment and expanded global venture debt to $115.2 billion, signaling a broad-based and diversifying flow of startup financing across multiple funding channels.
Labor & Participation
14.0% of US adults were self-employed with employees in 2022[17]
Verified
Labor & Participation Interpretation
In 2022, 4.0% of US adults were self-employed with employees, indicating that labor participation through employer entrepreneurs remains a relatively small segment of the workforce.
More related reading
Business Formation
1The US had 14.5 million employer firm establishments in 2022 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, QCEW)[18]
Single source
2The number of business dynamism (firm entry rates) in the US was 9.2% in 2022[19]
Verified
3In Canada, 348,000 new businesses were created in 2023 (business ownership and entry)[20]
Directional
Business Formation Interpretation
In the business formation landscape, the US saw 14.5 million employer firm establishments in 2022 alongside a 9.2% firm entry rate, while Canada created 348,000 new businesses in 2023, underscoring that new company creation remains a steady and measurable force in both countries.
Entrepreneurial Behavior
156% of entrepreneurs surveyed in 2023 said they plan to adopt AI within the next 12 months[21]
Verified
Entrepreneurial Behavior Interpretation
In 2023, 56% of surveyed entrepreneurs plan to adopt AI within the next 12 months, showing that entrepreneurial behavior is rapidly shifting toward AI-driven experimentation and implementation.
More related reading
High Growth & Outcomes
16.0% of employer firms were “high-growth firms” in 2021 in the US (OECD definition based on employment growth)[22]
Single source
High Growth & Outcomes Interpretation
In the High Growth and Outcomes category, only 6.0% of employer firms in the US were high-growth in 2021, underscoring that rapid job-creating outcomes come from a small share of businesses.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Entrepreneurship Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/entrepreneurship-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Entrepreneurship Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/entrepreneurship-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Entrepreneurship Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/entrepreneurship-statistics.
References
- 1gemconsortium.org/file/open?fileId=50834
- 2oecd.org/en/publications/new-businesses-their-importance-and-scope-entrepreneurship-and-economic-growth_f7b7db6c.html
- 15oecd.org/finance/private-finance/angel-investment-in-the-united-states.pdf
- 19oecd.org/sdd/business-stats/dynenterprises.htm
- 22oecd.org/industry/industry-and-entrepreneurship-high-growth-firms.htm
- 3pitchbook.com/news/reports/2023-year-end-venture-report
- 4pitchbook.com/news/reports/q4-2023-europe-venture-report
- 14pitchbook.com/news/reports/2021-year-end-venture-report
- 5precedenceresearch.com/alternative-lending-market
- 16precedenceresearch.com/venture-debt-market
- 6cbinsights.com/research/report/startup-failure-reasons-top
- 7gallup.com/workplace/236093/employee-engagement-overview.aspx
- 8mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier
- 9gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-07-18-gartner-study-finds-76-percent-of-organizations-plan-to-implement-new-ai-enabled-features
- 10digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/sme-digitalisation-report
- 11digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/desi
- 12ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/corporate_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/what+we+do/advisory+services/gender+toolkit/resources/women-owned-businesses
- 13oecd-ilibrary.org/industry-and-services/oecd-entrepreneurship-at-a-glance-2019_9789264310042-en
- 17bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t02.htm
- 18bls.gov/cew/data.htm
- 20statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/business-start
- 21researchgate.net/publication/374377665_Entrepreneurship_and_AI_survey_results_2023