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
01 · Category
Entrepreneurship Rates1 stats
01
36% of respondents in the 2023 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey reported having high fear of failure preventing them from starting a business.
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
$9.1 trillion is the estimated value added by new and growing businesses in the United States (measured by OECD/World Bank-style entrepreneurship contribution metrics in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ecosystem analysis).
02
US$ 695.6 billion of venture capital investment occurred globally in 2022 (PitchBook).
03
$3.9 billion was invested in European venture capital in Q4 2023 (PitchBook Quarterly).
04
The global alternative lending market reached about US$ 342 billion in 2022 (Precedence Research).
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Survival & Failure1 stats
01
25% of startups fail due to pricing issues (CB Insights startup failure reasons, 2019 report).
Interpretation
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.
04 · Category
Operating & Productivity7 stats
01
Gallup estimated that engaged employees show 21% greater profitability (Gallup business performance meta-analyses, widely cited).
02
Companies using cloud reported 27% higher profits on average in 2022 (McKinsey global survey on cloud adoption economic impact).
03
76% of buyers say they plan to implement new AI features in the next 12 months (Gartner AI survey on implementation intent).
04
86% of SMEs in a European survey reported digital tools helped them improve business performance (European Commission SME digitalisation survey results).
05
In the EU, 55% of SMEs in 2022 used at least basic digital tools (European Commission Digital Economy and Society data).
06
In developing economies, women-owned businesses are 38% less likely to receive bank loans than men-owned businesses (IFC/WB enterprise surveys analysis).
07
Global 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).
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Funding & Investment3 stats
01
$334 billion in US venture capital was invested in 2021 (PitchBook, 2022 year-end venture report).
02
The US received $37.8 billion in angel investment in 2022 (UK/US angel market estimates by OECD/Angel Capital Association—see report).
03
Venture debt market size reached $115.2 billion in 2022 globally (Precedence Research venture debt report).
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
06 · Category
Labor & Participation1 stats
01
4.0% of US adults were self-employed with employees in 2022
Interpretation
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.
07 · Category
Business Formation3 stats
01
The US had 14.5 million employer firm establishments in 2022 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, QCEW)
02
The number of business dynamism (firm entry rates) in the US was 9.2% in 2022
03
In Canada, 348,000 new businesses were created in 2023 (business ownership and entry)
Interpretation
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.
08 · Category
Entrepreneurial Behavior1 stats
01
56% of entrepreneurs surveyed in 2023 said they plan to adopt AI within the next 12 months
Interpretation
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.
09 · Category
High Growth & Outcomes1 stats
01
6.0% of employer firms were “high-growth firms” in 2021 in the US (OECD definition based on employment growth)
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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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.
Sources & references
22 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+8 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)