Verena Pausder, the chairperson of the German Startup Association, has criticized the gloomy sentiment surrounding the German economy. Speaking on the ntv program “Blome & Pfeffer,” Pausder suggested that instead of lamenting which industries have lost their competitive edge, Germany should focus its attention on what is currently emerging.
She highlighted recent encouraging figures, noting that only in the first half of the year did 3,000 new tech startups emerge, and by September, more than eight billion euros in venture capital had flowed into the startup ecosystem. Pausder emphasized that both figures represent records. However, she cautioned that for these startups to create more jobs, they require additional growth capital and public contracts. Pausder maintained that the reality of the situation is better than the prevailing mood, stating that a new economic upturn is attainable.
In the context of industrial downsizing, she acknowledged that this difficult transitional phase will not become easier if the country continues to look backward. She criticized Germany for focusing too heavily on past achievements rather than embracing new developments. As an example of this missed potential,Pausder cited the aerospace sector. She pointed out, “For the first time, we are able to compete with Elon Musk, rather than being dependent on him.” Nevertheless, Pausder criticized the fact that such success stories are rarely highlighted.
