Techstars Pulse of the Entrepreneur Survey: Optimism about the future is high despite the rigorous demands of entrepreneurship
Feb 12, 2025
Last fall, we surveyed a cohort of founders participating in Techstars accelerator programs to understand the dynamics of their entrepreneurial experience. Today, we’re proud to present the results of the Pulse of the Entrepreneur Survey, which revealed a few key themes:
AI is front and center in entrepreneurs’ minds.
AI is prominently playing a role in startups, and there is a strong consensus around its growing importance. Seventy-five percent of entrepreneurs have an AI-based solution or are using it to pursue a non-AI-focused business proposition. An even greater majority (89%) believe that the role of AI in their business will increase over the next 12 months.
While founders grapple with the significant demands of entrepreneurship, they maintain remarkably optimistic outlooks about their company’s success.
In fact, 89% of entrepreneurs reported positive expectations for their startups’ future. Still, the day-to-day reality reveals a more complex picture. Many reported experiencing high stress (78%), frustration (78%), and anxiety (70%).
These mental health challenges may be linked to the intense demands of building a company. Half of entrepreneurs indicated they work over 60 hours per week and another 31% said they work between 50-59 hours per week. With 55% of entrepreneurs saying they work too much, the correlation between excessive work hours and emotional strain is clear.
Entrepreneurs value mentorship as a fundamental part of their success.
When asked about their motivations for joining an accelerator program, 80% of entrepreneurs cited access to funding, while an equally significant 69% of entrepreneurs responded that they are attracted to mentorship opportunities and support from founders, investors and industry leaders. Half (55%) of the respondents join an accelerator for credibility — a factor that can open doors for partnerships, hiring and future funding rounds.
METHODOLOGY
This survey was conducted from November 11 to November 22, 2024. It received responses from 198 founders currently in a Techstars accelerator program or recent graduates from one. Of the respondents who took the survey, 46% indicated that the United States was their country of residence and 12% in the United Kingdom. Most respondents founded companies in Enterprise and SaaS (23%), Healthtech (12%), Fintech (11%), and Sustainability (8%) industries.