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The trade registrations in Berlin have recorded a remarkable increase in the first half of 2023. According to a recent press release from the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office, a total of 21,551 trades were registered with Berlin's business offices, a 3.2 percent increase over the same period last year
Varied picture of trade activity
The report shows a dynamic range of commercial activities in the German capital. The economic section "Trade; maintenance and repair of motor vehicles" recorded the most activity with 4,121 registrations, followed by the construction sector with 3,390 registrations. Also significant numbers were recorded in the "provision of professional, scientific and technical services" section, with 2,835 business registrations.
At the same time, however, the number of business deregistrations also increased by 3.3 percent year-on-year to 16,546, with a number of 3,224 deregistrations recorded in the "Trade; maintenance and repair of motor vehicles" sector and 2,857 in the construction sector.
New establishments and complete tasks
An impressive 91.9 percent of business registrations were new businesses, indicating a continued interest in entrepreneurial activity. A total of 19,795 businesses were newly established. In contrast, 91.0 percent of deregistered establishments ceased operations entirely, representing 15,049 establishments.
Gender and nationality of traders
An interesting picture emerges with regard to the gender and nationality of traders. One third of the total of 16,279 sole proprietorships were registered by female entrepreneurs, an increase of 8.7 percent compared to the previous year. Among the deregistered sole proprietorships, women accounted for 30.6 percent.
It is also striking that a considerable proportion of business registrations and deregistrations came from foreign traders. 43.0 percent of the registrations and 39.3 percent of the deregistrations of sole traders were accounted for by this group.
Multiple economic sections
The business registrations are distributed among various economic sections. Construction is strongly represented with 3,390 registrations, followed by "Trade; maintenance and repair of motor vehicles" with 4,121 registrations. Other significant economic sections include "Professional, scientific and technical services" and "Other economic services."
Conclusion
The business registrations in Berlin in the first half of 2023 paint a positive picture of economic activity and entrepreneurial commitment. The increase in new businesses, particularly by women and foreign traders, reflects the diversity and dynamism of Berlin's economy. This trend could point to a positive economic future for the city, although a continued supportive infrastructure for startups and entrepreneurship remains important.
Press photographers have several options for sending their images to editors. The choice often depends on the technology and preferences of the parties involved. Here are some of the most common methods:
Digital transmission: This is the most common method today. Press photographers take their photos with high-quality digital cameras and then transmit the images to editors via the Internet. They can upload the photos either by e-mail, via special online image services or via cloud storage platforms and provide the editors with the link.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Some newsrooms provide FTP access to photographers. This allows photographers to upload their images directly to the newsroom's server. This allows for faster and more efficient transfer of large image files.
Press agencies: press photographers can also sell their photos to press agencies. These agencies act as intermediaries and then offer the images to various editors and media companies. The agencies handle the distribution and sale of the photos and give the photographer a share of the proceeds.
Image editing systems:
Some media companies and editorial departments use special image editing systems to which photographers can upload their images directly. These systems allow editors to quickly review and select images.
Personal delivery: In some cases, press photographers may deliver their images to editors in person. This is often done for urgent or high-value shoots where speed of transmission is of the essence.
It is important that the images are of high quality and often include captions, location, date and the photographer's name to ensure proper attribution and use. Specific methods may vary by region and media landscape.
The German startup world could be on the verge of a groundbreaking change as the German cabinet is expected to pass the Future Financing Act tomorrow. This law brings with it significant innovations in the area of employee equity participation. According to a recent survey commissioned by the digital association Bitkom, three out of four startups hope that the new regulations will make employee ownership more attractive.
Currently, 38 percent of the startups surveyed offer their employees the opportunity to share in the company's financial success. An impressive 48 percent of the companies surveyed can imagine introducing such employee share ownership schemes in the future. Only 6 percent of respondents are fundamentally opposed to the concept.
The survey reveals that 73 percent of startups would benefit from improved employee ownership plans. These are considered important for a variety of reasons: 87 percent of respondents would like to additionally motivate their workforce to make an active contribution to the company's success. A further 77 percent see them as a way of retaining employees in the company over the long term. Similarly, 63 percent of startups have been able to attract personnel on the basis of such shareholdings who would otherwise be difficult to recruit because of their salary expectations.
The current participation models show that virtual shares (33 percent) are currently the most frequently used, followed by share options (6 percent) and real shares (3 percent). Among the startups that already offer employee shares, executives are involved in 37 percent of cases. In 36 percent of the companies, selected employees participate alongside executives. In 27 percent of cases, all employees even receive a share.
The planned solution to the problem of so-called "dry income" is particularly encouraging. In the future, taxes will only be due when employees can actually realize profits from their shareholdings. Previously, taxes were already levied when employees changed employers, which affected the attractiveness of employee share ownership.
However, there are also critical voices. The planned flat tax rate of 25 percent was removed from the government draft, which raises uncertainties about the exact tax burden. This issue is to be clarified in the further parliamentary process.
The survey makes clear that many startups have so far refrained from employee share ownership, primarily because of the bureaucratic burden (30 percent), the complicated legal situation (27 percent) and the lack of tax appeal (26 percent). Despite these obstacles, 48 percent of respondents see the possibility of employee ownership as promising and could envision using this option in the future.
With the upcoming Future Financing Act, employee ownership in the startup scene could finally get the boost it deserves. The expected regulations could not only boost corporate success, but also help to retain highly qualified employees at the up-and-coming companies in the long term.
In recent years, advancing technology developments have fundamentally changed a wide range of industries, and the world of public relations (PR) is no exception. An up-and-coming AI startup from Rostock, Germany, has set out to revolutionize the way PR is done. This company has managed to use innovative AI technologies to maximize the efficiency, accuracy, and reach of PR campaigns.
The AI startup: a Rostock pioneer
The startup, known as "FDS," was founded in 2019 by a group of talented researchers and technology enthusiasts in Rostock, Germany. From the beginning, their goal was clear: harness the power of artificial intelligence to transform the traditional world of PR. The team consisted of experts in machine learning, natural language processing and data analytics - the perfect combination to develop a breakthrough solution.
Artificial intelligence as a game changer in PR
Traditional PR often involves time-consuming tasks such as manually creating press releases, identifying relevant media contacts and analyzing coverage. This is where "FDS" comes in: Using advanced AI technology, they have developed a platform that enables automated PR campaigns.
The platform uses AI algorithms to search news sources and gather relevant information. It can detect trends in news coverage, identify keywords, and even analyze the sentiment of the coverage. This allows PR professionals to create more targeted and effective messages and precisely target their audience.
Efficiency, accuracy and reach
Implementing AI in PR strategies has several benefits. First, it significantly increases efficiency. Tasks that used to take hours or even days can now be completed in minutes. This allows PR teams to focus on strategic planning and creative content.
The accuracy of the information provided by the platform is also a big win. AI is able to analyze large amounts of data in a short amount of time and identify patterns, minimizing human error and enabling more informed decision-making.
Not least, AI-powered PR expands the reach of messages. By identifying relevant journalists and media contacts, the platform can ensure that information reaches exactly those most likely to use it.
Future prospects
FDS, based in Rostock, Germany, has already attracted attention in the industry and won some high-profile clients. The platform has the potential to fundamentally change PR practices and help companies spread their messages more effectively. The innovative power of this Rostock-based startup shows that the combination of AI and PR has a promising future.
At a time when information flows fast and competition is more intense than ever, the interplay between human expertise and AI support is becoming increasingly relevant. FDS could be just the beginning in terms of how AI will continue to turn the PR landscape on its head in the years to come.
The tech landscape in Germany has changed rapidly in recent years, and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics play a central role. According to a recent survey of 203 tech startups commissioned by the digital association Bitkom, these technologies have proven to be indispensable for the success of startups. The results impressively show that startups that rely on AI and data analytics are not only ahead of the game, but are also the ones shaping the innovations of the future.
The current status quo: AI and data analytics dominate
A look at the statistics makes it clear just how entrenched AI and data analytics now are in the startup world. More than half of the startups surveyed (53 percent) are already using Big Data and data analytics to optimize their business processes and gain deep insights into their target groups. Even more impressive is the prevalence of AI, which is being used by 49 percent of startups to develop smart solutions and products.
It gets even more exciting when you look at the startups' future plans. Almost 40 percent of the companies surveyed are planning to introduce AI in the near future. The situation is similar for Big Data and Data Analytics, where 31 percent of the startups are discussing or planning their use. These figures underscore not only the current importance of these technologies, but also their future relevance for the startup landscape.
Startups leading the way: AI and data analytics in the overall economy
Comparing the use of AI and data analytics in startups with the overall economy, the pioneering role of young companies becomes particularly clear. While only 15 percent of companies in the overall economy use AI, 49 percent of startups already rely on this technology. Similar proportions are also evident in data analysis: In the overall economy, 37 percent use these technologies, while the figure for startups is 53 percent.
Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst highlights the importance of this development, saying, "The fact that so many innovative founders are using AI and Big Data to develop new products and services is a positive sign. Startups will play an important role in making these technologies more accessible to smaller companies and SMEs."
The symbiosis of AI and data analytics
One notable aspect of this development is the close relationship between AI and data analytics. AI requires data to learn and make intelligent decisions. At the same time, AI enables more efficient analysis of big data, which in turn enables deeper insights and better business decisions. This interaction highlights the need for an integrated approach to implementing AI and data analytics.
Emerging technologies and their relevance to startups
The survey also provides insights into emerging technologies that could become more important in the coming years. The Internet of Things (IoT) is already being used by a quarter of startups, while nearly 30 percent are discussing or planning integration. 5G technologies have also piqued the interest of startups, with 17 percent in the planning or discussion phase.
Also exciting is the growing discussion about technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and blockchain. Currently, 8 percent of startups are using VR/AR, while an impressive 22 percent are discussing its use. Similarly, while 5 percent of startups are already using blockchain, 22 percent are planning to use the technology.
In summary, the survey highlights the changing nature of the German startup scene. AI and data analytics have evolved from emerging trends to indispensable tools that determine the course of business development. With their agile approach and willingness to integrate new technologies, startups are at the forefront of this movement that will undoubtedly shape the future of business.