The IAB/ZEW Start-Up Panel

Abstract The IAB/ZEW Start-Up Panel is a longitudinal and representative survey established in 2008, designed to focus on founders and their businesses during the very early stages of the firm life cycle. Data on newly founded companies, their founders, business activities, and innovation and market strategies is scarce, posing challenges for both research and evidence-based policymaking. The IAB/ZEW Start-Up Panel’s objective is to provide reliable research data on new businesses in Germany for the research community. This paper outlines the panel’s design, methods, and structure. We also discuss potential research topics, usage, and access to the data for academic purposes.