Companies founded in the first quarter of 2026: The boom continues
In the first quarter of 2026, 14,666 new companies were entered in the commercial register in Switzerland. This figure is 4.9% higher than in the same period last year and marks the highest value for a first quarter since the IFJ's analysis began.
The latest analysis by the IFJ Institute for Young Entrepreneurs shows that start-up momentum in Switzerland remains robust despite the uncertain economic environment. Ticino saw particularly strong growth of 17.1%, followed by Eastern Switzerland with 9.2% and Zurich with 6.6%. The Espace Mittelland and other regions also recorded growth.
At cantonal level, St. Gallen, Ticino, Fribourg and Appenzell Ausserrhoden stood out in particular. There were declines in Vaud, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden and Obwalden, among others. According to the IFJ, changes in smaller cantons should be interpreted with caution due to the lower absolute figures.
The legal form of limited liability company saw the strongest year-on-year growth with an increase of 9.0%. General partnerships increased by 4.7%, public limited companies by 1.2% and sole proprietorships by 0.3%.
In addition to the current quarterly trend, the IFJ has also analyzed the age structure of founders in depth for the first time. The age structure of founders shows a clear pattern: most start-ups are founded between the ages of 25 and 44. The average age is 39.1 years. The average age is highest for public limited companies at just under 42 years, and lowest for general partnerships at around 33 years.
The most start-ups in the first quarter were in the consulting, crafts and architecture and engineering sectors. According to the analysis, the industry landscape remains broad-based, which underlines the stability and diversity of the Swiss start-up scene.
Source and further information: www.ifj.ch
