If one thing is certain, it is that society and businesses must respond and adapt quickly to emerging trends, as well as to changing and evolving markets and consumers.
The year 2022 was challenging due to that everyone was coming back from a long pandemic and the global economic landscape became harder, yet, it is still difficult to predict with certainty what trends will shape 2023.
Despite how challenging it might be to predict a trend, multiple factors can influence the creation of trends globally, therefore we can anticipate which elements could impact this year.
Because of Covid-19, many companies were forced to reorient their business models to survive, and as a result, we have witnessed the rise of digital-only startups, in these cases, the saying “adapt or die” was on the minds of all businesspeople and entrepreneurs during the pandemic.
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The current global startup ecosystem
What is the startup ecosystem? It refers to the network of organizations and individuals involved in the development and growth of startups, including investors, incubators, crowdfunding, angel investors and accelerators, coworking spaces, and service providers.
The global startup ecosystem has grown significantly in recent years, with startups emerging in a wide range of industries and locations. Many countries have actively sought to cultivate a supportive environment for startups, with several initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of new businesses. This situation has led to the development of vibrant startup communities in cities all around the world.
Startups continually face several challenges as they work to establish themselves and grow. These can include securing funding, recruiting and retaining talented employees, and navigating the regulatory environment. However, with the right combination of innovative ideas, hard work, and support from the broader ecosystem, startups have the potential to achieve significant success and make a lasting impact on the economy and society.
Startups grow the economy of countries, and the value they create is almost on par with the GDP of a G7 economy, not only this, in 2021, the amount of startup funding exceeded $600 billion. These numbers are only growing over the years.
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Startups and the digital landscape
Since the pandemic, tech companies grew 2.3 times more than their non-tech counterparts, which shows how fundamental technology has been and will continue to be for startups. So, The digital landscape has had a significant impact on the startup ecosystem and has provided many opportunities for new businesses to emerge and grow. The proliferation of the internet and the availability of powerful and affordable technology have made it easier for startups to reach customers, access information, and collaborate with others.
Many startups have focused on developing products or services that are enabled by digital technology, such as software, e-commerce platforms, and online services. The rise of the gig economy has also created opportunities for startups to connect freelancers with potential clients through online platforms.
This digital landscape has even conveyed new ways of working, people can work online remotely from home, and many have created small businesses relying on digital operations and the internet. Consequently, a new style of work has emerged: digital nomads.
However, the digital landscape has also presented new challenges for startups. The rapid pace of technological change can make it difficult for startups to keep up and stay competitive. Additionally, the online environment can be crowded and highly competitive, making it challenging for startups to stand out and attract awareness. Undeniably, to survive and thrive, startups must adapt and embrace technological advancements.
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What can we expect in 2023
The trends that shaped startups in 2022 were impressive, so we can expect great things for 2023. As the digital landscape and access to startup funding become increasingly diversified, entrepreneurs have a tremendous amount of information and options to help them make business decisions that support their growth and innovation.
Multiple factors can affect the growth of business trends, therefore, by understanding the current landscape, we can anticipate which trends could shape this year.
Biotechnical and Life Sciences startups
These startups are businesses focused on developing products or services related to biotechnology, biology, or the life sciences. Also, they often work on developing new drugs, medical devices, diagnostic tests, or other products that can potentially improve human health or the environment.
Biotechnical and Life Sciences startups will keep growing and innovating in 2023.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI refers to the ability of a machine to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as pattern recognition, machine learning, and decision-making.
We can expect this technology to keep growing because AI will only reach its full potential if it is made available to everyone and if every company and organization can profit from it. Fortunately, an increasing number of apps and platforms are making AI capabilities accessible to anybody, regardless of technical skill level.
Subscription-Based Businesses
Subscription-based companies offer products or services to their customers in exchange for a monthly or annual fee. This fee is charged regularly and provides access to the products or services during the subscription period. Examples of popular subscription-based businesses include entertainment services such as Netflix or Spotify.
To ensure a constant cash flow, we could expect that many startups will move into a subscription-based business model.
Automation and Agile Development
This is an approach to planning and executing software projects that rely on the rapid delivery of small functional parts of software, rather than delivering a complete product at the end of the project. This approach relies on iteration and collaboration between the customer and the development team to ensure that the software meets the needs of the final user.
Climate Tech and Green Tech startups
These types of startups create technologies that aim to reduce environmental impact and contribute to climate change mitigation. These technologies include renewable energy solutions, energy efficiency systems, carbon capture, and storage technologies, and waste management and recycling solutions.
The number of climate tech unicorns has grown significantly over the past years. This growth is so impressive that it’s expected that the next billion-dollar startups will be in climate tech.
Home Businesses and Digital Nomads
Thanks to the internet and technology, people can start a business from anywhere, starting from home. Home-based businesses and digital nomads are two types of business models based on flexibility and the ability to work from anywhere with an internet connection. These types of startups have not been around long, but they are here to stay.
Not being sure of what the future will hold in this rapidly changing world, we can be certain digitalization and technology will shape our future.