After the merger, entrepreneurship in Germany has increased significantly. Nevertheless, the country still has its own ways, considering that as of the mid-2000s, Germany was ranked 24th in the world in business. Despite the fact that 25-30% of young scientists in the country have a significant chance to create a successful business, only 5% actually do it for various reasons.
One of these reasons may be that with one of the highest tax rates in the world, many small business owners find it difficult to stay afloat. There is also a tendency for the Germans to open enterprises not from a passionate desire to manifest their vision, but as “there is no other way” to earn a living. In addition, the Germans, as you know, are cautious, less risk-averse people, which can prevent many potential entrepreneurs from taking this fatal step towards abandoning their work and starting their own business.
However, Germany ranked first in the world with regard to how much money the government invests in its entrepreneurs, showing that if an entrepreneurial error ever hits the country, it could spread far, wide and fast. Of particular note is the fact that several programs have been established in Germany that target women entrepreneurs, including special loans, networks and a training center. And according to an article in the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, while East Germany may have a smaller number of entrepreneurs than their Western counterpart, more women entrepreneurs will boast in the region.
One sector that is growing rapidly is franchising. Over the past 10 years, it has increased dramatically in terms of its share in the gross national product. One of the reasons why franchising can work so well in Germany is that it turns to low-risk German management, promising a steady return on its investments.
Here are the 10 most famous entrepreneurs in Germany:
Lars Windhorst
A well-known businessman, Lars Windhorst was an entrepreneur from a young age. As one of the most famous and successful young business leaders in Germany, he accompanied Dr. Helmut Kohl, the former German chancellor, during some of his official visits, after which he was noted at the World Economic Forum in Davos as his global leader for tomorrow and the youngest member he ever welcomed. Developing its lucrative computer company, Windhorst branched into electronics and capital holding, and Windhorst Group branched out in different parts of Asia and Europe. Today, despite the recent struggle, Windhorst is taking new steps in the financial world by creating the Sapinda Group for investment. There he is currently the CEO of a subsidiary of Sapinda Deutschland GmbH.
Karl Albrecht
One of not only the richest people in Germany, but also the richest people in the world, Karl Albrecht was born in Essen to parents of limited means in the 1920s, his father is a bakery assistant, and his mother is the owner of a small grocery store. He and his brother Theo later seized their mother’s store and turned it into Aldi Sud, a mega-network of supermarkets. Albrecht increased his wealth to $ 20 billion before leaving the company and retreat into private life. Today, little is known about him, although rumors say that he lives somewhere in Switzerland, where he likes to play golf and grow orchids.
Reinhold Wurth
Billionaire entrepreneur Reinhold Würth was born in 1935. After inheriting his father’s business at a young age of 19, he became the Adolf Würth Group, a billion-dollar corporation. As a member of the Hall of Fame of the German industry and the recipient of the medal of Ludwig Erhard, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit and the Diesel Medal, among several other awards and honors, Wurth is known not only for his business skills, but also for his philanthropic work on behalf of art and society. Today he has gone out of business, but continues to remain an active member of several advisory councils and to support his work on behalf of the community.
Frank Asbek
The founder and chairman of SolarWorld, Frank Asbeck, is a billionaire entrepreneur whose company has been extremely successful for both the owner and shareholders. SolarWorld, a fast-growing business, manufactures and manufactures solar cells. The company's success is largely due to the aggressive approach and leadership style of Asbek, as well as its use of management methods, such as co-ownership of employees. Seeking to enter Asian markets, including enterprises in South Korea, China, and India, Asbek also decided to create a social agenda for SolarWorld, establish an ethics council, and try to introduce solar energy in parts of Africa in dire need of new sources of energy.
Klaus-Michael Kuehne
Born in Hamburg in the 1930s, Klaus-Michael Kühne became the main shareholder and executive chairman of Kühne & Nagel, an international transportation company founded by his grandfather August Kühne. One of the richest people in the world, Kühne, is said to be personally worth about 6 billion dollars. In 2008, Kühne received the prize “Individual Contribution” in recognition of his contribution both to the world of transport and to society as a whole. One example of this is the creation of the Kühne Foundation, more than 30 years ago, which supports further education, research and training in the field of transport, along with its many philanthropic activities.
Suzanne Klatten
Germany’s richest woman, Suzanne Klatten was born in Bad Homburg. She later inherited her father’s stake in Altana, a manufacturer of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and helped transform it into one of Germany’s leading companies. Klatten has an MBA degree in advertising, as well as a bachelor's degree in business finance, and she has gained significant business experience from companies such as McKinsey and Dresdner Bank. Today, in addition to her work with Altana, she sits as an advisor on board BMW, of which she also owns a significant stake.
Hasso Plattner
Born in Berlin in 1944, Hasso Plattner is a German entrepreneur and one of the richest people in the world. Founder of SAP AG, one of the world's largest software development companies, he led the company to thrive in a changing market, always seeing ahead of itself. Previously, as chairman of the company’s board, he served as chairman of the supervisory board since he retired. A well-known benefactor, Plattner has numerous awards for his contribution to society, research and education. These include the creation of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Software Development, the Hasso Plattner Foundation for Software Development, and the Hasso Plattner Design Institute at Stanford University; and the provision of millions of dollars for the prevention and treatment of HIV / AIDS and the sponsorship of benefits on behalf of children from disadvantaged families.
Karl-Heinz Kipp
The independent billionaire Karl-Heinz Kipp became small in the world of retail, and after 17 years opened his first department store called Massa. Raising him to Germany’s largest department store chain, he sold it about 20 years later, retaining ownership of real estate. Other properties owned by Kipp can be found in Manhattan, Switzerland and St. Moritz, in the form of luxury residences, hotels and resorts. Kipp and his wife Hannelore, still married after almost 60 years, live in the Grand Hotel Zyggen in Kipp.
Andreas Strungmann
The founder of Hexal, a generic pharmaceutical company, Andreas Strungman and his identical twin brother Thomas turned the company into the second largest ancestor in Germany. While Thomas received a business education, Stryngman conducted medical research, after which he practiced medicine in the South African bush. In 1985, they decided to join forces to respond to the growing market demand for generic drugs. Over the next 20 years, they succeeded in their wildest dreams and sold the company for $ 7.5 in 2005, after which Strungmann became executive director in Sandoz, a division of Novartis. One of his charitable endeavors is the creation of the Ernst Stryngman Foundation.
Anton Schlekker
The true story of wealth, Anton Schlecker inherited the butchers' store of his parents, and then left the world of meat for pharmaceuticals. In 1975, he opened a pharmacy, multiplying it by more than 100 stores over the next two years. Approximately 30 years later, the chain has more than 13,000 stores spread throughout Europe, with a turnover of 6.5 billion Euros, and a market share of 70%.
