Empowering entrepreneurs is more crucial than ever, as they are the driving force behind innovation and economic growth. With trends indicating increased investment in AI, digital transformation, and workforce expansion, CorpX’s comprehensive services directly address the evolving needs of startups and established businesses.
By providing streamlined business setup, compliance, funding solutions, and AI integration, CorpX enables entrepreneurs to focus on strategic growth, navigate regulatory complexities, and capitalize on emerging technologies, aligning perfectly with the forward-looking insights highlighted in the Global Entrepreneur Report 2025.
UBS surveyed 156 entrepreneur clients, and members of their Industry Leader Network, with a combined annual revenue of USD 19.1 billion. In doing so, they have captured the collective knowledge of some of the brightest business innovators they have the privilege to work with, and highlights their insights on topics from their industry outlook to their business plans over a short-term horizon, and to the end of the decade.
The report shows that entrepreneurs see the huge potential of artificial intelligence (AI) but also expect to continue to invest in their workforce. This balanced approach suggests a future where AI complements human talent, fostering innovation and growth.
Interestingly, the report also reveals a common trend among entrepreneurs: many say they have not built up their private wealth outside of their business as much as they could have. This insight emphasizes the importance of seeking expert investment guidance to balance business growth with personal financial health.
The report offers statistics on:
- CEOs’ confidence in their industry outlook
- Where they plan to invest over the next 12 months and 5 years
- Whether they plan to increase or decrease their workforce
- A ranking of which technologies they see offering the biggest commercial opportunity
- What their thoughts are on the impact and benefits of AI
- What their main macro worries/concerns are for the next 12 months and 5 years
- What they think the biggest risks are to their specific business
- How they are actioning sustainability
- Whether they have a succession plan in place
- Whether they have been focusing enough on building their private wealth
- Whether they feel having expert guidance when investing is important to them
What are the key trends in entrepreneurship?
- Entrepreneurs are feeling optimistic about their industry outlook. 61% of entrepreneurs said they were very or somewhat optimistic, compared to only 17% who were very or somewhat pessimistic. The report did highlight that confidence is particularly high among technology/healthcare and industrials entrepreneurs, and less so for those in consumer discretionary/staples.
- Entrepreneurs predict that investment will ramp up over the next five years. 86% of entrepreneurs think typical companies in their industries plan to slightly or significantly increase investment over the next five years, compared to 51% over the next 12 months.
- The focus is on investing in people and technology. Over the next 12 months, 54% of entrepreneurs predict investment in personnel, 53% predict investment in strategic acquisitions or partnerships, 47% predict investment in IT spending and/or digital transformation, and 45% predict investment in AI infrastructure, applications and/or models.
- Two-thirds of entrepreneurs expect to increase their workforce within the next five years. 68% of entrepreneurs expect businesses in their industries to grow their workforces, compared to 44% over the next 12 months. Hiring problems appear far greater in the Americas and Europe than Asia-Pacific.
- Entrepreneurs see AI as the technology offering the biggest commercial opportunity. Almost two thirds (62%) of entrepreneurs think AI is the technology offering the greatest commercial opportunity for their industries currently. They expect it to lead to improved productivity/throughput (67%), better customer service/experience (59%), and improved content creation/marketing materials (47%).
- Entrepreneurs’ macro worries focus on political instability, higher taxes, and geopolitics. Over the next 12 months, they rank the greatest dangers for their industries as political instability and/or uncertainty (53%), higher taxes (42%) and major geopolitical conflict(s) (41%). Over the next five years, taxes become entrepreneurs’ greatest concern.
- Entrepreneurs are progressively more concerned about climate change over the longer term. Almost a quarter (23%) are concerned about its potential impact in five years, compared to just under one in ten (9%) who worry about the impact of this on their industry in 12 months.
- When it comes to business-specific challenges, entrepreneurs worry about changes in industry regulations and/or compliance requirements. 46% of entrepreneurs cited concerns about this, while 35% worry about cybersecurity threats.
- When exiting their business, most entrepreneurs would seek external advice. More than half (55%) say they would ask a banker (whether a client advisor, financial/wealth advisor or investment banker) for advice, and a similar number (52%) say they would ask independent counsel such as a lawyer or tax advisor.
- More than 4 in 10 entrepreneurs agree that they haven’t done enough to grow their private wealth outside their business. There appears to be widespread agreement that despite their talents in building businesses, managing investments takes a different mindset and skill set.
There is lots more to be gleaned from the full report, so take a look for yourself here.
