In this project, start-ups in the German ICT-Sector and selected characteristics of these firms are examined. It is analysed how the number of start-ups has developed between 1995 and 2011, how the ICT-start-ups are distributed among the various regions in Germany and how many companies survive the first five years. It is also explored what kind of innovation activities are pursued by young ICT companies, how young ICT companies are funded and with what skills and abilities the founders are endowed. The characteristics of young ICT companies and their founders will be compared to the respective characteristics of all start-ups in Germany and all start-ups in the high-tech sector.