Castro, JoãoHemmer-Hiltenkamp, Annika2023-12-152023-12-152022-12-152022-12-15http://hdl.handle.net/10362/161319This research paper investigates how the current economic downturn affects the EU Venture Capital and start-up market. Hence, to gain a comprehensive market overview, the general impact on investment activity and start-ups was analyzed, before exploring the impact on screening criteria of investments and non-financial value adds of VCs. Expert interviews were therefore conducted with 11 early-stage VCs and 7 start-ups and complemented by investment data of Crunchbase. Findings included a slight decrease in investment activity since Q3 2022, changing investment themes, a focus shift in screening criteria and non-financial value adds as well as changing needs of start-ups.engVenture capitalStart-upEarly-stageEconomic downturnInvestment activitySelection criteriaValue addmaster thesis203317378