In this project, we analyse whether entrepreneurs are able to use former professional networks to recruit well-matched employees for their companies. Moreover, we examine how the closure of a young business affects the future career prospects of its founders and early employees.To be able to answer these questions, a core component of the project is to further develop an existing linked employer employee database for young German businesses. The development of this database is a joint research project with the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). Within the scope of this cooperation, data on new ventures from the IAB/ZEW Start-up Panel is linked to the "Integrated Employment Biographies" (IEB) of the Federal Employment Agency. This allows to take detailed information about the capabilities of the persons employed in a young business into account when analysing the development of the business (and vice versa).