New companies play a key role in the innovation and competitiveness of national economies. However, little research has been conducted in the German context on the role of founders with a migrant background. In the USA and other countries, migrant start-ups play a very central role (Azoulay et al. 2022). The question therefore is which opportunities arise from increased immigration for start-up activity. Findings on motivation and the innovation and growth orientation of migrant start-ups can contribute to the design of government programs to promote founders with a migration background. Based on the IAB/ZEW Start-Up Panel, the study examines the characteristics, orientation, financing pattern and innovation contribution of start-ups by people with a migrant background in Germany. The first step focuses on the following questions:

1. What motives for starting a business and what skill profiles do founders with a migrant background have?
2. What do we know about the growth orientation of migrant start-ups?
3. What sources of funding do migrant founders make use of and what role does public start-up support play in the financing mix?