UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2025: 156 Entrepreneurs with $19.1 Billion Total Revenue & $123 Million Average Revenue, 61% Optimistic on Business Outlook, Top 3 Concerns for Next 12 Months are Political Instability & Uncertainty, High Taxes, Major Geopolitical Conflict, Top 3 Technologies with Biggest Commercial Opportunities are AI (Artificial Intelligence), Automation & Robotics, Big Data Analytics, Top 5 Source of Advice to Sell / Exit Business (Global) are Banker 55%, Independent Counsel 52%, Consulting Firm 44%, Investors 41%, Business Owners 40%, Top 5 Likely Actions for Personal Interests are Travel / Hobbies / Family, Become Investor (Asset Classes), Invest In Other Companies, Alternative Business Venture, Philanthropy
20th February 2025 | Hong Kong
UBS has released the Global Entrepreneur Report 2025, providing key insights into 156 entrepreneurs with total revenue $19.1 billion & average revenue of $123 million. Entrepreneurs Business Outlook – 61% Optimistic. Investments Plans in next 12 months – 51% increase / 21% same / 18% decrease. Investments Plans in next 5 years – 86% increase / 11% same / 3% decrease. Top 5 concerns for next 12 months – Political instability & uncertainty, High taxes, Major geopolitical conflict, Cost of financing, Higher interest rates. Top 5 concerns for next 5 years – High taxes, Political instability / uncertainty, Major geopolitical conflict, Global recession, Debt crisis 29%. Top 3 negative factors impacting industry in next 12 months – Changes in industry regulations / compliance requirements, Cybersecurity threats, Changes in consumer behaviour & preferences. Top 3 Investments in next 12 months – Personnel, Strategic acquisitions / partnerships, IT spending / digital transformation. Top 3 Staffing challenges – Trouble hiring new employees, Remuneration / incentives to retain employees, Businesses have to right size. Top 3 Technologies with biggest commercial opportunities – AI (Artificial Intelligence), Automation & Robotics, Big data analytics. Top 3 Impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) over next 5 years – Improve productivity / Throughput, Better customer service / experience, Improved content creation / marketing materials. Top 3 ESG / Sustainability-related actions for companies – Implement energy-efficient & carbon-reduction practices, Reducing waste & increasing recycling, Adopting sustainable technologies. Top 3 Governance practices – Access to internal / external counsel (lawyer, tax), Board of directors with independent members / advisors, Succession plan for senior leadership team / employees. Top 5 Source of advice to sell / exit business (Global) – Banker 55%, Independent Counsel 52%, Consulting Firm 44%, Investors 41%, Business Owners 40%. Top 5 Source of advice to sell / exit business (APAC) – Investors 66%, Banker 59%, Independent Counsel 56%, Business Owners 44%, Consulting Firm 41%. Wealth outside business – 58% Enough / right amount. Top 5 Likely actions for personal interests – Travel / Hobbies / Family, Become investor (Asset classes), Invest in other companies, Alternative business venture, Philanthropy. Investment preferences – Expert guidance is important 76%, Have investment plan 69%, Speak to advisor before making investment decisions 58%, Trust gut & decide on the go 45%. Investment Risk-taking – More risk 14%, Same risk 74%, Less risk 11%. See below for key findings & summary | View report here
“ UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2025: 156 Entrepreneurs with $19.1 Billion Total Revenue & $123 Million Average Revenue, 61% Optimistic on Business Outlook, Top 3 Concerns for Next 12 Months are Political Instability & Uncertainty, High Taxes, Major Geopolitical Conflict, Top 3 Technologies with Biggest Commercial Opportunities are AI (Artificial Intelligence), Automation & Robotics, Big Data Analytics, Top 5 Source of Advice to Sell / Exit Business (Global) are Banker 55%, Independent Counsel 52%, Consulting Firm 44%, Investors 41%, Business Owners 40%, Top 5 Likely Actions for Personal Interests are Travel / Hobbies / Family, Become Investor (Asset Classes), Invest In Other Companies, Alternative Business Venture, Philanthropy “
UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2025: 156 Entrepreneurs with $19.1 Billion Total Revenue & $123 Million Average Revenue, 61% Optimistic on Business Outlook, Top 3 Concerns for Next 12 Months are Political Instability & Uncertainty, High Taxes, Major Geopolitical Conflict, Top 3 Technologies with Biggest Commercial Opportunities are AI (Artificial Intelligence), Automation & Robotics, Big Data Analytics, Top 5 Source of Advice to Sell / Exit Business (Global) are Banker 55%, Independent Counsel 52%, Consulting Firm 44%, Investors 41%, Business Owners 40%, Top 5 Likely Actions for Personal Interests are Travel / Hobbies / Family, Become Investor (Asset Classes), Invest In Other Companies, Alternative Business Venture, Philanthropy
UBS has released the Global Entrepreneur Report 2025, providing key insights into 156 entrepreneurs with total revenue $19.1 billion & average revenue of $123 million. See below for key findings & summary | View report here
UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2025
Summary
- Profile – 156 entrepreneurs with $19.1 billion total revenue & $123 million average revenue
- Entrepreneurs Business Outlook – 61% Optimistic
- Investments Plans in next 12 months – 51% increase / 21% same / 18% decrease
- Investments Plans in next 5 years – 86% increase / 11% same / 3% decrease
- Top 5 concerns for next 12 months – Political instability & uncertainty, High taxes, Major geopolitical conflict, Cost of financing, Higher interest rates
- Top 5 concerns for next 5 years – High taxes, Political instability / uncertainty, Major geopolitical conflict, Global recession, Debt crisis 29%
- Top 3 negative factors impacting industry in next 12 months – Changes in industry regulations / compliance requirements, Cybersecurity threats, Changes in consumer behaviour & preferences
- Top 3 Investments in next 12 months – Personnel, Strategic acquisitions / partnerships, IT spending / digital transformation
- Top 3 Staffing challenges – Trouble hiring new employees, Remuneration / incentives to retain employees, Businesses have to right size
- Top 3 Technologies with biggest commercial opportunities – AI (Artificial Intelligence), Automation & Robotics, Big data analytics
- Top 3 Impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) over next 5 years – Improve productivity / Throughput, Better customer service / experience, Improved content creation / marketing materials
- Top 3 ESG / Sustainability-related actions for companies – Implement energy-efficient & carbon-reduction practices, Reducing waste & increasing recycling, Adopting sustainable technologies
- Top 3 Governance practices – Access to internal / external counsel (lawyer, tax), Board of directors with independent members / advisors, Succession plan for senior leadership team / employees
- Top 5 Source of advice to sell / exit business (Global) – Banker 55%, Independent Counsel 52%, Consulting Firm 44%, Investors 41%, Business Owners 40%
- Top 5 Source of advice to sell / exit business (APAC) – Investors 66%, Banker 59%, Independent Counsel 56%, Business Owners 44%, Consulting Firm 41%
- Wealth outside business – 58% Enough / right amount
- Top 5 Likely actions for personal interests – Travel / Hobbies / Family, Become investor (Asset classes), Invest in other companies, Alternative business venture, Philanthropy
- Investment preferences – Expert guidance is important 76%, Have investment plan 69%, Speak to advisor before making investment decisions 58%, Trust gut & decide on the go 45%
- Investment Risk-taking – More risk 14%, Same risk 74%, Less risk 11%
UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2025
Profile:
- 156 entrepreneurs
- Total revenue – $19.1 billion
- Average revenue – $123 million
Region:
- Americas – 38%
- Europe – 21%
- Switzerland – 19%
- APAC – 21%
1) Entrepreneur Business Outlook:
Business Outlook:
- Very Optimistic – 17%
- Somewhat Optimistic – 44%
- Neutral – 23%
- Somewhat Pessimistic – 16%
- Very Pessimistic – 1%
Top 15 concerns for next 12 months:
- Political instability & uncertainty – 53%
- High taxes – 42%
- Major geopolitical conflict – 41%
- Cost of financing – 31%
- Higher interest rates – 28%
- Global recession – 27%
- Trade tensions & tariffs – 27%
- High inflation – 27%
- Supply chain disruptions – 26%
- Financial market crisis – 19%
- Real estate market correction – 15%
- Debt crisis – 12%
- Climate change – 9%
- Deflation – 7%
- Migration & impact on my business – 4%
Top 15 concerns for next 5 years:
- High taxes – 46%
- Political instability / uncertainty – 42%
- Major geopolitical conflict – 35%
- Global recession – 31%
- Debt crisis – 29%
- Supply chain disruptions – 28%
- Trade tensions & tariffs – 26%
- High inflation – 25%
- Cost of financing – 24%
- Financial market crisis – 24%
- Climate change – 23%
- Higher interest rates – 20%
- Real estate market correction – 18%
- Migration & impact on my business – 10%
- Deflation – 8%
Top 8 negative factors impacting industry in next 12 months:
- Changes in industry regulations / compliance requirements – 46%
- Cybersecurity threats – 35%
- Changes in consumer behaviour & preferences – 33%
- Rising materials costs – 31%
- Competition from emerging markets / new entrants – 28%
- Access to sufficient capital – 22%
- Technological disruptions – 20%
- Legal challenges / lawsuits – 18%
- None of above – 4%
2) Entrepreneur Business Investment Outlook
Investment plans in next 12 months:
- Significantly increase – 19%
- Slightly increase – 32%
- Same – 32%
- Slightly decrease – 11%
- Significantly decrease – 7%
Investment plans in next 5 years:
- Significantly increase – 40%
- Slightly increase – 46%
- Same – 11%
- Slightly decrease – 2%
- Significantly decrease – 1%
To 12 Investments in next 12 months:
- Personnel – 54%
- Strategic acquisitions / partnerships – 53%
- IT spending / digital transformation – 47%
- AI infrastructure, applications, tools – 45%
- Upgrading equipment / machinery – 41%
- Marketing / advertising – 40%
- Data analytics / business intelligence – 33%
- R&D – 33%
- Sustainability / ESG practices – 19%
- Competitive surveys / market research – 11%
- Increasing inventory levels – 11%
- CSR / sustainability initiatives – 10%
- None of above – 3%
3) Entrepreneur Business Insights
Top 6 Staffing challenges:
- Trouble hiring new employees – 52%
- Remuneration / incentives to retain employees – 45%
- Businesses have to right size – 33%
- Key person risk – 32%
- Retaining employees – 26%
- Increase in staff turnover – 22%
- None of above – 4%
Top 6 Technologies with biggest commercial opportunities:
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) – 62%
- Automation / robotics – 45%
- Big data analytics – 41%
- Enabling technologies – 25%
- Blockchain technology – 10%
- Virtual / augmented reality – 10%
- None of above – 11%
Top 7 Impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) over next 5 years:
- Improve productivity / Throughput – 67%
- Better customer service / experience – 59%
- Improved content creation / marketing materials – 47%
- Lower headcount – 46%
- High product quality – 33%
- Higher prices – 2%
- Do not expect AI to have positive impact in my industry – 4%
- Other – 4%
Top 6 ESG / Sustainability-related actions for companies:
- Implement energy-efficient & carbon-reduction practices – 51%
- Reducing waste & increasing recycling – 47%
- Adopting sustainable technologies – 41%
- Promoting diversity, inclusion & fair labor practices – 34%
- Sourcing sustainable / ethically produced materials & ensuring supply chain sustainability – 29%
- Engaging community outreach & supporting local initiatives – 26%
- None of above – 8%
Top 5 Governance practices:
- Access to internal / external counsel (lawyer, tax) – 63%
- Board of directors with independent members / advisors – 56%
- Succession plan for senior leadership team / employees – 55%
- Succession plan for business – 54%
- Framework for managing business risks – 50%
- None of above – 3%
4) Entrepreneur Selling / Exiting Business
Top 9 Source of advice to sell / exit business – Global:
- Banker – 55%
- Independent Counsel – 52%
- Consulting Firm – 44%
- Investors – 41%
- Business Owners – 40%
- Family Members – 19%
- Children / Heirs – 16%
- Employees – 10%
- Friends – 10%
Top 9 Source of advice to sell / exit business – APAC:
- Investors – 66%
- Banker – 59%
- Independent Counsel – 56%
- Business Owners – 44%
- Consulting Firm – 41%
- Family Members – 31%
- Children / Heirs – 9%
- Employees – 9%
- Friends – 16%
5) Entrepreneur Personal Wealth & Investment
Wealth outside business:
- More than enough – 21%
- Right amount – 37%
- Not enough – 42%
Top 7 Likely actions for personal interests:
- Travel / Hobbies / Family – 52%
- Become investor (Asset classes) – 49%
- Invest in other companies – 47%
- Alternative business venture – 32%
- Philanthropy – 31%
- Family office – 24%
- New company – 22%
- None of above – 6%
Investment preferences:
- Expert guidance is important – 76%
- Have investment plan – 69%
- Speak to advisor before making investment decisions – 58%
- Trust gut & decide on the go – 45%
Investment Risk-taking:
- Taking on more risk – 14%
- Same level of risk – 74%
- Taking on less risk – 11%
UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2025
This is the first UBS report which has actively surveyed the opinions of entrepreneurs in our client base and our Industry Leader Network, soliciting their views on a wide range of key developments that may shape the growth of their industries and their personal wealth. In the survey, we ask about which digital technologies offer the greatest opportunity, their main concerns and their specific wealth management needs as they look to the future. We surveyed the views of 156 UBS entrepreneur clients and network members across the full range of sectors. Their businesses account for USD 19.1 billion in combined annual revenue, which equates to an average of USD 123 million each. Respondents are booked in the Americas (US and Latin America), Asia-Pacific, Europe and Switzerland. See methodology on page 58 for the full list of markets. Further, the survey findings were supplemented by short in-depth interviews focusing on key topics. The survey was conducted from 26 September to 30 November 2024.
Methodology – This marks the inaugural iteration of the Global Entrepreneur Report survey. UBS surveyed 156 of its clients and members of the Industry Leader Network between 26 September to 30 November 2024. Entrepreneurs from the Americas (US and Latin America), Europe, Switzeland and Asia-Pacific were invited to participate in the survey using an online methodology. Participating entrepreneurs are based in the following 26 markets (in alphabetical order): Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, Mainland China, Malaysia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thai- land, UAE, UK, Uruguay, US.
Sign Up / Register
Caproasia Users
- Manage $20 million to $3 billion of assets
- Invest $3 million to $300 million
- Advise institutions, billionaires, UHNWs & HNWs
Caproasia Platforms | 11,000 Investors & Advisors
- Caproasia.com
- Caproasia Access
- Caproasia Events
- The Financial Centre | Find Services
- Membership
- Family Office Circle
- Professional Investor Circle
- Investor Relations Network
Monthly Roundtable & Networking
Family Office Programs
The 2025 Investment Day
- March - Hong Kong
- March - Singapore
- July - Hong Kong
- July - Singapore
- Sept- Hong Kong
- Sept - Singapore
- Oct- Hong Kong
- Nov - Singapore
- Visit: The Investment Day | Register: Click here
Caproasia Summits
- The Institutional Investor Summit
- The Investment / Alternatives Summit
- The Private Wealth Summit
- The Family Office Summit
- The CEO & Entrepreneur Summit
- The Capital Markets Summit
- The ESG / Sustainable Investment Summit
