Robert Hof examines the significance of the degree of innovation in the business ideas of start-ups for their financing options and analyzes whether there are differences in the funding availability for start-ups with more or less innovative business ideas. The results of the empirical study provide concrete insights into the criteria that venture capitalists use to make their investment decisions, and it becomes clear that the degree of innovation in a business idea has practical implications for the financing opportunities of start-ups. The author outlines the prerequisites that start-ups must meet, depending on the innovation level of their idea, in terms of their team and business model, in order to successfully attract external equity capital.