Business Applications Jump 24% as AI Lowers Startup Costs

business applications hit 5.6 million in 2025 and have risen 24% since ChatGPT launched, Citadel Securities reported in a July research note, citing data from the U.S. The median number of employees at seed-stage startups fell from five to four in the first quarter of 2023, one quarter after ChatGPT’s release. Citadel noted the decline coincided with rising interest rates and softening hiring demand, which may also help explain the shift.