5 Interesting Facts About Unicorn Startups
There were just 39 unicorn startups when the term was coined in 2013 by Aileen Lee. Since then, a lot has changed. In 2019, the list of billionaire companies has increased by 1089%, with a total of 425. But, this is not the only surprising percentage or crazy number. There are plenty of interesting facts about unicorn startups, and we’re here to tell you a few!
If you’re a newcomer to this blog, we recommend that you check out this article to understand everything about unicorn startups. If you’ve been here before, get ready to learn some impressive information about these businesses that have completely changed the game.
EIA tip: save some of these facts and use them the next time you go on a networking event—they’re fantastic conversation starters.
#1 More than a billion-dollar company
Every time you read about unicorn startups, you find the one billion dollar business mention, however, this was just the beginning. There are plenty of companies worth a lot more than just one billion.
At the top of the list is the Chinese company Toutiaou, internationally known by TikTok. According to CBInsights, the unicorn is valued in $75B.
#2 2019 is a historic year for female-founded unicorns.
In 2017, a study published by Sage showed that 94% of unicorn startups were founded by men. Two years later, things are looking a bit different. In 2018, the number doubled from 6 to 12 female-founded unicorns, and 2019 promises an even more impressive number. According to the Crunchbase Unicorn Leaderboard, back in May of 2019, there were already 10 unicorn companies founded by women entering the list.
These numbers are a great reminder that things are changing, but there’s still a lot to be done. Let’s wait for the final numbers before celebrating.
#3 USA vs. China
Another interesting fact about unicorn startups is their origin: China and the United States, who currently share the top of the list. This leadership in the startup scene is just a result of the global economic scenario since these two countries have the world’s most powerful economies.
The list of unicorn startups per country is followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, and India.
#4 Tech unicorns
Of course there are unicorn companies in industries other than technology, but when you take a closer look at the list, you’ll realize that there are some variants of the tech industry. According to CBInsights, the following industries are the leaders in the billionaire universe:
- Fintech
- Internet software and Services
- E-commerce & direct-to-consumer
- Artificial Intelligence
- Health
All of these industries rely on technology and can be included in the category.
# 5 Softbank is ruling the market
If you have been following WeWork’s ups and downs, you know about Softbank. This name is at the top of the list when it comes to startup investment. With their Vision Fund, Softbank has invested over $100B and has a combined $271B in unicorn company valuations.
#6 C stands for…
The last topic of the list of interesting facts about unicorn startups is more of a fun fact.
Canva, Coursera, Credit Karma, Coinbase…what do they have in common? They’re all unicorn startups that start with the letter C.
The letter C is the number one first letter in the list of unicorn startups, and it’s followed by “S”, “T”, and “A”. So, if you’re planning to create a startup, this may give you an idea for the name of your business.
