• Unicorns: IPO and acquisition exits 2006-2020

Over 30 unicorn companies had a succesfull Initial Public Offering in 2019, the second-highest number since 2006. Unicorns in the world of venture capital are companies that are valued at over one billion U.S. dollars or over. If that company subsequently goes public or is acquired, it is no longer referred to as a unicorn. When a Unicorn company does one of these two things, it is called an exit.

Since the term unicorn was coined in 2013, the number of unicorns globally has grown massively, with the majority headquartered in North America and Asia Pacific. 2018 saw the highest number of exits through acquisition or initial public offerings (IPO). The preferred method of exit for unicorns is via an initial public offering.

Number of unicorn exits worldwide from 2006 to 2020, by exit type

	IPO	Acquisition
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Source

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Sources

Release date

January 2020

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

* 2006 to January 2020

Supplementary notes

A unicorn company is a privately owned startup that has a current valuation of one billion USD or over. Once a company has gone public (IPO) or has been acquired it is no longer termed as a unicorn. All published figures are best estimations based on latest publications of sources. Figures are correct as of January 2020. Figures and valuations are rounded as some company valuations have not been externally verified and are self-published. Latest valuations used. As multiple sources were used and valuations vary between sources, the most recent valuation was used. Where valuations differed but the reporting date was the same, mean averages were used. Industries were assigned by the sources. Where companies crossed industries, the major category was used as determined by the source. Where companies have multiple countries listed the country of headquarters has been used.