• Unicorns: global exit value 2006-2020

2018 was the most successful year for unicorn companies, when comparing the exit values of global unicorns between 2006 and January 2020, 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. The combined value of all 10 companies that exited in 2014 amounted to over 300 billion U.S. dollars, of which the majority was down to the IPO of Alibaba for 238 billion U.S. dollars. 2018 saw both the highest value and number of exits during the period displayed.

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).

Total value of unicorn exits worldwide from 2006 to 2020 (in billion U.S. dollars)

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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.