A unicorn company is a privately owned startup that has a current valuation of one billion U.S. dollars or over. Once a company has gone public (IPO) or has been acquired it is no longer termed as a unicorn. Figures are correct as of July 2021.
In the world of venture capital, unicorns are companies that are valued at over * 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. As of ****, over *** unicorns had exited via IPO or acquisition in North America.
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.
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ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. (July 27, 2021). Number of unicorn exits worldwide as of July 2021, by region [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 04, 2026, from /statistics/1096058/total-number-of-unicorns-exits-globally-by-year-of-exit-by-region/
ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. "Number of unicorn exits worldwide as of July 2021, by region." Chart. July 27, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 04, 2026. /statistics/1096058/total-number-of-unicorns-exits-globally-by-year-of-exit-by-region/
ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. (2021). Number of unicorn exits worldwide as of July 2021, by region. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 04, 2026. /statistics/1096058/total-number-of-unicorns-exits-globally-by-year-of-exit-by-region/
ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. "Number of Unicorn Exits Worldwide as of July 2021, by Region." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 27 Jul 2021, /statistics/1096058/total-number-of-unicorns-exits-globally-by-year-of-exit-by-region/
ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, Number of unicorn exits worldwide as of July 2021, by region ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1096058/total-number-of-unicorns-exits-globally-by-year-of-exit-by-region/ (last visited August 04, 2026)
Number of unicorn exits worldwide as of July 2021, by region [Graph], ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, July 27, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1096058/total-number-of-unicorns-exits-globally-by-year-of-exit-by-region/
