$1 billion “unicorn” startups topping the charts so far in 2021

Contrary to popular belief, COVID-19 did not wash out the fortunes of startups. Venture funding did not stop, and many companies are flush with cash from venture capitalist investors. A slew of companies this year reached the status of unicorn, a term that refers to a privately owned business with a valuation of at least $1 billion. 

Below is a list of the top three highest-valuation unicorn startups per sector for the first three quarters of 2021. Smaller sectors list only the No. 1 unicorn.

FINTECH

 

1. iCapital Network. $4B valuation as of July 27.  

Alternative Investment marketplace

2. Ramp Financial. $3.9B valuation as of March 29. 

Direct Lending Corporate Fund

3. FalconX. $3.75B valuation as of Aug.

Institutional Crypto Company

INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES

 

1. Benchling. $4B valuation as of April 14. 

Online Medical R&D Platform

2. Zapier. $4B valuation as of Jan. 14. 

Internet App Toll for Automation

3. Relativity. $3.6B valuation as of March 18.

 SaaS for Data Management. 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

1. Moveworks. $2.1B valuation as of June 30. 

Conversational AI Human Resource Software

2. 6Sense. $2.1B valuation as of March 30. 

AI Enabled Business Forecasting Software.

3. Hive. $2B valuation as of April 21. 

AI Based Automation Software.

HEALTH 

1. Caris Life Sciences. $7.83B valuation as of May 17. 

Oncological Biotech Company

2. Noom. $3.7B valuation as of May 24. 

Digital Health Company. 

3. Komodo Health. $3.3B valuation as of May 22. 

Medical Data Center

OTHER 

1. Black Unicorn Factory. $6.1B valuation as of May 20. 

African American Owned Hedge Fund for turning startups stock market ready.

2. Redwood Materials. $3.7B valuation as of July 28. 

Renewable Energy Recycling Company.

3. Bowery Farming. $2.3B valuation as of May 25. 

Modern Farming/ Hydroponic Farming .

DATA MANAGEMENT & ANALYTICS 

1. SambaNova Systems. $5B valuation as of April 13. 

AI Enabled Data Centre Hardware Manufacturers.

2. OwnBackup. $3.35B valuation as of Jan. 28. 

SaaS Data Protection Platform .

3. Cockroach Labs. $2.16B valuation as of Jan. 12. 

Cloud Based Database providers and App Builders.

CYBERSECURITY 

1. Exabeam. $2.4B valuation as of June 1. 

Analytics and Automation enabled Security provider.

2. ID.me. $1.5B valuation as of March 19. 

Identity Proving Software.

3. Socure. $1.3B valuation as of March 16. 

Identity Verification Software.

E-COMMERCE & DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER 

1. Dutchie. $1.7B valuation as of March 31.

Medical Marijuana Dispensary.

2. Tonal. $1.6B valuation as of March 31.

AI and Multimedia enabled home fitness equipment company and service.

3. Skims. $1.6B valuation as of April 9. 

Bodyshaping Undergarments.

SUPPLY CHAIN, LOGISTICS AND DELIVERY

 

1. Weee! $2.8B as of March 16. 

Online Grocery Shopping App & Website with different Ethnic stores.

2. Project44. $1.2B valuation as of June 1.

Logistic Company with emphasis on product visibility across travel.

3. ShipBob. $1B valuation as of June 29. 

 Logistic company for DTC brands.

AUTO AND TRANSPORTATION 

Rivian. $27.6B valuation as of Sept. 10. 

Electric Truck Manufacturer.

CONSUMER AND RETAIL 

JUUL Labs. $12B valuation as of Dec. 20. 

Largest E-Cigarette Manufacturer and Seller.

MOBILE & TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

Attentive. $5.99B valuation as of Sept. 23. 

Text Messaging Marketing Solution.

EDTECH 

Articulate. $3.75B valuation as of July 1. 

App developers for Online Trainings.

HARDWARE 

Samsara Networks. $6.3B valuation as of March 22. 

AI Enabled Transportation Software.