Unicorn

Definition

A unicorn is a private startup valued at $1 billion or more, a term coined in 2013 when such companies were rare.

How it comes up in fundraising

Unicorn status is a valuation label, not a business-quality certificate; paper valuations and durable value diverge regularly.

Frequently asked questions

Why do investors need unicorn-scale outcomes?

Power-law math: most portfolio companies return little, so funds require winners big enough to return the whole fund.

What is a decacorn?

A private company valued at $10 billion or more.

Cite this term

Round Funded. "Unicorn." Startup Fundraising Glossary.

Stable URL, it will not change: https://www.roundfunded.com/en/glossary/unicorn

Put this term to work

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