Startups

The top $1B “unicorn” startups by category so far in 2021

  • 4 min Read
  • October 13, 2021

Author

Escalon

Table of Contents

Here we’ve listed the most valuable U.S.-based unicorns — to qualify for this vaunted niche means the startup has a valuation of $1 billion — for 2021’s first three quarters. The list is arranged by startup category and includes its top performers and the total number of unicorns for the division.


INTERNET SOFTWARE & SERVICES – 82



Category’s three most-valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021:

  1. Benchling.

    $4B valuation as of April 14. 

Software platform for life sciences R&D.


  1. Zapier.

    $4B valuation as of Jan. 14. 

Tool that automates repetitive tasks between two or more apps


  1. Relativity.

    $3.6B valuation as of March 18.

 SaaS solution for big-time legal challenges.


FINTECH – 69



Category’s three most-valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021.

  1. iCapital Network

    . $4B valuation as of July 27.  

Powering the world’s alternative investment marketplace.


  1. Ramp Financial.

    $3.9B valuation as of March 29. 

Corporate card designs for businesses to save money.


  1. FalconX.

    $3.75B valuation as of Aug.

Internet finance company built on blockchain tech and powered by crypto assets.


HEALTH – 33



Category’s three most-valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021:

  1. Caris Life Sciences.

    $7.83B valuation as of May 17. 

Provides oncologists with treatment options to personalize cancer care.


  1. Noom.

    $3.7B valuation as of May 24. 

 Leveraging AI, mobile tech and psychology to help people change long-term habits


  1. Komodo Health.

    $3.3B valuation as of May 22. 

Analyzing data across patients, practitioners and health systems. 


ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – 30



Category’s three most-valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021:

  1. Moveworks.

    $2.1B valuation as of June 30. 

Conversational AI chatbots that can answer employee queries.


  1. 6Sense.

    $2.1B valuation as of March 30. 

Using AI, big data and machine learning to help B2Bs see predictable revenue growth.


  1. Hive.

    $2B valuation as of April 21. 

Automating business processes that rely on video, image, text, audio interpretation .


“OTHER” – 24



Category’s three most-valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021:

  1. Black Unicorn Factory.

    $6.1B valuation as of May 20. 

Turns small startups into public stock market-ready unicorns .


  1. Redwood Materials.

    $3.7B valuation as of July 28. 

Recycles and processes scrap from battery cell production and consumer electronics.


  1. Bowery Farming.

    $2.3B valuation as of May 25. 

Growing food for a better future by revolutionizing agriculture.


E-commerce & direct-to-consumer – 20



Category’s three most-valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021:

  1. Dutchie.

    $1.7B valuation as of March 31.

 All-in-one tech platform that powers dispensary operations.


  1. Tonal.

    $1.6B valuation as of March 31.

 Full-body fitness at home without the hassle of changing machines.


  1. Skims.

    $1.6B valuation as of April 9. 

Manufactures, retails undergarments and loungewear that enhance body shape.


Data management and analytics – 19



Category’s three most-valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021:

  1. SambaNova Systems.

    $5B valuation as of April 13. 

Building AI hardware, integrated systems to run AI apps from data center to cloud.


  1. OwnBackup.

    $3.35B valuation as of Jan. 28. 

Developing solutions for built-in protection against data loss and corruption.


  1. Cockroach Labs.

    $2.16B valuation as of Jan. 12. 

Developing apps that scale fast, survive anything and thrive everywhere.


CYBERSECURITY – 16



Category’s three most valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021:

  1. Exabeam.

    $2.4B valuation as of June 1. 

Enables IT security teams to respond to cyberattacks and insider threats in real time.


  1. ID.me.

    $1.5B valuation as of March 19. 

Simplifies how individuals securely prove and share their identity online.


  1. Socure.

    $1.3B valuation as of March 16. 

Predictive analytics platform for digital identity verification of consumers.


SUPPLY CHAIN, LOGISTICS AND DELIVERY – 12



Category’s three most valuable unicorns Q1 to Q3 2021:

  1. Weee!

    $2.8B on March 16. 

Online grocery delivery platform.


  1. Project44.

    $1.2B valuation as of June 1.

 End-to-end logistics software for managing any shipment.


  1. ShipBob.

    $1B valuation as of June 29. 

 Global logistics platform fulfilling ecommerce orders for DTC brands.


CONSUMER AND RETAIL

8



Category’s most valuable unicorn Q1 to Q3 2021: 


JUUL Labs.

$12B valuation as of Dec. 20. 


Manufactures and markets e-cigarettes.


AUTO AND TRANSPORTATION – 7



Category’s most valuable unicorn Q1 to Q3 2021: 


Rivian.

$27.6B valuation as of Sept. 10. 


Electric vehicle automaker and automotive tech designer.


HARDWARE – 7



Category’s most valuable unicorn Q1 to Q3 2021: 


Samsara Networks.

$6.3B valuation as of March 22. 


Integrates plug-and-play sensors, wireless connectivity and cloud-hosted software. 


MOBILE & TELECOMMUNICATIONS – 7



Category’s most valuable unicorn Q1 to Q3 2021: 


Attentive.

$5.99B valuation as of Sept. 23. 


Personalized mobile messaging platform. 


EDTECH – 6



Category’s most valuable unicorn Q1 to Q3 2021: 


Articulate.

$3.75B valuation as of July 1. 


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