China is home to 7 of the top 10 most highly valued unicorn companies located outside the US.
Today’s global unicorn club is comprised of 214 private companies that are each valued at $1B+. Collectively, this cohort of the world’s most valuable private enterprises is worth approximately $745B.
The lion’s share of that value is held by companies that are located in the US. In fact, just over 50% of the world’s unicorn companies are located in the US, and US unicorns comprise 51% of the cumulative valuation of the global unicorn club.
However, in recent years, more and more unicorns have been popping up outside of the US. In 2014, 37% of all companies that achieved their first $1B+ valuation were based outside the US. In 2015 that number rose to 53%, and last year rose again to 58%. So far in 2017, there have been 42 companies added to the global unicorn club; of those, 24 are based outside of the US.
Using CB Insights data, we mapped the locations of private companies currently valued at $1B+ that are based outside of the US. We also charted the share of unicorns that have been added to the club each year since 2013 by location (US vs. non-US).
See the map and full list of all non-US unicorns, their select investors, and the date each reached unicorn status below.
Please click to enlarge.
In 2013, over 70% of companies that achieved unicorn status were US-based. Each year since 2013 – 2016, that share of unicorns has gone down, and last year, less than half of the unicorns added to the club (42%) were based in the US.
This year to date, the most highly valued non-US based companies to reach unicorn status include China-based companies Toutiao (most recently valued at $11B), Mobike ($3B), NIO ($2.9B), and e-shang Redwood ($2B), Germany-based Otto Bock healthcare ($3.5B), and the first ever Maltese unicorn, VistaJet ($2.5B).
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Track Unicorn startupsunicorns by country
Outside the US, China has far and away the greatest number of private unicorn companies, at 55 total. The country is also home to the world’s top 3 most highly valued private non-US companies, led by $50B ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing. Rounding out the top 3 are electronics company Xiaomi ($46B) and online lending platform Lu.com ($18.5B).
Following China, the most unicorn-rich countries are India and the UK, respectively. No “Other” country takes more than 2% of the world’s unicorns located outside the US.
At present, there are 3 unicorns in Africa: Africa Internet Group in Nigeria and Promasidor Holdings and Cell C in South Africa. There are also 3 unicorns in the Middle East (ironSource and Infinidat in Israel, and Careem in the United Arab Emirates), and 2 in South America (LifeMiles in Colombia and Decolar in Argentina).
Outside of the US and China, the most valuable private companies are the Indian e-commerce platform Flipkart (most recently valued at $11.6B), followed by music streaming service Spotify in Sweden ($8.5B) and daily deal site Snapdeal in India ($7B).
Companies list
| Company | Country | Date Reached 1B+ Valuation | Select Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decolar | Argentina | 3/10/2015 | Blum Capital Partners LP, Tiger Global Management, Sonae.com Ventures |
| Kik Interactive | Canada | 8/18/2015 | Millennium Technology Value Partners, Spark Capital, Union Square Ventures |
| Kuaishou | China | 1/1/2015 | Sequoia Capital China, China Media Capital, DCM Ventures |
| NIO | China | 3/15/2017 | Lenovo Ventures Group, Temasek Holdings, Tencent Holdings |
| Toutiao | China | 4/7/2017 | Sequoia Capital China, Source Code Capital, SIG Asia Investments |
| 51Xinyongka | China | 9/21/2016 | HgCapital, Meridian Capital, JD.com |
| Aiwujiwu | China | 5/6/2015 | Temasek Holdings, GGV Capital, Hillhouse Capital Management |
| Apus Group | China | 1/16/2015 | Redpoint Ventures, Qiming Venture Partners, Northern Light Venture Capital |
| BeiBei | China | 1/22/2015 | IDG Capital Partners, Banyan Capital, Capital Today |
| China Internet Plus | China | 12/22/2015 | DST Global, Trustbridge Partners, Baillie Gifford & Co. |
| Dada | China | 12/31/2015 | Sequoia Capital China, DST Global, Walmart |
| Didi Chuxing | China | 3/31/2015 | Apple, China Life Insurance, Tencent Holdings |
| DJI Innovations | China | 11/24/2014 | Accel Partners, Sequoia Capital China |
| Ele.me | China | 8/27/2015 | Dianping, Alibaba Group, CITIC Capital Private Equity |
| Fanli | China | 4/20/2015 | Steamboat Ventures, SIG Asia Investments, Qiming Venture Partners |
| Guahao Technology Co. | China | 9/22/2015 | China Development Industrial Bank, Tencent Holdings, Morningside Ventures |
| Guazi | China | 3/12/2016 | Sequoia Capital China, GX Capital, Matrix Partners China |
| Homelink | China | 4/7/2016 | Baidu, Source Code Capital, Sunac China Holdings |
| HuiMin.cn | China | 9/5/2016 | China Innovation Investment, Western Capital Management, Shenzhen Fortune Venture Capital |
| Huochebang | China | 12/22/2016 | Tencent Holdings, DCM Ventures, Eastern Bell Venture Capital |
| iCarbonX | China | 4/12/2016 | Tencent Holdings, China Bridge Capital , Vcanbio |
| iTutorGroup | China | 11/18/2015 | SBI Group, GIC, Silverlink Capital |
| Jiuxian | China | 7/30/2015 | Sequoia Capital China, China Merchants Bank, China Minsheng Banking Corp. |
| Koudai Gouwu | China | 10/23/2014 | Warburg Pincus, Tiger Global Management, Tencent Holdings |
| Lakala | China | 6/23/2015 | China Renaissance Capital Investment, China Continent Property & Casualty Insurance, Legend Capital |
| Liepin | China | 6/28/2016 | Matrix Partners China, China Mobile, Warburg Pincus |
| Lu.com | China | 12/26/2014 | Guotai Junan Securities, CDH Investments, China International Capital Corporation |
| Meizu Technology | China | 7/23/2014 | Alibaba Group, Indiegogo, Telling Telecommunication Holding Co. |
| Mia.com | China | 9/8/2015 | K2 Ventures, Baidu, China Renaissance Capital Investment |
| Mofang Gongyu | China | 4/13/2016 | Warburg Pincus, Aviation Industry Corporation of China, DT Capital Partners |
| Mogujie | China | 6/6/2014 | Meilishuo, IDG Capital Partners, Trustbridge Partners |
| Ofo | China | 3/1/2017 | Matrix Partners China, CITIC Capital Private Equity, Vision Capital |
| Panshi | China | 5/5/2015 | JD Capital Management, Fang Fund Partners, WI Harper Group |
| Rong360 | China | 10/12/2015 | Sequoia Capital China, Lightspeed China Partners, Yunfeng Capital |
| Royole Corporation | China | 11/4/2016 | IDG Capital Partners, Warmsun Holding, AlphaWealth |
| Trendy Group International | China | 2/13/2012 | L Capital Partners |
| TuJia | China | 6/17/2015 | Lightspeed China Partners, GGV Capital, China Broadband Capital |
| UBTECH Robotics | China | 7/25/2016 | Goldstone Investment, Qiming Venture Partners, CDH Investments |
| URWork | China | 1/18/2017 | Zhongrong International Trust, Tianhong Asset Management, Zhenge Fund |
| VANCL | China | 12/14/2010 | IDG Capital Partners, Ceyuan Ventures, International Data Group |
| Weiying Technology | China | 11/17/2015 | Tencent Holdings, Wanda Group, iDreamSky Technology |
| Xiaohongshu | China | 3/31/2016 | GGV Capital, Hudson & Marshall, ZhenFund |
| Xiaomi | China | 12/21/2011 | Temasek Holdings, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Qiming Venture Partners |
| Xuanyixia | China | 11/24/2015 | Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Redpoint Ventures, YG Entertainment |
| ZhangYue | China | 1/4/2016 | Guo Jin Capital, Alpha Animation & Culture |
| Zhihu | China | 1/12/2017 | Qiming Venture Partners, Capital Today, SAIF Partners |
| Zhong An Insurance | China | 6/11/2015 | Morgan Stanley, SAIF Partners, Keywise Capital |
| United Imaging Healthcare | China | 9/14/2017 | China Development Bank Capital, China Life Insurance |
| VipKid | China | 8/23/2017 | Sinovation Ventures, Bryant Stibel, Sequoia Capital China |
| Cambricon | China | 8/18/2017 | Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, CAS Investment Management Co., Lenovo Ventures Group |
| e-shang Redwood | China | 7/26/2017 | Ping An Insurance, SK Group, GF Investments |
| SenseTime | China | 7/11/2017 | Star VC, IDG Capital, Wanda Group |
| Zhaogang | China | 6/29/2017 | K2 Ventures, Matrix Partners China, Bull Capital partners |
| Mobike | China | 6/16/2017 | TPG Capital, Tencent Holdings, Ctrip |
| Dt Dream | China | 6/8/2017 | Alibaba Group, China Everbright Investment Management, Yinxinggu Capital |
| Yuanfudao | China | 5/31/2017 | Tencent Holdings, Warbug Pincus, IDG Capital |
| Tuandaiwang | China | 5/30/2017 | Beihai Hongtai Investment, China Minsheng Investment, Yisheng Innovation |
| NetEase Cloud Music | China | 4/11/2017 | China International Capital Corporation, Hunan TV & Broadcast Intermediary, Shanghai Media Group |
| LifeMiles | Colombia | 7/13/2015 | Advent International |
| Avast Software | Czech Republic | 2/5/2014 | Summit Partners, Kickstarter, CVC Capital Partners |
| Saxo Bank | Denamrk | 8/21/2015 | General Atlantic, TPG Capital, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group |
| BlaBlaCar | France | 9/16/2015 | Lead Edge Capital, Accel Partners, Index Ventures |
| OVH | France | 8/15/2016 | Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., BNP Paribas, HSBC |
| Auto1 Group | Germany | 7/6/2015 | DST Global, Rocket Internet, Baillie Gifford & Co. |
| CureVac | Germany | 3/5/2015 | NorthView Ventures, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Sigma Group |
| Delivery Hero | Germany | 9/3/2014 | WestTech Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, Kite Ventures |
| HelloFresh | Germany | 9/17/2015 | Rocket Internet, Baillie Gifford & Co., Phenomen Ventures |
| Otto Bock HealthCare | Germany | 6/24/2017 | EQT Partners |
| Flipkart | India | 8/6/2012 | Naspers, Morgan Stanley, GIC |
| Hike | India | 8/16/2016 | Tencent Holdings, SoftBank Group, Tiger Global Management |
| InMobi | India | 12/2/2014 | SoftBank Group, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Hercules Capital |
| Olacabs | India | 10/27/2014 | ABG Capital, DST Global, Matrix Partners India |
| One97 Communications | India | 5/12/2015 | Ant Financial Services Group, Silicon Valley Bank, IF Partners |
| ReNew Power Ventures | India | 2/14/2017 | Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, JERA |
| ShopClues | India | 1/12/2016 | Helion Venture Partners, Tiger Global Management, Nexus Venture Partners |
| Snapdeal | India | 5/21/2014 | Foxconn Technology Company, eBay, Nexus Venture Partners |
| Zomato Media | India | 4/10/2015 | Info Edge, VY Capital, Sequoia Capital India |
| Go-JEK | Indonesia | 8/4/2016 | DST Global, Sequoia Capital India, Capital Group Companies |
| Traveloka | Indonesia | 7/28/2017 | Expedia Inc., Global Founders Capital, East Ventures |
| Infinidat | Israel | 4/29/2015 | TPG Growth, Undisclosed Investors |
| ironSource | Israel | 8/11/2014 | Disrupt-ive, Access Industries, Clal Industries and Investments |
| Mercari | Japan | 3/2/2016 | Global Brain Corporation, GMO VenturePartners, Mitsui & Co. |
| Global Fashion Group | Luxembourg | 4/8/2015 | Tengelmann Ventures, Rocket Internet, Access Industries |
| VistaJet | Malta | 8/24/2017 | Rhone Capital |
| Adyen | Netherlands | 12/16/2014 | Temasek Holdings, Felicis Ventures, ICONIQ Capital |
| Africa Internet Group | Nigeria | 2/8/2016 | Goldman Sachs, Rocket Internet, Orange |
| Garena Online | Singapore | 3/3/2015 | Keytone Ventures, SeaTown Holdings International, GDP Venture |
| Grab | Singapore | 12/4/2014 | GGV Capital, Honda, Vertex Venture Holdings |
| Promasidor Holdings | South Africa | 11/8/2016 | Ajinomoto, International Finance Corporation |
| Cell C | South Africa | 8/7/2017 | Blue Label Telecoms, Net1 UEPS Technologies |
| Coupang | South Korea | 5/28/2014 | SoftBank Group, Sequoia Capital, BlackRock |
| Yello Mobile | South Korea | 11/11/2014 | Formation 8, SBI Investment, Q Capital Partners |
| Klarna | Sweden | 12/12/2011 | JFT Holdings, General Atlantic, Sequoia Capital |
| Spotify | Sweden | 6/17/2011 | Accel Partners, Goldman Sachs, Halcyon Capital |
| Avaloq Group | Switzerland | 3/22/2017 | Warburg Pincus |
| MindMaze | Switzerland | 1/28/2016 | Hinduja Group, Undisclosed Investors, Undisclosed Angel Investors |
| Careem Networks | United Arab Emirates | 12/18/2016 | BECO Capital, Wamda Capital, Al Tayyar Travel Group |
| benevolent.ai | United Kingdom | 6/2/2015 | Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Woodford Investment Managment, Lansdowne Partners |
| BrewDog | United Kingdom | 4/10/2017 | TSG Consumer Partners, Undisclosed Angel Investors, Crowdcube |
| FarFetch | United Kingdom | 3/4/2015 | Advent Venture Partners, Conde Nast, e.ventures |
| Funding Circle | United Kingdom | 4/23/2015 | Accel Partners, Temasek Holdings, Ribbit Capital |
| Global Switch | United Kingdom | 12/22/2016 | Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Essence Financial, Ping An Insurance |
| Shazam | United Kingdom | 1/20/2015 | Acacia Capital Partners, Buran Venture Capital, America Movil |
| TransferWise | United Kingdom | 1/26/2015 | IA Ventures, Index Ventures, Seedcamp |
| Oxford Nanopore Technologies | United Kingdom | 5/6/2012 | IP Group, Woodford Investment Managment, Illumina |
| Improbable | United Kingdom | 5/12/2017 | Andreessen Horowitz, SoftBank Group, Temasek Holdings |
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