10 unicorn startups that changed the world
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The term "unicorn startups” started to get more and more famous in the last few years, and we have seen many companies achieve this title shortly after they started their work. But did you know that, in addition to success, several companies that have already gained this terminology received a large initial investment?
There are many entrepreneurs who end up investing (a lot) in good ideas, thinking about the future, which is when the great success of the brand will be achieved. The company CenturyLink Bussiness conducted a survey to find out which successful companies received an initial financial support and the result is quite… surprising. Next, we will discuss the term “unicorn startup” further and find out which companies are cited in the survey.
What are unicorn startups?
Technology companies that have a market value above US$ 1 billion are called “unicorns”. The term was used for the first time in 2013, in an article by the American Aileen Lee, which was called “Welcome to the unicorn club: learning from billion dollar startups” (“Welcome to the unicorn club: learning from billion-dollar startups,” in free translation).
Source: FreePik
Since the article was published, several new companies have been conquering the title of unicorn startups. To achieve such a feat, it is necessary, of course, to have a good idea, as well as an owner or board that manages to carry out the necessary management so that nothing goes wrong. Having a great market value right at the launch of the idea is not essential for you to have a company, but a financial contribution from an investor can collaborate - and a lot - with its success.
Successful companies with large initial investment
It is often said that to have a successful business, you only need a good idea. But you must also imagine that receiving a considerable financial contribution can help to mitigate the journey as CEO of a company that is on the list of unicorn startups, right? Of course, this also helps to increase the market presence of the company or product. The investment of another company or even a solo entrepreneur can make the growth stages be put into practice sooner than expected, even being skipped.
As mentioned in the introduction, website CenturyLink Business did a survey to find out which unicorn startups got this title with the little push of financial support, which was essential for success and winning more customers. See each of them below.
Calm
Source: Calm/Disclosure
Company focused on offering programs for meditation and better use of sleep, Calm is still not so famous in Brazil, despite having made partnerships with personalities from Tupiniquin lands, with the actor Cauã Reymond, for example, which narrates some spoken parts of the application. The company entered the market with an investment of US$7 million in 2012.
It currently has a market value of US$ 2 billion, joining the list of unicorn startups since 2019. This is also the first company focused on mental health to achieve this feat. There has been a growth of 28.000% (twenty-eight thousand percent) since the inauguration of the Calm. Impressive, isn't it?
Curology
Source: Curology/Disclosure
Another company that is also focused on well-being, but this time more in terms of physical appearance, is Curology. The company, in addition to manufacturing products to eliminate acne, also offers treatments for the same problem via telemedicine.
In the year of foundation, in 2012, the Curology entered the market with an investment of US$ 2,9 million. Seven years later, the current market value was US$ 2 billion, with a growth of 1.600% (one thousand six hundred percent). THE Curology joined the list of unicorn startups in 2019, as did Calm.
Lyft
Direct competitor of Uber in the United States, the Lyft is one of the fastest growing unicorn startups since its founding in 2012. Lyft it was US$1,3 million when it started partnering with drivers to carry out trips. Since then, this company's growth has been an incredible 1.600% (one thousand and six hundred percent) and, nowadays, it is already worth twice what is necessary to be considered a unicorn startup: US$ 2 billion.
Notion
Who knew that an app to organize tasks would be worth so much? Debuting in 2012, the company from Notion is also part of the list of unicorn startups, having achieved the title in 2020. Today, its market value is US$ 2 billion, but in its beginnings, the investment applied was US$ 2,5 million. The growth is calculated at 1.600% (one thousand six hundred percent) since the launch of the application.
InstaCart
Source: InstaCart/Disclosure
Food delivery and collection companies are extremely booming, and the InstaCart, which does exactly this service, is one of the most famous in the US and Canada. It started its activities in 2012, and had an investment of US$ 2,3 million, and today it is worth US$ 2 billion. An interesting point was that the growth rate since the foundation was, like the ones mentioned above, 1.600% (one thousand six hundred percent).
Canva
Being a quick option for those who need a photo to be posted on social networks or any other graphic material, the Canva is also on the list of unicorn startups that already had a certain market cap due to their initial investment. There are data that the service was launched with a funding of US$ 6,6 million. Nowadays, being used by professionals and amateurs, the Canva impresses: it is worth US$ 32 billion. The growth is also the envy of large companies: 485.000% (four hundred and eighty-five thousand percent) since 2012.
ByteDance (TikTok)
Source: TikTok
As the owner of one of the most used apps in the world and responsible for the success of several music and media personalities, ByteDance received an investment of US$ 2.5 billion when it started operations. Since then, there has been a growth of 2.900% (two thousand nine hundred percent), and today, the company is worth US$ 75 billion.
Doordash
Source: DoorDash/Disclosure
Another company in the delivery business, Doordash it is also listed as one of the fastest growing companies, even though the initial investment amount was not so great.
Functioning similarly to iFood, which is a leader in Brazil, the owners of this company did not put as much money into the idea as the others listed in this text: only US$ 120.000. Eight years later, with a growth of 59.000.000% (fifty-nine million percent!), the Doordash is worth $71 billion.
Social media coordinator
Source: Instagram/Disclosure
If you're thinking that the Social media coordinator got bigger only after the purchase of the company by Mark Zuckerberg, leave that idea aside. As soon as it started to have users, the idea received a financial contribution of US$ 7 million. Also with a growth of 1.600% (one thousand and six hundred percent), driven by its purchase by Facebook (which is now called Meta), today the social network has a market value of US$ 110 billion. the foundation of Social media coordinator happened in 2010.
Chemistry
Source: Chime/Disclosure
Finishing our list, we have the Chemistry, a digital bank that is focused on offering zero monthly fees. The proposal is similar to the Nubank, where there is no physical branch and all support is done through its smartphone app. Due to being a bank, an investment of US$ 3,8 million was necessary. The growth is impressive: from 2013 to 2021, the digital bank had a market value 3.800.000% (three million, eight hundred thousand percent) more valuable, reaching US$ 145 billion.
Does financial contribution matter?
Although all the companies on our list had a certain boost when they started working, the financial contribution can be that “breath” for your startup to finally enter the unicorn list.
A good way to find investors for your idea is through networking, as well as by participating in fairs and other market events where you want to grow. Most of the people who will put money into your company will ask for something in return, such as a money-back with monetary correction or even a percentage of the stock.
Source: FreePik/Disclosure
But, at the same time, don't worry if your company doesn't receive a financial support: there are many ideas that also grew organically and with the famous “word of mouth”. Sooner or later, you will get where you want to be, and you could perhaps make the list of companies that are unicorn startups.
Are there unicorn startups of Brazilian origin?
Our list only has companies that are famous abroad despite the Canva e Social media coordinator are widely used by Brazilians. Looking at Tupiniquin land entrepreneurs, know that yes, there are unicorn startups in our country. The total number is still not very high, reaching 22, but it is already a considerable sum, isn't it? Are they:
- 99
- Arco Education
- C6 Bank
- Credits
- ebanx
- gympass
- Hotmart
- iFood
- Loft
- Loggi
- Madeira Madeira
- Bitcoin market
- mobile
- Nubank
- PagSeguro
- Fifth floor
- Stone
- Unico
- VTEX
- Wildlife studios
Brazil, despite all the problems in its economy today, continues to be one of the best countries to start a company, and, as you can see, companies from different fields are already on the list of unicorn startups. Do you know of a company that is not on this list and could make it onto the list of large companies that have more than $1 billion in market value? Comment here with us!
See also:
understand how Brazilian companies are deploying IoT solutions andn your day to day:
Sources: CenturyLink Business, AAA Innovation e PC Mag
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