Nearly 90 new unicorns minted so far this year – tech startups valued at over $1 billion
According to Crunchbase and PitchBook data, almost 90 startups have achieved unicorn status in 2026, the majority linked to artificial intelligence, but with a surprising number in healthcare and crypto.
The world of tech startups continues to grow rapidly, with nearly 90 companies already reaching unicorn status this year — meaning their valuation exceeds $1 billion. TechCrunch, using data from Crunchbase and PitchBook, compiled a list of venture-backed startups that became unicorns in 2026. While most are AI-related, a significant number focus on other industries such as healthcare and even crypto.
The list includes several notable names. One standout is Promethus, co-founded by Jeff Bezos, which builds AI tools to automate general engineering tasks and is valued at $41 billion, having raised $18.2 billion in funding. Other major players include Recursive, an AI research lab valued at $4.65 billion, and Nextop AI, which makes ethernet networking hardware for AI data centers and is valued at $4.2 billion.
Among the unicorns are companies addressing specific challenges. For example, Socket protects against supply chain attacks, and Vi Labs helps healthcare organizations find patients and manage operations. SendCutSend cuts custom industrial parts, while Cowboy Space aims to deploy a power grid in space to power AI on Earth. Interestingly, ModRetro, founded by Palmer Luckey, manufactures classic retro gaming devices with modern enhancements.
In total, the list includes nearly 90 startups and will be updated throughout the year. Investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia, and Khosla Ventures are heavily involved. Although AI dominates, the presence of other sectors indicates a broader wave of innovation.
