Billion-dollar start-ups are on the rise

Not too long ago, very few tech start-ups managed to reach the $1 billion or higher valuation before going public, an achievement that would earn them a spot in the exclusive Unicorn Club list. Today, however, according to the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones VentureSource, the mythological unicorns are becoming a more common phenomenon.

According to the WSJ, there are presently 115 private companies with valuations of a billion dollars or higher. Back in early 2014, there were only 42.

The proliferation of “unicorns” seems to be backed by a bull market and a new generation of disruptive technology, but is it a sign of another tech bubble? Are we about to witness a market correction?

Below is a chart displaying the growth of venture-backed private companies valued at $1 billion or more.

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Author: José Santiago, Senior Associate, Public Engagement at the World Economic Forum.

Imagen: Participants of the Start-Up Chile programme work at their headquarters in Santiago. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado