The number of unicorns — current or exited — in an investor’s portfolio has long been considered a barometer of their success. The earlier the investment, the higher the return.
Europe is home to over 120 unicorns, so who’s got the best eye — both in Europe and overseas — for finding needles in the haystack?
If there are any investors missing from this list, or something needs updating, please let us know by email at rankings@sifted.eu.
82
Series A
1983
Venture Capital
29
74
Series A
1996
Venture Capital
25
58
Series B
1997
Private Equity, Venture Capital
24
49
Series A
1996
Venture Capital
15
46
Series B
1995
Private Equity, Venture Capital
22
45
Series A
2003
Venture Capital
13
36
Seed, Series A
2000
Venture Capital
14
36
Series A
2000
Venture Capital
18
34
Series A
2006
Venture Capital
16
32
Series B
2001
Private Equity, Venture Capital
21
31
Series A
2012
Venture Capital
15
31
Series A
2000
Venture Capital
13
30
Series C
1936
Venture Capital
13
29
Growth
1980
Private Equity
18
29
Seed
2013
Venture Capital
17
29
Series B, C, D
2009
Private Equity, Venture Capital
20
28
Series B
1998
Corporate
20
27
Series C
1981
Corporate
24
27
Seed
2012
Venture Capital
11
27
Series B
1999
Private Equity
17
25
Series C, Growth
1988
Private Equity, Venture Capital
22
24
Series A
2006
Venture Capital
7
22
Series A, B
1911
Venture Capital
8
22
Series B, C
1974
Private Equity, Sovereign Wealth Fund
19
22
Series A
1972
Venture Capital
9
22
Seed
2007
Venture Capital
7
22
Seed
2011
Venture Capital
8
21
Series A
2000
Venture Capital
8
21
Series A
2010
Venture Capital
6
21
Seed
2012
Venture Capital
8
20
Series C
1995
Private Equity
14
20
Series A
2000
Venture Capital
6
19
Series A
2012
Private Equity, Venture Capital
10
19
Series B
1869
Corporate
20
18
Seed
2012
Venture Capital
5
18
Seed
1999
Investment Fund
10
18
Series A
1997
Venture Capital
6
17
Series C
1980
Private Equity, Venture Capital
9
17
Series D
1908
Venture Capital
11
17
Seed
2011
Venture Capital
4
17
Seed
2007
Venture Capital
4
16
Series B
2012
Venture Capital
4
16
Series A
1997
Venture Capital
11
16
Series B
1996
Private Equity, Venture Capital
6
16
Series B
2019
Venture Capital
13
16
Series C
2011
Venture Capital
7
15
Growth
1981
Sovereign Wealth Fund
10
15
Series D
2015
Private Equity, Venture Capital
8
15
Series B
2002
Private Equity, Venture Capital
9
15
Series B
2009
Corporate Venture Fund
7
15
Series A
2017
Corporate Venture Fund, Venture Capital
4
15
Series B
2006
Venture Capital
11
15
Series A
2004
Venture Capital
7
15
Seed
2010
Private Equity, Venture Capital
8
14
Series A
2009
Venture Capital
4
14
Series A
1982
Venture Capital
9
14
Series A
1998
Venture Capital
7
14
Series B
2015
Venture Capital
9
13
Series A
1995
Venture Capital
13
13
Series B
1986
Venture Capital
8
13
Series D
2012
Private Equity, Venture Capital
10
13
Seed
2011
Venture Capital
5
13
Series A
2005
Venture Capital
5
12
Series A
2015
Venture Capital
4
12
Growth
1976
Private Equity
7
12
Series C
1946
Private Equity, Venture Capital
12
12
Series B
1986
Venture Capital
5
12
Series A
2007
Venture Capital
3
12
Growth
2006
Private Equity, Venture Capital
11
12
Series C
2013
Family Office, Private Equity
6
12
Seed
2007
Venture Capital
4
12
Seed
2005
Venture Capital
2
12
Seed
2010
Venture Capital
3
11
Series D
1989
Investment Fund
8
11
Series B
2012
Venture Capital
5
11
Series A
2007
Venture Capital
3
11
Series A
2007
Venture Capital
4
11
Seed
2010
Venture Capital
2
10
Series A
2019
Venture Capital
3
10
Series A
2009
Venture Capital
4
10
Series A
2005
Venture Capital
5
10
Series A
2009
Venture Capital
4
10
Series B
2016
Venture Capital
7
10
Series A
2010
Venture Capital
3
10
Series A
1999
Venture Capital
5
10
Seed
2007
Venture Capital
3
10
Seed
-
Angel
5
10
Series A
2001
Venture Capital
7
9
Series C
2011
Venture Capital
10
9
Series C
2009
Private Equity, Venture Capital
6
9
Series A, B
1983
Private Equity, Venture Capital
5
9
Growth
1999
Private Equity
7
9
Seed
2010
Crowdfunding
4
9
Seed
2008
Venture Capital
3
9
Series A, B
2019
Corporate
8
9
Series B
1995
Venture Capital
4
9
Growth
2018
Venture Capital
4
9
Seed
2005
Accelerator
4
9
Series A
2013
Venture Capital
3
9
Growth
2001
Private Equity, Venture Capital
2
9
Series A
2000
Venture Capital
2
9
Series B
2014
Venture Capital
5