Unicorns aren’t the rare beast they once were in European tech — despite the long odds that companies shooting for that milestone still face.
Europe is now home to over 120 unicorns, according to Sifted’s definition, 68 of which graduated in 2021 alone — more than triple the 18 new entries of 2020 and four times as many as all unicorns minted on the continent before 2014. That means Europe made more than five unicorns a month in 2021.
To help you keep track of it all, Sifted’s team has compiled a list of Europe’s unicorns using data from European Startups and our own research — with valuation estimates from Dealroom. We’ll update the list whenever a new company hits the billion-dollar valuation.
Sifted defines a unicorn as a privately held, VC-backed company valued at $1bn. To be considered unicorns, startups must have: reached a $1bn valuation on any round previous to IPO or acquisition, been founded after 2005 and be both founded and headquartered in Europe. Companies valued at $1bn at IPO but never at any prior financing stage are not considered unicorns as they are no longer privately held at that valuation. Please let us know if we’ve missed any at [email protected]
Key
Year founded
Amount raised
Last funding round
Valuation
Employees
Ankorstore
Wholesale marketplace
marketplace /
ankorstore.comParis , France
2019
368m
SERIES C
1.75
200-500
2019
368m
SERIES C
1.75
200-500
PayFit
HR & Payroll management system
enterpise software /
payfit.comParis, France
2015
430m
SERIES E
1.80
500-1000
2015
430m
SERIES E
1.80
500-1000
Klarna
Payment solutions for online storefronts
fintech / payments
klarna.comStockholm, Sweden
2005
3053.84m
GE VC
41.45
5000-10000
2005
3053.84m
GE VC
41.45
5000-10000
Revolut
A world beyond banking - a secure, mobile-based current account that allows you to hold, exchange and transfer without fees in 25 different currencies
fintech / banking
revolut.comLondon, United Kingdom
2015
1563.09m
SERIES E
30.00
1000-5000
Revolut
A world beyond banking - a secure, mobile-based current account that allows you to hold, exchange and transfer without fees in 25 different currencies
fintech / banking
revolut.comLondon, United Kingdom
2015
1563.09m
SERIES E
30.00
1000-5000
Checkout.com
Offers credit card and alternative payment methods
fintech / payments
checkout.comLondon, United Kingdom
2012
754.55m
SERIES C
13.64
1000-5000
Checkout.com
Offers credit card and alternative payment methods
fintech / payments
checkout.comLondon, United Kingdom
2012
754.55m
SERIES C
13.64
1000-5000
Northvolt
Lithium-ion batteries manufacturer
energy, transportation / clean energy, energy storage
northvolt.comStockholm, Sweden
2016
4024.08m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
10.68
1000-5000
Sifted Take
Northvolt
Lithium-ion batteries manufacturer
energy, transportation / clean energy, energy storage
northvolt.comStockholm, Sweden
2016
4024.08m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
10.68
1000-5000
Sifted Take
Celonis
Provides an Execution Management System that helps companies in running their business processes
marketing, enterprise software /
celonis.comMunich, Germany
2011
1243.18m
SERIES D
10.00
1000-5000
Celonis
Provides an Execution Management System that helps companies in running their business processes
marketing, enterprise software /
celonis.comMunich, Germany
2011
1243.18m
SERIES D
10.00
1000-5000
2013
1562.39m
SERIES E
8.18
1000-5000
2016
700m
SERIES E
7.95
200-500
2015
1233.64m
SERIES F
7.73
500-1000
2019
928.73m
SERIES D
7.05
500-1000
Personio
Developer of an HR management and recruiting platform for SMEs and startups
jobs recruitment, enterprise software /
personio.deMunich, Germany
2015
477.94m
SERIES E
5.73
500-1000
Personio
Developer of an HR management and recruiting platform for SMEs and startups
jobs recruitment, enterprise software /
personio.deMunich, Germany
2015
477.94m
SERIES E
5.73
500-1000
2011
387.96m
SERIES E
4.90
500-1000
Trade Republic
Mobile-only and commission-free broker
fintech / wealth management
traderepublic.comBerlin, Germany
2018
767m
SERIES C
4.82
500-1000
Trade Republic
Mobile-only and commission-free broker
fintech / wealth management
traderepublic.comBerlin, Germany
2018
767m
SERIES C
4.82
500-1000
Blockchain
Open-source, noncustodial wallet for crypto
fintech / crypto and defi
blockchain.comLondon, United Kingdom
2011
445.45m
SERIES C
4.73
200-500
Sifted Take
Blockchain
Open-source, noncustodial wallet for crypto
fintech / crypto and defi
blockchain.comLondon, United Kingdom
2011
445.45m
SERIES C
4.73
200-500
Sifted Take
Octopus Energy
Clean energy supplier
energy / clean energy, energy providers
octopus.energyLondon, United Kingdom
2015
1360m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
4.55
500-1000
Octopus Energy
Clean energy supplier
energy / clean energy, energy providers
octopus.energyLondon, United Kingdom
2015
1360m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
4.55
500-1000
Zepz (WorldRemit)
Online money transfer business
fintech / payments
zepzpay.comLondon, United Kingdom
2010
595.18m
SERIES E
4.55
500-1000
2010
595.18m
SERIES E
4.55
500-1000
2015
387.38m
SERIES C
4.27
200-500
2015
1076.97m
LATE VC
4.09
1000-5000
2013
1085.43m
LATE VC
4.00
1000-5000
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