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
Ledger
Providing security and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications
fintech / crypto and defi
ledger.comParis, France
2014
432.15m
SERIES C
1.36
200-500
Sifted Take
Ledger
Providing security and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications
fintech / crypto and defi
ledger.comParis, France
2014
432.15m
SERIES C
1.36
200-500
Sifted Take
Matillion
Data transformation software for cloud data warehouses
enterprise software /
matillion.comAltrincham, United Kingdom
2011
281.25m
SERIES E
1.36
200-500
Matillion
Data transformation software for cloud data warehouses
enterprise software /
matillion.comAltrincham, United Kingdom
2011
281.25m
SERIES E
1.36
200-500
MindMaze
Builds novel interfaces for neurorehabilitation, game training and 3D imaging in real time
health / medical devices
mindmaze.comLausanne, Switzerland
2012
212.25m
LATE VC
1.36
50-200
MindMaze
Builds novel interfaces for neurorehabilitation, game training and 3D imaging in real time
health / medical devices
mindmaze.comLausanne, Switzerland
2012
212.25m
LATE VC
1.36
50-200
Solarisbank
Empower any business to offer financial services, building more valuable connections with their customers
fintech / banking
solarisbank.deBerlin, Germany
2016
345.1m
LATE VC
1.36
200-500
Sifted Take
Solarisbank
Empower any business to offer financial services, building more valuable connections with their customers
fintech / banking
solarisbank.deBerlin, Germany
2016
345.1m
LATE VC
1.36
200-500
Sifted Take
Cabify
Car booking web and mobile app
transportation / mobility
cabify.comMadrid, Spain
2011
368.86m
DEBT
1.27
1000-5000
2011
368.86m
DEBT
1.27
1000-5000
Epidemic Sound
A global MusicTech company that is on a mission to soundtrack the world
music /
epidemicsound.comStockholm, Sweden
2009
463.2m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
1.27
500-1000
Epidemic Sound
A global MusicTech company that is on a mission to soundtrack the world
music /
epidemicsound.comStockholm, Sweden
2009
463.2m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
1.27
500-1000
Scalable Capital
Low-cost portfolio management technology
fintech / wealth management
scalable.capitalMunich, Germany
2014
282.36m
SERIES E
1.27
200-500
Scalable Capital
Low-cost portfolio management technology
fintech / wealth management
scalable.capitalMunich, Germany
2014
282.36m
SERIES E
1.27
200-500
Gymshark
Fitness apparel and accessories brand
fashion, sports / footwear, accessories, apparel
gymshark.comSolihull, United Kingdom
2012
240m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
1.20
500-1000
Gymshark
Fitness apparel and accessories brand
fashion, sports / footwear, accessories, apparel
gymshark.comSolihull, United Kingdom
2012
240m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
1.20
500-1000
OVO Energy
Energy technology company and supplier
energy / clean energy, energy providers
ovoenergy.comBristol, United Kingdom
2008
277.2m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
1.20
1000-5000
OVO Energy
Energy technology company and supplier
energy / clean energy, energy providers
ovoenergy.comBristol, United Kingdom
2008
277.2m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
1.20
1000-5000
Marshmallow
Car insurance tailored for people who've moved to the UK
fintech, transportation / insurance
marshmallow.comLondon, United Kingdom
2017
107.45m
SERIES B
1.14
50-200
Marshmallow
Car insurance tailored for people who've moved to the UK
fintech, transportation / insurance
marshmallow.comLondon, United Kingdom
2017
107.45m
SERIES B
1.14
50-200
2013
338.31m
SECONDARY
1.12
500-1000
2016
332.91m
SERIES C
1.09
500-1000
GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide is the booking platform for incredible travel experiences
travel, event tech / online travel agency
getyourguide.comBerlin, Germany
2009
728m
DEBT
1.09
500-1000
GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide is the booking platform for incredible travel experiences
travel, event tech / online travel agency
getyourguide.comBerlin, Germany
2009
728m
DEBT
1.09
500-1000
Rohlik Group
Online grocery delivery service that is changing the habit of shopping in Europe
food / food logistics & delivery
rohlik.groupPrague, Czech Republic
2014
328.18m
SERIES C
1.09
1000-5000
Rohlik Group
Online grocery delivery service that is changing the habit of shopping in Europe
food / food logistics & delivery
rohlik.groupPrague, Czech Republic
2014
328.18m
SERIES C
1.09
1000-5000
Sennder
A digital freight-forwarder platform for full truck loads
transportation / logistics & delivery
sennder.comBerlin, Germany
2015
282.73m
SERIES D
1.09
500-1000
Sennder
A digital freight-forwarder platform for full truck loads
transportation / logistics & delivery
sennder.comBerlin, Germany
2015
282.73m
SERIES D
1.09
500-1000
Deezer
Online music streaming service available on any device
music /
deezer.comParis, France
2007
480.43m
LATE VC
1.00
500-1000
Sifted Take
2007
480.43m
LATE VC
1.00
500-1000
Sifted Take
Doctolib
An appointment online to a doctor or dentist
health / health platform
doctolib.frLevallois-Perret, France
2013
237.18m
LATE VC
1.00
1000-5000
Doctolib
An appointment online to a doctor or dentist
health / health platform
doctolib.frLevallois-Perret, France
2013
237.18m
LATE VC
1.00
1000-5000
2015
317.7m
SERIES D
1.00
200-500
2007
137.64m
LATE VC
1.00
200-500
Sifted Take
2011
39.09m
DEBT
1.00
1000-5000
Sifted Take
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