Almost 90 new unicorns have been minted so far this year — here they are

The startup ecosystem is witnessing a remarkable surge in unicorns, spurred by an investor appetite for artificial intelligence ventures. According to data sourced from Crunchbase and PitchBook, nearly 90 startups have achieved unicorn status in 2026, with many focusing on AI and a notable number branching into sectors like healthcare and cryptocurrency. Among the notable unicorns is MainFunc, which has developed an AI workspace named Genspark. Founded in 2023, MainFunc secured a $485 million Series B round led by Lg Technology Ventures, SBI Investment, and Emergency Equity Management, bringing its total funding to $645 million. Farther, a wealth management platform established in 2019, recently raised $150 million in a Series D round led by General Atlantic, achieving a valuation of $1.25 billion. With a total of $273 million raised so far, the company has attracted significant investments from Bessemer Venture Partners and Khosla Ventures. In the cybersecurity realm, Socket, founded in 2020, assists in defending against supply chain attacks. It raised $60 million in a Series C round, giving it a valuation of $1 billion. Investors include Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. EXA, another significant player, has developed a web engine for AI agents, securing a valuation of $1.95 billion after raising $250 million in a Series C round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Other notable mentions include MiRus, a medical device company valued at $4.41 billion, and Recursive, an AI research lab with a growing valuation of $4.65 billion. Both startups have successfully attracted substantial funding, underscoring the trend of investors flocking to innovative ventures. The list of unicorns continues to evolve as more startups spring into the spotlight, highlighting a vibrant and competitive landscape where innovation meets investment. As the year progresses, TechCrunch plans to update its findings, keeping a close eye on this dynamic sector.