What is unicorn company?

 A unicorn company is a startup company valued at over $1 billion. The term was first popularized in 2013 by venture capitalist Aileen Lee, choosing the mythical animal to represent the statistical rarity of such successful ventures.

A privately held startup company valued at over US$1 billion; a unicorn is a rare, mythical creature with one long horn growing out of its forehead. Although the term was first popularized in 2013 by venture capitalist Aileen Lee, it has been used to describe start-up ventures since as early as 2005. Why was she drawn to this metaphor? In her own words: "There are very few things that give me that tingly feeling you sometimes get from seeing something so powerful and majestic."

Unicorn companies are privately held, venture-backed startups that have achieved valuations of at least $1 billion. The name is derived from the mythical animal, which has long been a metaphor for extraordinary businesses. Venture capitalists use many metrics to evaluate startups for investment, with company growth rate being one of the most commonly used.

A unicorn is a mythological animal with a single, pointed horn growing out of its forehead. While the unicorn’s horn was supposed to have the power to heal, it could also cause untold devastation if used incorrectly. Therefore, a company who has reached $1 billion valuation in one year without going public - is a startup unicorn.