Number of global unicorn exits 2006-2022, by exit type
Initial public offering (IPO) was overwhelmingly the preferred exit method for unicorns worldwide between January and July 2021. During this period, 59 unicorns exited by going public, whereas only six unicorns were acquired. Unicorns are private companies that are valued at one billion U.S. dollars or over. If that company subsequently goes public or is acquired, it is no longer referred to as a unicorn. When a unicorn company does one of these two things, it is called an exit.
