Unicorn Startup - Top 30 Unicorn Startups in India (2020)

A unicorn company or startup is defined as a privately held startup company that is valued at over $1 billion. This term was coined in the year 2013 by the venture capitalist, Aileen Lee (1), choosing a mythical animal for the representation of a statistical rarity of successful ventures. Below listed are some well known Unicorn Startups.

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A. Consumer Services (Unicorn Startup):

Consumer services refer to startups in hyperlocal and food delivery space. This is one of the renowned sectors of the Indian startup ecosystem. In 2019, consumer services startups raised $176 overall with 33% of deals coming in the FMCG startups. Below listed are the unicorns of this sector:

1. Quikr

Year of the launch: 2008
Founders: Jiby Thomas and Pranay Chulet
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $430
Key Investors: Kinnevik AB, Tiger Global Management, Brand Capital, NGP Capital, Warburg Pincus are the key investors.
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2015

Check out the latest news on Quikr here.

2. Zomato

Year of Launch: 2008
Founders: Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah
Headquarters: At Delhi-NCR
Total Funding: $775
Key Investors: Sequoia Capital, Temasek Holdings, InfoEdge, Ant Financial, Vy Capital, etc
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2015

Check out the latest news on Zomato here.

3. Hike

Year of Launch: 2012
Founder: Kavin Bharti Mittal
Headquarters: At Delhi-NCR
Total Funding: $261
Key Investors: Bharti SoftBank, Foxconn Technology Group, Tiger Global Management, Tencent Holdings, and so on.
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2016

4. Info Edge

Year of Launch: 1995
Founder: Sanjeev Bikhchandani
Headquarters: At Delhi-NCR
Funding: By the Public Company
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2014

5. BigBasket

Year of Launch: 2011
Founders: Abhinay Choudhari, Hari Menon, Vipul Parekh, and VS Sudhakar
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $1.02
Key Investors: Alibaba Group, Paytm Mall, Helion Venture Partners,
Bessemer Venture Partners, LionRock Capital, Abraaj Group and Helion Venture Partners,
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2019

Check out the latest news on BigBasket here.

6. Swiggy

Year of Launch: 2014
Founders: Nandan Reddy, Rahul Jaimini and Sriharsha Majety
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $1.27
Key Investors: DST Global, Bessemer Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, Accel, SAIF Partners and Naspers,
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

Check out the latest news on Swiggy here.

B. Ecommerce (Unicorn companies in India)

The ecommerce sector is one of the most crucial in the Indian market from the point of view of startups as many other sectors have relied upon the growth of the ecommerce sector for their growth. Over 21 deals in the year 2019, ecommerce startups raised $381. Following brands come under this sector:

7. Flipkart

Year of Launch: 2007
Founders: Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $7.3
Key Investors: SoftBank, Microsoft, Tencent, eBay, Steadview Capital, DST Global, Accel Partners, Naspers, Tiger Global Management, etc
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2012

Check out the latest news on Flipkart here.

8. Snapdeal

Year of Launch: 2010
Founders: Kunal Bahl, and Rohit Bansal
Headquarters: At Delhi-NCR
Total Funding: $ 1.8
Key Investors: SoftBank, Kalaari Capital, Foxconn Tech, Blackrock, RuNet Holdings, Alibaba, etc
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2014

Check out the latest news on Snapdeal here.

9. Paytm Mall

Year of Launch: 2016
Founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Headquarters: At Delhi-NCR
Total Funding: $ 645
Key Investors: Softbank, and Alibaba
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

10. Udaan

Year of Launch: 2016
Founders: Sujeet Kumar, Vaibhav Gupta, and Amod Malviya
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $ 285
Key Investors: DST Global, Yuri Milner, and Lightspeed Venture Partners
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

11. Shopclues

Year of Launch: 2011
Founders: Radhika Aggarwal, and Sanjay Sethi
Headquarters: At Delhi NCR
Total Funding: $ 255
Key Investors: Helion Venture Partners, and Nexus Venture Partners, Tiger Global
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2016

Check out the latest news on Shopclues here.

C. Enterprise Tech (Unicorn Startup)

Enterprise tech startups refer to the startups working in SaaS and ERP solutions for companies. Many SMEs are leveraging SaaS and are optimizing their overall performances. While Zoho and Freshworks are dominating the SaaS game currently, the new sites on the block include Druva and Icertis. Following brands come under this sector:

12. Zoho

Year of Launch: 1996
Founder: Sridhar Vembu
Headquarters: At Chennai
Total Funding: By Bootstrapped

14. Freshworks

Year of Launch: 2010
Founders: Girish Mathrubootham, and Shan Krishnasamy
Headquarters: At Chennai
Total Funding: $ 249
Key Investors: Accel, Tiger Global Management, Sequoia Capital India, and CapitalG
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

Check the latest news on FreshWorks here.

15. Mu Sigma

Year of Launch: 2004
Founder: Dhiraj Rajaram
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $ 211
Key Investors: Sequoia Capital, General Atlantic, and MasterCard
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2013

16. Druva

Year of Launch: 2008
Founders: Jaspreet Singh, Milind Borate, and Ramani Kothandaraman
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $ 328
Key Investors: Viking Global Investors, Tenaya Capital, Riverwood Capital, and Nexus Venture Partners
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2019

17. Icertis

Year of Launch: 2009
Founders: Samir Bodas, and Monish Darda
Headquarters: At Pune
Total Funding: $ 211
Key Investors: Greycroft, PremjiInvest, Eight Roads, B Capital Group and Ignition Partners
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2019

D. Fintech (Unicorn Companies in India)

This is one of the most promising sectors for the Indian startup ecosystem, fintech has stayed on an upward swing with the 36 funding deals and investment amount of $688. This lending tech is on the rise in the Indian fintech ecosystem, with 42% of funding. Below listed are the fintech unicorns in India:

18. Paytm

Year of Launch: 2010
Founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Headquarters: At Delhi-NCR
Total Funding: $ 2.5
Key Investors: SoftBank, SAIF Partners, Alibaba, Berkshire Hathaway, Intel Capital, and SAP Ventures
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2015

Check the latest news on Paytm here.

19. PhonePe

Year of Launch: 2015
Founders: Burzin Engineer, Rahul Chari, and Sameer Nigam
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $ 291
Key Investor: Flipkart
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

Check the latest news on Phonepe here.

20. Policy Bazaar

Year of Launch: 2008
Founders: Alok Bansal, and Yashish Dahiya
Headquarters: At Delhi NCR
Total Funding: $ 346
Key Investors: Wellington Management, Inventus Capital Partners, PremjiInvest, and Tiger Global Management,
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

21. Billdesk

Year of Launch: 2000
Founder: Ajay Kaushal
Headquarters: At Mumbai
Total Funding: $257
Key Investors: Clearstone Venture Partners, Visa, and State Bank of India
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

E. Logistics (Unicorn Companies in India)

The Indian logistics sector recently has become the backbone of ecommerce, agritech and the hyperlocal sector in India. Ecommerce is said to be the pillar that fuels the growth of many sectors in the country. Adding technology to the mix, logistics has been a redefined movement of the goods like never before. Below listed are the unicorns from the logistics sector:

22. Delhivery

Year of Launch: 2011
Founders: Bhavesh Manglani, Mohit Tandon, Kapil Bharati, Sahil Barua, and Suraj Saharan

Headquarters: At Delhi NCR
Total Funding: $670
Key Investors: SoftBank, Carlyle Group, Fosun, Tiger Global, Nexus Venture Partners, and Times Internet
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2019

23. Rivigo

Year of Launch: 2014
Founders: Deepak Garg, and Gazal Kalra
Headquarters: At Delhi NCR
Total Funding: $ 216
Key Investors: SAIF Partners, and Warburg Pincus
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

F. Transport Tech / Mobility (Unicorn Startup)

Transport systems are built on emerging plus futuristic technologies and the companies operating below the segment are changing mobility games by facilitating transportation in a seamless way through on-demand cab services, carpooling, bike taxis, etc. The growing segment of the electric vehicles is contributing to optimism around the mobility tech. Below listed are the Unicorns in this sector:

24. Ola

Year of Launch: 2010
Founders: Bhavish Aggarwal, and Ankit Bhati
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $ 3.8
Key Investors: SoftBank, Tencent Holdings, and Tekne Capital
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2014

Check the latest news on Ola here.

25. Ola Electric

Year of Launch: 2018
Founders: Bhavish Aggarwal, and Ankit Bhati
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $306
Key Investors: Ratan Tata, SoftBank, Matrix Partners India, and Tiger Global
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2019

G. Cleantech (Unicorn Startup)

Startups in our country are working to bring eco-friendlier solutions for major problems like rising energy consumption. With climate change plus global warming becoming a problem to solve for countries around the globe. Many Indian startups are supporting the government’s objective of storing energy with a focus on renewable and sustainable production.

26. Renew Power

Year of Launch: 2011
Founder: Sumant Sinha
Headquarters: At Delhi NCR
Total Funding: $ 1.6
Key Investors: Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Franklin Templeton India, L&T, etc.
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2017

H. Travel tech (Unicorn Companies in India)

The online travel space accounts for 40% to 50% of the total travel transactions by the year 2020. Many startups have been raised in the travel tech sector of the country. The startups have changed the ways consumers make their travel plans, plus the game for the hospitality industry. Below listed are the Unicorns in this sector:

27. Makemytrip

Year of Launch: 2010
Founders: Deep Kalra, Keyur Joshi, and Rajesh Magow
Headquarters: At Delhi NCR
Total Funding: $ 548
Key Investors: Ctrip, Tiger Fund, Sierra Ventures, and Helion Venture Partners
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2010

Check the latest news on MakeMyTrip here.

28. OYO

Year of Launch: 2013
Founder: Ritesh Agarwal
Headquarters: At Delhi NCR
Total Funding: $ 1.7
Key Investors: SoftBank, Huazhu Hotels Group, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Greenoaks Capital.
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

Check the latest news on Oyo here.

I. Media & Entertainment (Unicorn Startup)

The Indian media and entertainment industry has touched $39.68 by 2023. With the rise in gaming unicorns in India with the rapid penetration of the OTT players, the media and entertainment industry is ready for rocket growth in the next few years.

29. Dream11

Year of Launch: 2011
Founders: Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth
Headquarters: At Mumbai
Total Funding: $ 100
Key Investors: Steadview Capital, Think Investments, Kalaari Capital
and Multiples Equity
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2019

J. Edtech (Startup Unicorns)

By integrating technology with the traditional education patterns, Indian edtech startups have been working to provide affordable education for one and all across the globe, thus solving a problem of access to schools through the online learning and courses. Edtech startups have also redefined the process of learning any skill or topic.

30. Byjus

Year of Launch: 2008
Founders: Byju Raveendran, and Divya Gokulnath
Headquarters: At Bengaluru
Total Funding: $819
Key Investors: General Atlantic, Sequoia Capital India, Tencent Holdings, Verlinvest, Sofina, Aarin Capital, and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Unicorn Startup Since: The year 2018

Check out the latest news on Byjus here.

Frequently Asked Questions – Unicorn Startups & Unicorn Companies in India

1. How many Unicorn startups are there in India?

According to a report by Economic Times, there are over 19 unicorn startups in India. A unicorn startup is a startup that is a private company that has a valuation of over $1 billion. India is amongst the top unicorn building countries in the world, following the US, China, and the United Kingdon.

3. How many startups become startup unicorns?

Back in the early 2000s, the rate at which startups grew to become unicorn startups was low, but now, the rate at which the startups are becoming unicorn startups has increased 353.1% the Pitchbook’s latest research. Some of the popular unicorn companies in India include Oyo, Paytm, and BigBasket.

3. Is Uber a unicorn startup?

Yes, Uber Advanced Technologies Group is a unicorn startup that is amongst the five most highly valued new startups. Uber caused a disruption in the cab-hailing business with the introduction of its app-based cab-hailing services around the globe.

Unicorn Startup – Top 30 Unicorn Startups in India (2020)