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AI Fuels Unicorn Boom: India Emerges as Key Hub in Global Surge

A new report highlights a dramatic acceleration in unicorn creation, driven significantly by artificial intelligence companies, which now reach a $1 billion valuation in an average of just 4.7 years. India has solidified its position as a major contributor, generating 109 unicorns between 2014 and 2024, with Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Gurugram as leading hubs. The research also reveals key founder trends, including the dominance of STEM backgrounds and the underrepresentation of women founders. The momentum coincides with India's growing AI ecosystem, evidenced by recent high-level discussions between the Prime Minister and startup CEOs.

Key Points: AI Drives Record Unicorn Creation, India a Top Contributor

  • AI firms become unicorns in 4.7 years avg
  • India created 109 unicorns in last decade
  • Bengaluru is top Indian hub with 46 unicorns
  • 40% of unicorn founders are repeat entrepreneurs
2 min read

AI driving unicorn creation in India, elsewhere faster than ever

Report reveals AI companies hit $1B valuation in under 5 years. India produces 109 unicorns, with Bengaluru leading. STEM founders dominate.

"With rapid advances in AI, billion-dollar companies are emerging faster than ever - Fridtjof Berge, Antler"

New Delhi, Feb 25

There is a surge in the creation of unicorns in the AI era, according to a new report, adding that AI companies now achieve unicorn status in an average of 4.7 years.

According to a report by global venture capital firm Antler, the unicorn creation has accelerated from an average of four companies per year between 2003-2013 to 148 per year between 2014-2024.

The findings also showed that India has emerged as a key contributor within the Asia-Pacific region, producing 109 unicorns between 2014 and 2024.

Bengaluru (46 unicorns), Mumbai (19) and Gurugram (15) feature among the leading unicorn hubs.

The report said that Indian institutions such as IIT Delhi rank among the top global universities producing unicorn founders.

The report analysed 1,629 unicorn companies and 3,512 founders between 2014 and 2024.

In today's decentralised world, innovation can come from anywhere. With rapid advances in AI, billion-dollar companies are emerging faster than ever - and that pace is only set to accelerate, said Fridtjof Berge, co-founder and chief business officer at Antler.

The data shows that repeat founders account for approximately 40 per cent of unicorn creators, and around 26 per cent of unicorn founders are immigrants, 81 per cent of whom are based in the United States.

Notably, STEM backgrounds dominate among unicorn founders, making up roughly 60 per cent.

At the same time, women represent only 6 per cent of total unicorn founders, despite an increase in female founder representation over the past decade, said Divita Aggarwal, associate at Antler India, and Susmit Patodia, ex-associate partner at Antler, who co-led the research.

The 'India AI Impact Summit 2026' last week closed not with finality but with forward motion. What emerged is a portrait of India as both host and heavyweight.

On the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roundtable with CEOs of AI and deep tech startups pioneering innovative initiatives in agriculture, healthcare, cybersecurity, etc.

The startups praised India's sustained push to strengthen its Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, sector's rapid expansion, and noted that global momentum of AI innovation and deployment is increasingly shifting towards India.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While the growth is impressive, the gender gap is concerning. Only 6% women founders? We need to actively support more women in STEM and entrepreneurship. The potential is huge if we can make this field more inclusive.
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Vikram M
The PM meeting AI startup CEOs is a good signal. Government support is crucial. But we must ensure this boom benefits tier-2 cities too, not just Bengaluru/Mumbai/Gurugram. Need to build innovation hubs across India.
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Priya S
109 unicorns in 10 years is no small feat! 🚀 As someone working in a Gurugram startup, I've seen this energy firsthand. The focus on agriculture and healthcare AI is especially promising for solving real Indian problems.
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Rohit P
The statistic about 26% founders being immigrants, mostly in US, shows our brain drain is still real. Hope with this AI wave, more talent will build their unicorns right here in India. We have the market and the brains!
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Michael C
Working in VC, I can confirm the pace is insane. Companies reaching $1B valuation in under 5 years was unthinkable a decade ago. India's contribution to the APAC region is becoming increasingly significant in global tech discussions.
D
Divya L

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