AI Created New Generation of “Unicorns”

• AI has accelerated startup growth.
• New “unicorns” are reaching $1 billion valuations years faster.
• Yes, companies founded in 2022 have already doubled their revenue.

Artificial intelligence has reshaped the venture market, creating a new generation of private companies valued at more than $1 billion. According to Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) data cited by venture fund Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), the median age of new “unicorns” has fallen by about 37% since 2023 and now stands at just over four years. 

Meanwhile, the post-ChatGPT generation of companies is showing a different revenue growth trajectory, although researchers caution against directly attributing these changes solely to AI.

AI Accelerates the Emergence of “Unicorns”

As AI adoption spreads, capital is concentrating in a relatively small number of companies that are creating significant value. SVB data shows that the overall pool of venture-backed companies valued at more than $1 billion is gradually aging, but new generations of “unicorns” are reaching that status earlier.

Revenue dynamics are changing, too. For companies founded in 2022, median revenue growth between their third and fourth years of operation was roughly three times higher than that of older generations. Specifically, revenue for a typical company in this cohort rose from $2.8 million to $5.6 million, while in previous generations it increased from about $2 million to $3 million.

At the same time, the authors note that it is still too early to conclude that AI is the cause. To confirm the trend, it is necessary to wait for results from companies founded in 2023 and 2024. In addition, the growing share of investment in non-software companies is also changing the overall picture.

Startups Shift from Growth to Profitability

The spread of AI, together with rising interest rates, has reshaped the priorities of tech companies. Starting in the first quarter of 2022, startups across all sectors tracked by SVB gradually traded rapid growth for improved profitability.

Median revenue growth fell from 40–70% to 15–30%, while margins rose from deeply loss-making levels to near break-even.

a16z Identified Areas of Synergy between AI and Cryptocurrencies

22.01.2026

Read now

At the same time, companies founded during the previous cycle are facing a new reality. After a record number of businesses were created, a record number of closures is also being observed, with the largest share coming from companies launched during the peak zero-rate period.

Separately, the changes have affected B2B SaaS. According to SimpleClosure, in the first half of 2026, such companies accounted for more than a quarter of all closed startups, although the share of AI companies among closures is gradually declining.

The authors note that it is difficult to separate the impact of AI from shifting investment trends. However, the data presented points to a significant change in conditions for startups compared with the previous venture cycle.

As a reminder, the AI and robotics market is seeing a resurgence of large investment rounds. Startups are raising billions of dollars to develop “supertraining” AI, humanoid robotics, and physical AI, with major tech companies and government entities increasingly appearing among investors. Recent deals include $1.1 billion for Ineffable Intelligence, a target valuation of $6 billion for Linkerbot, and up to $1.4 billion for NEURA Robotics with participation from Tether, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Qualcomm.

Сообщение AI Created New Generation of “Unicorns” появились сначала на INCRYPTED.