Determining True Unicorn Startups

Abstract

Throughout the United States, there have been hundreds of start-up companies labeled as “Unicorns”, or companies that have achieved a $1 billion value. These companies are overwhelmingly technology based, and are supposedly a one in a million opportunity which will change the industry’s landscape and market. While many of these companies are successful, not all survive. The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast commonalities and differences among multiple unicorn companies. My goal is to show that amongst a pool of these companies, there are commonalities and differences depicting what differs a successful unicorn company from a fake or dying unicorn company. All of these unicorns differentiate in some way, but there are similarities and differences in certain aspects. This thesis will help show whether the company is actually a true unicorn, or a fake one.