Startup Exits & Unicorn Wave
Key Questions
How many unicorns were created in 2026?
90 new unicorns were minted this year, heavily driven by AI, marking the strongest period for billion-dollar exits since 2021.
What AI chip startup was founded by a former Apple engineer?
Stephen Huang, 55, a former Apple and Amazon engineer, launched an AI chip company after decades in Silicon Valley.
Which Chinese smart-glasses firm became a unicorn?
An Apple veteran's Chinese smart-glasses firm became a unicorn, funded by Tencent and Meituan as a rival to Meta in the growing category.
Q2 2026 saw most billion-dollar exits since 2021, including SpaceX record IPO. 90 new unicorns minted this year, heavily AI-driven. Menlo Ventures raises $3B fund. YC Demo Day standouts with high valuations. Private debt surges in GCC as alternative funding. A former Apple/Amazon engineer (Huang) started an AI chip company in his mid-50s, highlighting continued startup activity in AI hardware.