11 Unicorns Minted In December 2025

December 2025 delivered one final burst of momentum in the global venture capital world, with a fresh wave of privately owned startups officially joining the unicorn club. While the funding landscape has been more selective than the “growth at all costs” era of the early 2020s, there’s no doubt about the fact that investors are still backing ambitious companies with clear technical differentiation, strong commercial potential and products tied to long-term macro trends.

From AI infrastructure and cybersecurity to clean energy and vertical farming, these unicorns show that innovation is spreading across a vast array of industries – not just software. And importantly, the companies minted in December weren’t just US-based hype machines – they reflect a broader international shift in where major tech value is being created.

December 2025’s Unicorns Reveal What Investors Actually Want Now

What makes this batch of unicorns particularly interesting is how clearly they reflect the venture capital mindset heading into 2026. Investors are no longer rewarding flashy consumer apps with vague monetisation plans.

Instead, capital is flowing into startups that are building “hard” products – things like energy systems, defence technology, enterprise automation tools and infrastructure that powers AI itself.

There’s also a clear pattern of startups targeting high-stakes industries where the upside is massive, but the barriers to entry are steep. This includes national security, identity management, payment processing and biochemical research. These aren’t quick wins by any means, but they’re the kinds of bets that can define entire categories.

AI, Energy and Security Are Becoming the New Unicorn Factories, It Seems

If 2024 and early 2025 were about AI applications, late 2025 became increasingly about the foundation layers supporting the next wave of computing, automation and industrial transformation. Several of these companies sit directly in the intersection of AI and infrastructure, whether through specialised hardware, AI agents for enterprise operations or predictive models for scientific research.

At the same time, climate-driven innovation continues to attract serious attention, particularly in clean energy and food resilience. Meanwhile, defence-tech and cybersecurity remain highly investable categories (adhering to consistent trends), as governments and businesses alike prepare for a future where digital conflict and geopolitical instability are permanent realities. Taken together, these unicorns are a snapshot of where global innovation is headed next.

The Unicorns Minted in December 2025

Here are the 11 companies from around the world that have managed to become unicorns in December 2025.

Heven Aerotech: $1 billion

Heven Aerotech reached unicorn status at a $1 billion valuation, powered by growing investor confidence in hydrogen-based aviation technology.

Founded in 2019, the startup is developing hydrogen-powered drones, positioning itself at the intersection of defence-tech, clean energy and next-gen aerospace.

The company most recently raised a $100 million Series B, bringing its total funding to $115.2 million. With investors including IonQ (according to PitchBook), Heven reflects a wider push toward alternative propulsion systems and long-range autonomous aircraft.

Unconventional AI: $4.5 billion

Unconventional AI became one of December’s standout unicorns with a striking $4.5 billion valuation, despite being founded only in 2025 – a quick turnaround, to say the least.

Created by former Databricks head of AI Naveen Rao, the company is working on an energy-efficient computer designed specifically for AI workloads.

It last raised a massive $475 million seed round, signalling huge belief in its technical vision. Backers reportedly include Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed, as noted by Bloomberg. Its valuation highlights how urgently investors want alternatives to today’s power-hungry AI infrastructure.

Saviynt: $3 billion

Saviynt hit a $3 billion valuation, reinforcing how valuable identity and access management has become in the cybersecurity ecosystem. Founded in 2010, the company has been around long enough to prove staying power, but it’s still scaling aggressively.

Its latest round was a substantial $700 million Series B, bringing total funding to around $740 million. Investors include KKR, according to PitchBook. With businesses under pressure to secure remote workforces, manage compliance and prevent insider threats, Saviynt’s unicorn status reflects the continued rise of enterprise security as a top investment priority.

Serval: $1 billion

Serval reached unicorn status at a $1 billion valuation by focusing on one of the most in-demand categories in enterprise AI: automation. Founded in 2024, the startup builds AI agents that assist IT professionals, helping teams complete tasks faster and reduce operational workload.

The company most recently raised a $74.8 million Series B, with total funding of roughly $126 million. Investors reportedly include Sequoia and Redpoint, according to PitchBook. Serval’s rise reflects the growing belief that AI agents will become essential tools inside modern IT departments.

Chai Discovery: $1.3 billion

Chai Discovery reached a $1.3 billion valuation, showing that AI-driven biotech is no longer a niche investment area. Founded in 2024, the company develops AI models designed to predict biochemical molecular structures, a capability that could accelerate drug discovery and medical research.

Its most recent round was a $130 million Series B, bringing total funding to nearly $230 million. Investors include General Catalyst and Thrive Capital, according to PitchBook.

As pharmaceutical innovation becomes more computational, Chai Discovery represents the rising value of AI tools built for science, not just software.

MoEngage: $1.1 billion

MoEngage became a unicorn at a $1.1 billion valuation, driven by the continued importance of customer engagement and analytics in a competitive digital economy.

Founded in 2014, the company provides a platform that helps brands analyse user behaviour and deliver more personalised messaging and campaigns.

MoEngage last raised a $280 million Series F, taking its total funding to around $450 million. Investors include A91 Partners and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, according to PitchBook. Its growth reflects how data-driven customer retention has become a major revenue lever across industries.

Radiant: $1.8 billion

Radiant achieved unicorn status at a $1.8 billion valuation, marking another major vote of confidence in next-generation nuclear technology.

Founded in 2019, the company is developing nuclear energy solutions intended to serve as a cleaner alternative to diesel-powered systems, with major potential applications across remote infrastructure and industrial environments.

Radiant last raised a $300 million Series D and has raised over $500 million in total. Investors include Draper Associates and Andreessen Horowitz, according to PitchBook. Its rise suggests nuclear innovation is becoming one of the most serious climate-tech plays in the market.

Imprint: $1.2 billion

Imprint reached a $1.2 billion valuation, reflecting strong investor demand for fintech infrastructure companies that modernise payment processing and embedded financial products. Founded in 2020, Imprint has positioned itself as a key player in a market where brands increasingly want financial tools built directly into their customer experiences.

The company last raised a $149 million Series D, and has raised over $420 million in total funding. According to PitchBoo, investors include Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins. Its unicorn status highlights how payments remains one of the most scalable, global fintech opportunities.

HawkEye 360: $2 billion

HawkEye 360 became a unicorn at a $2 billion valuation, underscoring the rapid rise of defence-tech and space-based intelligence platforms. Founded in 2015, the company focuses on collecting and analysing radio frequency data from satellites, supporting intelligence, security and monitoring capabilities.

Most recently, it raised a $150 million Series E and has raised nearly $500 million in total funding. Investors reportedly include BlackRock and Insight Partners. HawkEye 360’s growth shows how geopolitical uncertainty and defence modernisation are driving long-term investment into advanced surveillance and security technologies.

Oishii: $1.2 billion

Oishii reached a $1.2 billion valuation, proving that food innovation and vertical farming remain compelling sectors for investors seeking sustainable solutions. Founded in 2016, Oishii is best known for its high-tech approach to indoor farming, particularly in premium produce categories.

The company last raised a massive $450 million Series C, bringing total funding to around $650 million. Investors include SPARZ Group Company and Resilience Reserve, according to PitchBook.

Oishii’s unicorn status reflects the growing importance of climate-resilient agriculture, especially as supply chains face pressure worldwide.

Erebor: $4.3 billion

Erebor emerged as one of December’s most eye-catching unicorns with a $4.3 billion valuation, fuelled by the ongoing push to build financial infrastructure specifically for crypto-native businesses. Founded in 2025, Erebor is positioned as a crypto bank for crypto clients, targeting a market still underserved by traditional financial institutions.

The company reportedly raised a $350 million seed round, an unusually large early-stage raise that reflects high investor confidence. According to PitchBook reports, its backers include Lux Capital, among others. Erebor’s valuation signals that crypto finance is evolving beyond speculation into institutional-grade banking.