At a time when countries around the globe are focusing to promote a healthy start-up ecosystem to sustain economic growth, South Africa has also joined the bandwagon. South African entrepreneurial landscape is fast changing with increasing investments, government support and innovation in science and technology. Here we have listed the top start-ups in South Africa that we’d need to watch in 2017.
A new year calls for a review of the last one. So why not we look back and evaluate how start-ups from around the world have performed in 2016? While the talks on decreasing investment were evident in venture capital circles, a number of start-ups got successful in touching the mighty $1 billion mark last year. Here we have listed the start-ups that became Unicorns in 2016.
Healthcare start-ups are trending right now and they will keep thriving no matter what. At a time like this when our general health is facing constant threat from climate change and sedentary lifestyle, these start-ups are offering innovative products designed to change the healthcare industry for better. Some are working towards finding alternative medicines and therapies for chronic diseases, while others are focusing on simplifying matters of health insurance and helping individuals to keep track on their health goals. But collectively they are working towards for the benefit of everyone. Right below are the top healthcare start-ups in the world.
Amidst the growing popularity and curiosity about venture capital-backed Unicorns United States’ start-up ecosystem has gained worldwide focus. Of the top 100, as many as 61 unicorns are from the United States alone. China being the second lead with 11. Although fewer in numbers, but German unicorn start-ups are also generating considerable interests in the related circles. Universally acclaimed universities, technically skilled workforce, educated and affluent consumers and large pool of investment capital are working in favour of German start-up ecosystem. Here are some little known facts about the top German unicorn start-ups.
The boom in start-ups and venture capital in the past few years has been sufficiently advertised. New players in the start-up ecosystem emerged as a result. Terms like angel investors, incubators etc. started doing the round. One such concept, seed accelerators, has also gained attention. Seed accelerators, also known as start-up accelerators, support early stage companies with high growth potential through education, mentorship and financing for a fixed period and as a cohort-based programme. The first and most prominent seed accelerator programme was launched by Silicon Valley based Y Combinator in 2005. Among hundreds of start-ups that got into their programmes, a few couldn’t make it, while others touched billions. Here we have listed some of the top Y Combinator start-ups that stand out.
Europe has no dearth of innovation when it comes to start-ups. Well-off consumer market, availability of resources, investments and other interrelated components of success are also working in favour of the entrepreneurs diffused across the continent. From on-demand live-streaming channels, cutting edge security software, to the largest carpooling service providers top off the list of highest funded start-ups. In case you are wondering, we have made a list of top European start-ups that have been able to raise the most fund based on disclosed equity funding. Let’s check them out, shall we?
As you are reading this article someone from somewhere in the world is daydreaming to launch a start-up or actually making it a reality on paper. Other than being famous for their ideas, they all dream of joining the unicorn club. While some get the pass eventually, others may not be fast enough. When Aileen Lee coined the term in 2013, unicorns in the start-up sector were as rare as the mythical creature itself. Now there are 229 of them. And there are a few who made it to the club faster than the rest according to the CB Insights report. If you are curious to know them better, these are the fastest unicorn start-ups.
Aim for the long race when starting a start-up. But that’s not the only way. Amidst the talks on mushrooming funding rounds and all that jazz, a gala exit became cooler than being a $1 billion start-up. The term $1 billion+ exit especially created a buzz in the sector last year with Wal-Mart’s $3.3B acquisition of Jet.com. It was, however, only the sixth fastest $1 billion+ exit. The deal as well, albeit impressive, was not among the biggest returns. Facebook’s $22B purchase of Whatsapp (raised about $58 million) becomes legendary in start-up history, as far as the size of returns among fastest exists are concerned. Among the top 10 fastest $1 billion+ exits, Facebook alone acquired 3 – Oculus, Instagram and Whatsapp. Check out them in detail below.
Elon Musk today is on the verge of revolutionizing the car industry. His startup, Tesla, is the biggest electric car company in the…