2026's Decacorn Class Set to Surpass Previous Record
The number of U.S. startups valued at over $10 billion—known as decacorns—is on track to exceed the record set in 2021, with 19 already achieving this milestone by mid-2026. This growth is fueled by a resurgence in venture capital investment and an insatiable appetite for AI-focused startups. In the first half of 2026 alone, VCs invested $412.7 billion into startups, surpassing last year's total with mega-deals accounting for nearly all transactions. The rise of decacorns is largely driven by rapid scaling in the AI sector, as seen in SambaNova Systems' recent $1 billion Series F round at an $11 billion valuation. Venture investors are increasingly backing fewer but faster-scaling companies due to the speed and complexity of technological transitions. Other notable startups joining this elite group include Shield AI, Cerebras, Clear Street, ElevenLabs, Harvey, and Notion. Despite their high valuations, many decacorns remain private for extended periods or are pre-revenue, relying on continued funding rather than public market exits. Some have delayed IPO plans due to volatility in the stock markets.
Topics: AI startups decacorns VC investment trends