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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Five companies crossed the $1 billion private-company valuation threshold in January 2026, according to TechCrunch. They were Aikido Security, Cast AI, Harmattan AI, Osapiens and Preply. That was January’s cohort—not a complete list of Europe’s unicorns for 2026. Later reports recorded additional entrants, but their counts use different definitions and dates.
Who were the five January 2026 entrants?
TechCrunch’s January 31 roundup counted companies with European roots or a substantial part of their team in Europe, even when incorporated or headquartered elsewhere. Its five entrants span cybersecurity, cloud computing, defense, compliance software and language learning.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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El Unicorn Inheritance Grande | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
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Unicorns 101 | $6.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Hard Times for Unicorn | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Company | European connection and sector | Threshold-crossing evidence reported in January | Operating signal reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aikido Security | Belgium; cybersecurity and software security | $60 million Series B led by DST Global at a $1 billion valuation | The company said its platform was used by more than 100,000 teams, with revenue up five times and customers nearly tripled over the prior year. |
| Cast AI | Lithuanian roots, a major Vilnius office and Florida headquarters; cloud optimization | Strategic investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures pushed its valuation above $1 billion; a funding amount was not stated in the TechCrunch report. | TechCrunch described OMNI Compute for AI, a product intended to run more AI workloads on fewer GPUs. |
| Harmattan AI | France; defense technology | $200 million Series B led by Dassault Aviation at a $1.4 billion valuation | TechCrunch reported agreements with the French and British ministries of defense and Ukrainian drone maker Skyeton. |
| Osapiens | Germany; ESG and compliance software | $100 million Series C led by Decarbonization Partners, at a valuation above $1.1 billion | TechCrunch reported more than 2,400 customers worldwide. |
| Preply | Ukrainian founders and a team presence in Ukraine; language-learning marketplace. Founded in the United States. | $150 million Series D at a $1.2 billion valuation | TechCrunch reported a 150-person team in Ukraine. |
Funding and valuation details in the table are as reported by TechCrunch in January 2026. Aikido’s growth and usage figures were company statements relayed by TechCrunch, rather than independently verified measures.
What counts as a European unicorn?
There is no single definition behind every European-unicorn list. TechCrunch’s January roundup used a broad connection test: European roots or a large part of the team in Europe. That can include a company incorporated elsewhere; TechCrunch cited Stockholm-associated Lovable, incorporated in Delaware, as an example.
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The European Commission’s 2026 methodology uses a narrower geographic rule for its count: Dealroom-classified unicorns headquartered in an EU27 member state. A company can therefore appear in one European list and not another. Cast AI, for example, has Lithuanian roots and a substantial Vilnius office but is headquartered in Florida, so its inclusion depends on the rule being applied.
For the same reason, totals from different reports should not be added together or treated as directly comparable unless their geography, dates and classification methods match.
How the list changed after January
Q1: a separate count of 15 creations
In an April 2026 update drawing on PitchBook data, Rothschild & Co reported 15 European unicorn creations in the first quarter. Its cohort covered areas including software, cybersecurity, AI, data centers, defense, quantum computing, robotics and infrastructure. This is a separate dataset, not simply an extension of TechCrunch’s January five.
Rank #2
September: a verified-date list
Dealroom’s September 2026 list counted companies by the month their valuation first passed $1 billion. It reported 41 verified entrants worldwide that month, worth a combined $100.4 billion, and listed three in the United Kingdom. That is a global monthly figure—not a European total for the year.
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Verda: a company-announced September milestone
On September 22, 2026, Finnish company Verda announced that it had become a unicorn after raising $189 million in a Series B led by Emergence Capital. The company, which builds data centers and an AI cloud platform, also reported a $165 million annualized revenue run rate in July 2026. Both the funding and revenue figure are company-reported.
Rank #3
October: RobCo crosses the threshold
On October 5, 2026, Munich-founded industrial robotics company RobCo announced that its valuation had surpassed $1 billion—double its valuation nine months earlier. Its planned commercial launch of the Alfie autonomous industrial robot at a Munich event on March 4, 2027, is a forward-looking company plan, not a completed launch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a unicorn valuation tells you—and what it does not
A unicorn is commonly defined as a private company valued at $1 billion or more. A reported crossing of that threshold is a signal about financing-market expectations at a particular point in time. It does not, on its own, establish profitability, revenue quality or lasting demand for the company’s product. TechCrunch’s January roundup makes the same distinction: valuation is not proof of commercial success.
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Classification can also persist after a paper valuation falls below $1 billion. The European Commission’s methodology note says a company may remain classified as a unicorn until an updated valuation is confirmed. A list is therefore a dated record under a particular provider’s rules, not a live guarantee of current company value.
When comparing claims, check who reported the valuation, when the threshold was crossed, whether the figure came from a disclosed financing or a data provider’s estimate, and whether operating metrics are company-reported. A funding round and a revenue run rate describe different things: capital raised is not revenue, and neither alone establishes a company’s long-term performance.
Quick Recap
Sources and dates
- TechCrunch, Anna Heim, January 31, 2026 — January’s five-company roundup and its inclusion approach.
- European Commission, 2026 DESI methodology note — EU27-headquarters rule and classification caveat.
- Rothschild & Co, April 2026 — Q1 count drawing on PitchBook data.
- Dealroom, September 2026 — verified unicorn dates and global monthly list.
- Verda, September 22, 2026 — company announcement of its funding, valuation milestone and July run rate.
- RobCo, October 5, 2026 — company announcement of its valuation milestone and planned robot launch.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
