Nearly 40 new unicorns emerged in 2026, driven largely by a global surge in artificial intelligence investment. Tracking data from Crunchbase and PitchBook, TechCrunch identified VC-backed startups that reached valuations exceeding $1 billion during the year. While AI remains the dominant sector, the list also includes significant growth in healthcare, energy storage, space mining, and cryptocurrency. In January, several notable companies joined the elite club. Humans, an AI research lab focusing on human-machine collaboration, was valued at $4.5 billion following a $480 million seed round. WebAI, enabling private enterprise AI models, reached $2.5 billion. Rain, a crypto wallet provider, hit $1.9 billion, while Gecko, an AI and robotics firm founded in 2013, secured an $1.8 billion valuation. Varda, a company mining raw materials from space, also achieved unicorn status at $1.6 billion. Other January unicorns included Pomelo Care, an $1.7 billion virtual maternity platform, and Arena, an AI decision-making tool valued at $1.7 billion. February saw an influx of AI and infrastructure-focused valuations. Apptronik, a humanoid robotics firm, led the month with a massive $5.3 billion valuation after raising $935 million. Erebor Bank, a cryptocurrency-focused bank founded by Palmer Luckey, was valued at $4 billion. Recursive Intelligence, a chip design startup, reached $4 billion, while Talkitary, a psychiatric care platform, hit $1.4 billion. The February list featured a diverse range of technologies. Skyryse, a flight operating system, and TRM Labs, a crypto fraud prevention platform, both reached $1 billion valuations. Bedrock Robotics, enabling autonomous construction equipment, achieved $1.8 billion. Fundamental, an AI laboratory for analyzing large datasets, reached $1.4 billion. In the healthcare sector, Midi Health, focusing on menopausal care, and Solace, a healthcare marketplace, both hit $1 billion. Lunar Energy, providing home battery storage, and ZaiNar, offering wireless asset tracking, also joined the ranks. Other significant February entrants include Render, an AI-tuned cloud hosting company at $1.5 billion, and Code Metal, an AI coding assistant platform valued at $1.3 billion. Flapping Airplanes, an AI research lab, and Profound, an SEO platform for AI search, both reached $1 billion valuations. In the fintech space, Basis, an accounting automation tool, was valued at $1.1 billion. The rapid emergence of these companies highlights the intense investor appetite for scalable technology. The majority of these valuations were secured through substantial late-stage rounds, including Series B, C, and D funding, often led by prominent venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. As the year progresses, this list of nearly 40 unicorns is expected to grow, reflecting the continued evolution of the technology landscape.