On 29th of June 2021, GEI (Great Wall Enterprise Institute) released the “2021 China Potential Unicorn Enterprise Research Report” (hereinafter referred to as the “Report”) at the 2021 China Potential Unicorn Enterprise Cooperation and Exchange Conference.
The rapid emergence of potential Chinese unicorn companies
Potential unicorn companies are new species with greater development potential and growth potential, which has attracted more and more attention nowadays. The Report shows that the number of potential unicorn companies in China has reached 425 in 2020, of which 248 are newly promoted. In 2021, as of May 31, there will be 70 new potential unicorn companies. The accelerated emergence of potential unicorn companies is an important symbol of the high-quality development of China’s new economy.
70% of Chinese potential unicorn companies are in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shenzhen
The emergence of potential unicorn companies is an indicator of the regional innovation ecology. In 2020, Chinese potential unicorn companies were in 39 different cities, with Beijing taking the first place with 117, followed by Shanghai with 84, Suzhou with 39, Hangzhou with 37, Shenzhen with 32, Guangzhou with 20. There are 11 in Nanjing and Chengdu each, 10 in Wuhan, 9 in Hefei, 6 in Wuxi, 5 in Qingdao and Ningbo each, and 4 in Tianjin.
Continuously optimized innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in various regions of China spawn potential unicorn companies. 70% of Chinese potential unicorn companies are in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shenzhen. The number of new potential unicorn companies in these five cities in 2020 will be 20 or more, including 65 in Beijing, 38 in Shanghai, 29 in Suzhou, 21 in Hangzhou, and 20 in Shenzhen.
Potential unicorns are distributed in 32 industries, with cutting-edge technology accounting for over 60%
425 potential unicorn companies are in 32 industires including innovative drugs and devices, digital healthcare, and artificial intelligence. Among them, the number of potential unicorn companies in innovative drugs and devices, digital medical, artificial intelligence, corporate digital services, new energy and smart cars ranks in the top five, accounting for 44.7% of the total. Among the 425 potential unicorn companies, 260 are cutting-edge technology companies, accounting for 61.2% of the total.
The industries of innovative drugs and devices, and digital healthcare were the hot spot for financing in 2020.
In 2020, 268 of the potential unicorn companies completed new financing that year, accounting for 63.1%. Among them, innovative drugs and equipment, and digital medical are leading industries in quantity and amount for financing, which are influenced by the COVID-19 epidemic and supporting policies of 2020.
Potential unicorn companies are speeding up to go public, and 20 are listed on domestic and overseas capital markets
In 2020, a total of 11 potential unicorn companies were listed; in 2021, as of May 31, 9 new potential unicorn companies has been listed. Among the 20 potential unicorn companies listed, 10 chose to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, 5 on the Nasdaq, 3 on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and 2 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Part of the 2021 list of potential unicorn companies by GEI (20 from 425 potential unicorn companies, as of 31st of May 2021)
