29 startups became unicorns in August, led by AI and chips
Crunchbase says 29 startups reached unicorn status last month, adding roughly $63 billion in value. Over a third were under three years old. The biggest newcomers: China’s XPeng Robotics, now valued at over $6.3 billion; California’s Lumilens at $5.5 billion; plus River AI and Source Foundry, both at $5 billion. Most new unicorns were in AI or semiconductors. The U.S. led by count with 16.
- 29 new unicorns created about $63B in value
- More than a third are under 3 years old
- XPeng Robotics takes top spot at $6.3B
- AI software and chips were leading sectors
- Nine prior unicorns exited: 3 went public, 6 were acquired
Sources covering this
More in Startups
South Korea's innovation ecosystem assessed with new model
A new analysis presented in Seoul lays out a framework for measuring South Korea's innovation ecosystem. The approach uses a layered pyramid: startups at the base, mid-stage companies in the middle, and global success stories at the top. It also tracks innovative small and medium-sized businesses, not just venture-backed startups. The study aims to provide a clearer picture of the country's tech landscape.
Uber invests $10 million more in Carrum Mobility
Uber has put another $10 million into Carrum Mobility, an Indian fleet management startup. This brings its total investment for the year to $17 million. Carrum runs a platform for managing CNG and electric vehicle fleets, focusing on premium cars for Uber Black. The new cash will help Carrum expand to more cities, improve its tech, and hire more staff.
Google says startup accelerator alumni now valued at $139 billion
Google says startups graduating from its accelerator programs have hit a combined valuation of $139.2 billion. Since launching its first accelerator ten years ago, Google reports alumni collectively raised $47.8 billion and now employ 205,100 people. The company currently runs 20 accelerator programs spanning early-stage startups, nonprofits, AI labs, and app developers, across six continents.
Félix raises $200M for WhatsApp remittance tool
Félix, which lets Latino immigrants send money home via WhatsApp, just raised $200 million in Series C funding. Andreessen Horowitz put in $87 million of equity; General Catalyst gave $113 million in growth debt. The Miami startup says it’s handled over $8 billion in payments so far, serving U.S. users with families in 11 Latin American countries. Félix plans to expand into new markets with the cash.