Unicorns from Emerging Economies

Global experts explore the context and impact of high-tech, high-growth entrepreneurial ventures ('unicorns') in emerging markets.

The emergence of unicorns from the Global South is reshaping the global business landscape as these companies rapidly position themselves at the forefront of technology and business model innovation. This book explores their rapid rise and broad geographical impact, offering insights into their transformative potential.In business terms, a 'unicorn' is a privately-owned startup company valued at over $1 billion. While unicorns have predominantly been a feature of well-developed economies, such as the USA and Europe, recent years have seen their increase in emerging economies – to the extent that these markets now host one-third of the world's unicorns. The emergence of unicorns from the Global South represents a transformative shift in the global business and innovation landscape. Despite limited systematic knowledge on this novel phenomenon, high-growth, innovation-driven companies from emerging economies are rapidly positioning themselves at the forefront of technology and business model innovation. These firms challenge the traditional dominance of established markets, asserting their influence on a global scale. This book offers an in-depth analysis of this fast-evolving process, covering a wide geographical range of unicorns. These dynamic new players have the impact and potential to reshape the future of business worldwide.