Startups
A startup (from the English Startup) is the main word in the computer business. A startup is a start-up firm that can be a start-up for five years or six years or even ten. It is called a startup until the burden is resolved, that is, it does not reach its exit strategy. There are several exit strategies - two main ones are either to go public, otherwise to become a company with shares sold on the stock exchange, what is called in Russian an open-type joint-stock company; or sell yourself to some other firm, merge with someone. And as a rule, people, creating a startup, keep in mind the exit model. A striking example is Vermeyer, which made a program for developing home pages for the web, what you see when you log on to the Internet. They planned to sell themselves to Microsoft from the very beginning. Exit strategy is a way to turn years spent into cash. You made a company, you worked in it, received a salary, but who considers a salary money! But when you sold the company or sold your share in it, you already received several million dollars. "
There are many subtle things here that are extremely interesting to talk about. The main question is a completely sophisticated system of American taxes, which is designed so that you do not jump out of it in any way. If you bought shares at a fixed price, then there are several tax problems. The first is a quick profit tax. When selling fixed shares at a market price for twelve months, you pay a tax equal to almost half of the money received (state tax plus regular tax, in the amount of almost 49%). If you have waited twelve months, then the tax is reduced by 10%. But after waiting another six months - you reduce the tax by another 10%. In fact, after eighteen months, from the moment when you bought the shares at a minimum at your company, to the moment when you sold them at an exchange price, the tax becomes small - 29%.
But the fact is that waiting eighteen months is not an obvious simple solution because stocks are fluctuating in price. For example, when I rule this page, Silicon Graphics stock is worth seventeen dollars. If I sold them today, I will pay half in tax - eight dollars per share. And if I sell in eighteen months, I will pay tax only a third - $5, but in these eighteen months the shares can fall twice or rise twice. And this is some, as the Americans say, gambling, gambling.
There are many other tax traps, one of them is the most unpleasant, called an alternative tax. It is connected with the fact that even if you did not sell the shares, then the state, just in case, still wants to take the tax and quite large. This is a separate interesting topic related to how people go to various tricks. For example, they buy out the shares of their startup in advance, that is, many months, a year, one and a half before the company is actually sold or goes to the public. Since the share price is symbolic, from this, as a rule, their amount is not very large, several thousand dollars, and many prefer to take a chance on it, buy back the shares, knowing that they will then save on taxes.
In any American company, the salary of a software engineer fluctuates somewhere within eighty thousand dollars a year, and if this person worked for several years in a company that successfully passed the startup stage and was sold, he can earn several hundred thousand dollars. If we are talking about the president, vice president, then this figure may range from a million or more. But we must immediately remember that out of a hundred startups, as a rule, ninety-five go bankrupt in the first year. Of the remaining five per cent, I don't know the exact figure, but probably eighty per cent go out of business within three years. That is, in reality, startups achieve success by several thousand. Therefore, the desire to work in a startup, it is understandable on the one hand, because people want to make a lot of money in the end, and on the other hand, it is very difficult, almost impossible to guess a successful startup. Therefore, many, going to startups, still try to take into account not only money, but also a lot of other things: interesting work, good people, non-trivial tasks.
University Technology Entrepreneurship Platform
Main article: University Technology Entrepreneurship Platform
Start-ups in Europe
Main article: Startups in Europe
Startups in Spain
Main article: Startups in Spain
Startups in Africa
Main article: Startups in Africa
Startups in Israel
Main article: Startups in Israel
Startups in medicine in Russia
Main article: Startups in medicine in Russia
2024
Moscow ranked first in startup ecosystems in Central and Eastern Europe
Moscow tops the rating of startup ecosystems in Central and Eastern Europe. This is stated in the report of the StartupBlink research center, which TAdviser got acquainted with at the end of November 2024. Read more here.
China overtakes the United States in the number of new startups worth from $1 billion
China for the first time overtook the United States in the number of new startups, the cost of which exceeds $1 billion. This became known on August 14, 2024.
According to a study by the Institute for Statistical Research and Economics of Knowledge (ISIEZ) of the Higher School of Economics, in January-June 2024, 46 new unicorn companies appeared in China, while 36 in the United States. Despite this success, in terms of the total number of such startups, China is still two times behind the United States.
According to ISIEZ estimates, as of June 2024, there were about 1.7 thousand "unicorns" in the world. Most are concentrated in 15 countries, where the United States leads with 781 companies and China with 350. Countries,,,, and are EU India Britain Canada Israel also Singapore among the states with the most such highly rated startups.
The growth rate of the number of "unicorns" around the world continues to slow down. In 2022, 340 new companies were added to the global list, in 2023 - 229, and in 2024 - only 127. However, their distribution range continues to expand: for the first time, a company from Uzbekistan appeared on the list of "unicorns" - the Uzum digital ecosystem, valued at more than $1.1 billion.
In China and the United States, the creation of unicorn startups is actively supported both at the state level and through private venture capital investments. In other countries, where there is also a significant number of such companies, overseas venture capital plays a dominant role.
According to HSE researchers, by August 2024 in Russia, despite all the efforts of the authorities to support technological development, there are still no "unicorns" of their own. The main reasons are the decline in the venture capital market caused by high key rates and outflows of foreign investors, as well as a focus on import substitution, which limits innovative opportunities.[1]
25% of technology business founders have a science degree
Zelenograd Nanotechnology Center (ZNTC) found out that 25% of the founders of the technological business have a scientific degree. At the same time, 1.5% of technological entrepreneurs have a doctor of science degree, the rest are candidates of sciences. The ZNTC announced this on February 9, 2024.
According to the ZNTC, over the past five years, the number of scientists who decided to monetize their own technological project has increased. According to a 2019 study by the Moscow Innovation Agency, only 6% of startup founders had a degree.
According to the statistics available to the investment department of ZNTC, among technological entrepreneurs with a scientific degree, the technical and engineering profile prevails. At the same time, 1% of the founders have the most difficult direction - physical and mathematical. The number of people employed in startups over the past five years has amounted to 150 people.
This is due to the occupation itself, says Anatoly Kovalev, Doctor of Sciences, General Director, Zelenograd Nanotechnology Center.
 | Scientific work requires a lot of effort and time from a specialist - conducting scientific research, preparing publications, protecting the scientific community. With such a load, it is not easy to build and develop a technological business. The presence of a scientific degree and high qualifications positively affect the product and its quality. In this case, it is better to be a co-founder of a startup and be responsible for its technological component. And the business direction is entrusted to an initiative and energetic partner who knows how to develop horizontal ties and understands the laws of the market, - said Anatoly Kovalev. |  |
As of February 2024, ZNTC JSC's portfolio includes 34 startups that are at various stages of investment. The projects are presented in the field of microelectronics, medicine, nanotechnology, energy saving and Internet things. The most successful startup of ZNTC JSC is NPP GIRONAV. The company develops and produces domestic MEMS-coursework, gyroscopes, navigation systems.
2023
Most startups worth from $1 billion are engaged in Internet technologies
The bulk of startups worth $1 billion or more, which appeared from 2007 to 2022 inclusive, specialize in Internet technologies. Such data are provided in a report by the Website Planet research group, released in mid-November 2023.
Analysts note that a huge number of startups appear annually, but only a few become unicorns, that is, companies with an estimate of $1 billion. In particular, it is estimated that almost 90% of young companies fail, and the likelihood that the enterprise will become a unicorn is only 0.0006%. In the period 2007-2022. on a global scale, according to Website Planet estimates, 1964 startups appeared with a market value of $1 billion or more. Moreover, almost a third of them received such an assessment in 2021.
In total, the value of all unicorns included in the rating reaches approximately $7.29 trillion. The most expensive company on the list is Bytedance (owner of the social network TikTok), the cost of which at the time of preparation of the report is estimated at $360 billion. This is followed by Stripe ($152 billion), SpaceX ($127 billion) and Shein (about $100 billion). The average estimated value of startups from the rating is $3.71 billion. Most unicorns (1,571 companies, or 80%) have an estimated value below the specified average. And 393 companies (20.01%), whose estimate exceeds the average, have a total value of about $4.67 trillion, which is equivalent to 64.1% of the total value of all unicorns.
In the period from 2007 to 2022, the most young companies worth $1 billion or more appeared in the field of Internet technologies, which includes software services in the relevant field: Website Planet analysts counted 355 such unicorns with a total estimate of almost $1.4 trillion. In second place are fintech companies - 312 startups with a total value of about $1.3 trillion. health care During the period under review, 175 unicorns were formed in the sphere, which together are estimated at $442 billion. This is followed by the e-commerce segment and the industry with artificial intelligence 165 and 133 unicorn firms, whose total value is $599 billion and $706 billion, respectively.
The industries with the highest average rating of startups are named: aerospace and defense - $10.32 billion; information technology - $6.43 billion; real estate - $5.78 billion; consumer products and services - $5.66 billion; games - $5.48 billion; artificial intelligence - $5.4 billion.
Geographically, most unicorns are found in North America (1,071), Asia (569) and Europe (228), while Oceania has only 11 and Africa has only 5. In general, startups worth $1 billion or more are distributed across 57 countries.
The study showed that only 161 unicorns (8.2%) from the list among the founders are a woman. And only 49 companies in the founders do not have men at all. Analysts at Website Planet believe that gender bias plays a significant role in such an advantage of male collectives: venture investors prefer companies led by representatives of a strong half of humanity. Unicorns, co-founded by men and women, have a higher average valuation than companies founded only by men or only women - $4.29 billion against $3.72 billion and $2.08 billion, respectively. It is also said that the first startups founded by women reached unicorn status in 2013.[2]
Since the beginning of 2023, the number of cybersecurity startups in Russia has doubled
On July 10, 2023, it became known that the number of startups in the field of cybersecurity has sharply increased in Russia. In particular, from January to June 2023, their number jumped twice compared to the same period of the previous year. Read more here.
Startups in Russia will be combined into holdings
Technology holdings will be created in Russia, which will combine several industry startups with the customer, production company and investors. Such an initiative is contained in the concept of technological development until 2030, Vedomosti writes on March 24, 2023 with reference to this document.
The representative of the secretariat of First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, who oversees the preparation of the document, confirmed the newspaper's study of such a measure. According to the source of the publication, the mechanism plans to implement the Skolkovo fund together with the ВЭБ.РФ.. It is assumed that the financing of the measure will be carried out through the VEB.Rf. For this state corporation, investments in the technological sector will be allowed (by March 2023, there are restrictions on risks for it, the source said. For participants in consortia, there will be benefits that are available for Skolkovo residents (zeroing income tax, VAT exemption, reduced insurance premiums, zero property tax and customs payments benefits), the Vedomosti informant said.
The work of the government in the direction of supporting startups is carried out against the background of a sharp decrease in the volume of venture financing in Russia. In 2023, the amount of venture financing may be halved, experts from the analytical company Dsight (Disite) predict. It is expected that the number of transactions will decrease to 130-150, and the volume of investments in startups - to $400 million. In its forecast, the company does not take into account particularly large transactions (from $100 million) and IPOs. Dsight says that the presence of such transactions is difficult to predict, and admits that in 2023 they may not be at all.[3]
2022
Proposal of subsidies for the supply of goods for special operations in Ukraine for startups
At the end of September 2022, residents of the Strogino technopark received a letter offering to supply goods for the Russian military special operation in Ukraine. Such companies will be able to count on financial support. Read more here.
A startup with Russian roots hit the top 10 most expensive US unicorn companies founded by immigrants
At the end of August 2022, the American non-profit organization NFAP published a rating of the most expensive American startups founded by immigrants. The list includes companies with Russian roots Miro (employee collaboration platform) and Gopuff (food delivery service).
Founded by Andrei Husid and Oleg Shardina Miro is located in sixth place in the ranking of the largest foreign founders of "unicorns" (startups worth from $1 billion) in the United States with an estimate of $17.5 billion. In early August, Miro entered the top 5 best cloud companies in the world according to the American Forbes magazine .
Gopuff in the NFAP rating was noted for its leadership in the number of employees - about 15 thousand people. This is a project of immigrants from Russia and Israel Rafael Ilishaev and Yakir Golov.
The most expensive company with an immigrant founder was space technology manufacturer SpaceX. Its founder, Elon Musk, was born in South Africa and moved as a teenager to Canada. He later went to the United States to study at the university, and remained in the country on a visa from a qualified H-1B worker. He received US citizenship in 2002. SpaceX is estimated at $127 billion.
The second place was taken by the developer of software for electronic payments Stripe. Its founders are from Ireland, the company's valuation was $95 billion. The top three was closed by the Instacart grocery delivery service with the founder from Canada. The company's estimate is $39 billion.
The top ten also includes startups with Ukrainian founders. In seventh place came the messaging service Discord from Stanislav Vishnevsky with an estimate of $15 billion. An online platform that Grammarly helps write texts in English, with an estimate of $13 billion, came in ninth place. It was founded by Max Litwin in 2009.
According to the authors of the study, if we take into account immigrant companies that have either been sold or entered the stock exchange, then the total value of such a business is measured at $1.5 trillion.[4]
2021
Record investment in space startups
For the first time in a year, more than 10 thousand startups were sold around the world
In 2021, 10,792 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals were concluded, thanks to which investors exited the capital of startups. This is 58% more than in 2020. The number of transactions exceeded 10 thousand for the first time, analysts at CB Inights say in their study published in January 2022. Read more here.
The number of startups worth from $1 billion in the world increased by 80%, to 1,058
In 2021, the number of unicorn startups (companies worth more than $1 billion) in the world increased by 80% compared to 2020 and reached 1,058. This is reported at the Hurun Research Institute. 81% of such companies offer software and services, and only 19% - physical goods. 53% are consumer-oriented and 47% are enterprise-oriented.
Unicorn founders are on average 44 years old, meaning they founded their unicorn at the age of 36. Unicorns have an average of 2 founders. One third are serial entrepreneurs who sold the previous startup. One in five unicorns have at least one co-founder from outside the unicorn's country of origin. The US, particularly Silicon Valley, has attracted the most unicorn founders from abroad, followed by Europe. India is the leader in the number of unicorn founders from among emigrants, followed by China, Israel and Russia.
The US and China continue to dominate, accounting for three-quarters of all the world's known unicorns, despite accounting for only a quarter of the world's population. The rest of the world is playing catch-up, increasing its share of unicorns from 17% in 2019 to 26% in 2021.
Countries with more unicorns are considered countries with more dynamic economies. 42 countries in 2021 could boast of having at least one unicorn, but still such large economies as Italy Russia, Saudi Arabia Poland and top the list of 160 countries without a single known unicorn. 13 countries for the first time officially produced unicorns, led by and, Mexico and Holland including Bahamas Belgium Chile,,,,,,,,,,. Czech Republic Denmark Norway Senegal Thailand Turkey UAE Vietnam
Europe accounts for only 11% of the world's unicorns. In the US, a third of unicorns come from SaaS and fintech, and in China, e-commerce, HealthTech and AI. India is experiencing a start-up boom, with more than doubling the number of unicorns, bringing the country's official unicorn count to 54 and overtaking the UK, ranked third in the world.
Top 10 countries where the world's unicorns are based
Top 10 cities where the world's unicorns are based
- San Francisco;
- Beijing;
- New York;
- Shanghai;
- Shenzhen;
- London;
- Bengaluru;
- Hangzhou;
- Paris;
- Berlin.[5]
Europe overtakes China in the number of IT startups worth from $1 billion
On December 8, 2021, a study was published according to which Europe overtook China in the number of "unicorns" - startups valued by investors at more than $1 billion. Read more here.
Concessional loans and compensation for 50% of IPO costs. Minek has developed a plan to support IT startups
On November 23, 2021, it became known about the plan developed by the Ministry of Economic Development to support technological startups within the framework of the strategic initiative approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. Read more here.
Britain became the first European country with a hundred IT startups worth from $1 billion
In early June 2021, it became known that 100 technology companies worth at least $1 billion (also known as "unicorns") are based in the UK. This is the first European country to reach this mark, according to the Dealroom and Tech Nation databases.
According to City A.M., the 100th unicorn startup was Tractable, which uses AI to create computer vision tools. The firm announced a Series D funding round, during which it raised another $60 million, bringing its valuation to the legendary $1 billion mark. Other companies on the list include a search engine for Skyscanner travellers from Scotland, as well as Challenger Bank banks from Durham, Atom Bank and Darktrace from Cambridge, which use AI to develop cyber security solutions.
Commenting on the news, the UK's Secretary of State for Digital, Oliver Dowden, said achieving the new milestone "strengthens the UK's position as one of the world's leading tech hubs."
In the first half of 2021, 13 new unicorn companies appeared in the UK, which is almost double the total number of new billionaire firms in 2020. Meanwhile, in six months, British startups raised a total of $14.5 billion in investments, while in the second half of 2020 they managed to attract only $8.9 billion.
The United States and China are the only countries in the world where more than 100 unicorn companies are also based. Thus, the UK became the first European country to reach this milestone. It is followed by Germany (42 companies), France (22 companies) and the Netherlands (18 companies).
Most of Britain's "unicorn" companies (34%) are fintech companies, followed by companies involved in medical technology (14%) and travel technology (8[6]
Russia adopted a law on a convertible loan for startups
On June 8, 2021, the State Duma adopted in the second and third readings a law on a convertible loan, thanks to which startups will be able to quickly attract investments and reduce risks. Read more here.
2020
Launch of IT startup support program in the early stages of StartHub.Moscow
On October 23, 2020, the Moscow Mayor's Office began accepting applications for participation in the StartHub.Moscow IT startup support program. As reported on the project website, it is an ecosystem of innovation that brings together technology startups, investors and large businesses on the same site. The project includes comprehensive business development programs, expert support, industry activities and networking. Read more here.
Creation of the state register of IT startups in Russia
On September 21, 2020, it became known about the decision of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation to create a register of technological startups. According to the deputy head of the department Oksana Tarasenko, we are talking about a digital platform designed for state support of start-up projects and combining data on companies from information systems of government agencies and organizations. Read more here.
Ministry of Education and Science equates startups with theses
At the end of June 2020, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation announced the upcoming launch of the Startup as a Diploma program, in which graduates of Russian universities will be able to represent the startup certification commission as a thesis. Read more here.
Russia entered the top 20 countries with the best ecosystems for startups
At the end of May 2020, it became known that Russia entered the top 20 countries with the best ecosystems for startups according to StartupBlink, which conducts a study every year evaluating states and cities in terms of productivity, investment, market features, communication level and other criteria. Read more here.
2019: Growth in investment in space startups
Notes
- ↑ "Unicorns" do not live here
- ↑ The Future of the Billion Dollar Valuation: Unicorns Become More Scarce in a Shaky Global Economy
- ↑ the government proposed to combine startups into holdings
- ↑ New NFAP Policy Brief: Immigrant Entrepreneurs and U.S. Billion-Dollar Companies
- ↑ Global Unicorn Index 2021
- ↑ %). UK now has 100 $1bn tech companies
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