Sky-high valuations, emerging technologies and eager investors have created a new breed of startups that their financial backers see as central to the next phase of the space economy.

A new analysis by SpaceNews counts 30 privately held space companies with unicorn status, meaning they are valued at $1 billion or more. Roughly two-thirds achieved that status since the beginning of 2025. Notably, more than half of those that became unicorns since January were founded within the past five years.

To continue reading this article:

Register for a SpaceNews.com account or sign in to your existing account.

You’ll receive our weekly Editor’s Choice, SpaceNews This Week and Opinions newsletters. Opt-out at any time.