FoodTech Unicorns in 2025
3 new unicorns in 2024 and 6 downturns
There are now 55 FoodTech unicorns, down from 58 last year.
Six startups lost their unicorn status with an unprecedented number of « failures »: four saw their valuation go below the $1B threshold, one was acquired at a low valuation, while only one (Swiggy) had a successful IPO. Meanwhile, three new unicorns emerged in 2024 and Q1 2025, all in the US, two of them being consumer brands. This highlights a growing diversification in FoodTech, moving beyond its traditional tech-heavy segments.
The delivery sector has definitively stabilised, marking the end of its once-hyped expansion. However, vertical farming continues to struggle, with Plenty now facing significant setbacks.
Download our FoodTech unicorns report below for the full list of the 55 unicorns, stats and more data!
What is a unicorn?
A unicorn is a privately held startup publicly announcing a valuation above one billion dollars.
A company can stop being a unicorn:
- following an acquisition (such as Getir in 2024);
- if it becomes a public company following an IPO (Initial Public Offering) and is then traded. Some companies have their valuation moving beyond the $1B mark on this occasion, but they are excluded from our scope as we focus on private companies;
- if it publicly announces a new round of financing with a valuation lower than $1B.
