CA-AFFINITY
16.6.2022 13:02:11 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
Affinity — the relationship intelligence platform for dealmakers— today launched The Relationship Intelligence Benchmark Report: Unicorn Edition , which shares industry trends and analyzes over 390 unicorns in Europe and the United Kingdom with a deep dive into relationship intelligence and deal flows of the firms that invest in them.
Integrated data from the Affinity and Dealroom.co’s intelligence platforms found Europe has a unicorn growth rate more than twice that of the US and is home to 65 “unicorn cities.” These unicorn cities consist of London, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, and Amsterdam, with more than half of all European unicorns located in the UK and Germany. Recognizing the growth internationally, U.S. investors have flocked to join and now account for 35% of all funding in Europe. This flood of investment has also increased unicorn valuations which are up by 305% in the last five years.
“The past decade has seen an exponential increase in the volume and diversity of new capital investing in startups - and is now entering turbulent economic times,” said Ray Zhou, co-CEO and co-founder at Affinity. “Our report highlights how Europe has adapted and grown, despite the effects of the pandemic, and shows how relationship intelligence plays a role in these major industry trends.”
As expected, many firms experienced a period of “bounce back” from 2020. In 2021, European unicorns raised over $45B, twice the amount raised in 2020. However, these unicorns only account for 14% of new unicorns globally. This means the competition among VC’s is significant as they try to time the right investment. Index Ventures is a single venture responsible for backing 10 European decacorns by itself. The combination of high valuations and less late-stage funding rounds requires VC’s to capitalize on their networks, warm introductions, and outreach. But as these firms and startups face uncertain economic conditions, it is important to understand the drivers for the previous success and how investors identify the next generation of high-growth startups in Europe.
Other key takeaways from the report include:
- Unicorns are roaming : Europe produced 5 times more unicorns in 2021 than in 2020.
- Germany is now a hotspot : German funding of unicorns grew over 300% in the last 5 years. Together with the UK, they have funded 2/3 of all Europe-based unicorns.
- Decacorns are on the rise : Over the past five years, this percentage of multibillion-dollar unicorns has risen by a staggering 560%. The total value of decacorns in 2021 was $777.4B; to date in 2022 is at $718.3B, guaranteeing it will exceed 2021’s numbers.
- The rebound is over : While firms saw an increase in deals, meetings and email volume in 2021, the beginning of 2022 tells a different story. In the first quarter of 2022, firms experienced 27% less meetings and deals, likely due to the inflation in Europe and predictions of an impending recession.
Read the full report here and then watch Affinity’s webinar “European Unicorn Trends: How to Make Unicorn Hunting More Predictable ,” which brings industry experts together to discuss the trends impacting dealmakers in this report as well as the role relationship intelligence plays in the evolving market landscape.
About Affinity
Affinity is a relationship intelligence platform that empowers dealmakers in relationship-driven industries to find, manage and close more deals. With the most automated relationship intelligence insights and technology, Affinity enables leaders to drive deals, free themselves from data drudgery and ensure their teams can take action with confidence, knowing the context and history of every relationship. The Affinity platform, including Affinity CRM, is used by over 2,000 relationship-driven organizations worldwide. Founded in 2014, Affinity is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by leading investors, including Menlo Ventures, Advance Venture Partners, 8VC and MassMutual Ventures.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220616005351/en/
Link:
Social Media:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Xtep-Sponsored Chinese Teenage Dancer Claims World Championship at Juste Debout Street Dance World Finals10.3.2026 19:46:00 CET | Press release
Xtep, a well-known sportswear brand from China, proudly announced that Xtep-sponsored Chinese teenage dancers delivered an electrifying performance at the Juste Debout Street Dance World Finals in Paris on Sunday, March 8, 2026, claiming top honors and showcasing a unique fusion of traditional Chinese culture with modern street dance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310519224/en/ Chinese Teens Dance to Glory at Juste Debout World Finals Li Yongqiu, a 14-year-old from Southwestern China’s Chongqing Municipality, made history by winning the Global Championship in the Junior Dance Tour, becoming the third Chinese dancer to achieve this feat. His explosive power and technical mastery, honed through years of training that integrates Kungfu elements, captivated judges and audiences alike. The Chinese contingent's success didn't stop there. Zhang Xinlan and Zhang Chuyi secured a Top 8 finish in the Popping Adult D
ATLAS Infrastructure Invests in H2O America, Backs Long-Term Growth Strategy10.3.2026 18:29:00 CET | Press release
ATLAS anchors H2O America’s equity raise and establishes new substantial shareholdingUpsized transaction highlights strong market support for H2O’s long-term strategy and sector leading growth outlookH2O’s organic growth fully equity funded into 20281 ATLAS Infrastructure (“ATLAS”) is a specialist Global Listed Infrastructure investor managing funds on behalf of long-term infrastructure clients. Following the recent equity placement, ATLAS’s actively managed accounts hold ~10.8% voting and economic interest in H2O America (“H2O”). ATLAS was pleased to support H2Os long‑term strategy to invest in local water and wastewater utility operations through our participation in the recent equity raise. ATLAS recognises the disciplined approach from H2O management which focuses on organic investment in existing businesses alongside targeted and accretive transactions such as the acquisition of Quadvest which materially expands H2O’s regulated water footprint in a premium high‑growth jurisdiction
TIXiMED Announces Promising Preclinical Data: Oral TIX100 Prevents Weight Regain After GLP-1 Cessation in Obesity Model10.3.2026 18:22:00 CET | Press release
TIX100 prevented weight regain in mice after semaglutide discontinuation Supports potential role as oral weight maintenance therapy following GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1) treatment, addressing a major challenge in long-term obesity management TIXiMED, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a novel oral therapy targeting thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) for diabetes and metabolic disorders, is pleased to highlight new research by investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Comprehensive Diabetes Center. The study demonstrates that its oral compound, TIX100, effectively prevents weight rebound following discontinuation of GLP-1 treatment in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. In the study, mice treated with semaglutide experienced significant weight loss of over 13% body weight during a 2-week treatment period while continuing a high-fat diet. Upon discontinuation of semaglutide, untreated mice rapidly regained 14% of their body weight, mi
Svante and Integrated Packaging Company Advance U.S. Biogenic CDR Project to Feasibility10.3.2026 14:57:00 CET | Press release
The bioenergy with carbon capture (BECCS) project aims to remove more than 500,000 tonnes per year of biogenic CO2 emissions from a U.S. paper mill’s recovery boiler Svante Development Inc. is co-investing to advance the project The project will generate high-quality carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits to market to Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) buyers. Svante Technologies Inc. (“Svante”) announced today that its bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) project at a paper mill in the Southeast U.S. has progressed to the feasibility study phase. The project is being developed in partnership with an integrated sustainable packaging company, following an extensive screening and pre-feasibility study conducted across several of the partner’s mills. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310319382/en/ During the feasibility study phase, the companies will complete further engineering and design activities, cos
Forbes 40th Annual World’s Billionaires List10.3.2026 14:43:00 CET | Press release
Elon Musk Is World’s Richest Person Ever Recorded Forbes releases its 40th-annual World’s Billionaireslist, the definitive ranking of the planet’s richest people. Wealth surged to unprecedented levels over the past year, with fortunes climbing at a record pace. This year’s list features 3,428 billionaires, the most since the list’s inception in 1987. The world’s wealthiest people are worth a record $20.1 trillion combined, up from $16.1 trillion in 2025. Elon Musktops the Billionaires list for the second year in a row and is the richest person ever recorded, worth an estimated $839 billion. His net worth skyrocketed by half of a trillion dollars from last year, thanks to a rise in the value of Tesla, and SpaceX which is aiming to go public in 2026. Musk is the first person ever recorded to reach the $800 billion mark, as he moves toward becoming the world’s first trillionaire. “It’s the year of the billionaire,” said Chase Peterson-Withorn, Forbes Senior Editor, Wealth. “The planet add
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom