Nearly 40 startups have become billion-dollar companies in the first half of 2026, according to data compiled by TechCrunch on July 5, 2026. That's the fastest pace since 2021.

Artificial intelligence is the main driver. Companies in manufacturing and security that use AI technology each added three billion-dollar startups. Payment processing—how companies move money online—added ten, including Juspay, an Indian payments company.

The Biggest Deals

A few May deals stand out for their size.

Recursive, an AI research company founded in 2025, raised $650 million and is now worth $4.65 billion. That happened in just one year—a pace that would have seemed impossible a few years ago. MiRus, a medical device company, is worth $4.41 billion after raising $1.5 billion from Boston Scientific, the largest single investment in the group.

EXA, which builds technology that helps AI programs search the internet for information, raised $250 million and is now worth $1.95 billion. Positron, an AI hardware company founded in 2024, reached a $1.06 billion valuation on $234 million in funding. The interest in AI hardware shows investors believe there will be many different ways to build and run AI systems, not just one dominant approach.

In healthcare, Vi Labs raised $145 million at a $1.64 billion valuation, and Forus, a company that automates healthcare workflows, raised $160 million to reach $1.01 billion. Together, they show how AI is changing healthcare in different ways—from automating routine tasks to building new software platforms.

Socket, which secures software supply chains, raised $60 million to reach $1 billion. This reflects real corporate spending decisions rather than speculation. SendCutSend, which uses digital tools to make custom metal and plastic parts, raised $110 million from major venture firms—a sign that investors are betting on automation in physical manufacturing. Radar, an inventory management platform, raised $170 million to hit $1 billion, while Farther, a wealth management platform, raised $150 million at a $1.25 billion valuation. In June, MainFunc, the company behind AI workspace Genspark, completed a $485 million funding round, bringing its total to $2.6 billion.

What This Means

These startups cover a much wider range of industries than they did in 2021, when most were payment or software companies. Today's list includes hardware makers, healthcare companies, industrial manufacturers, and financial platforms. Most either use AI directly or rely on it to run their operations more efficiently.

The speed of these valuations is worth noting. Companies like Recursive, worth $4.65 billion after just one year, show that investors are betting on future dominance rather than current profits. That can work—early winners in previous technology waves did become giants—but it also assumes that young companies can execute flawlessly and grow fast. History suggests that's a risky assumption.

Most of these companies are in the United States or Europe. Even as AI tools become available worldwide, the money and talent still concentrate in established tech hubs. If the pace continues, 2026 will see the most billion-dollar startups since 2021.