Overview
Australia and New Zealand have rapidly become vibrant hubs for innovative startups, producing a growing number of unicorns – privately held companies valued at over $1 bn. These ventures span industries such as fintech, SaaS, blockchain, and e-commerce, attracting top-tier global investors.
The top 10 unicorns from Australia and New Zealand together are valued at nearly $50 bn, according to Beinsure’s data.
At the top of the list stands Canva, valued at $32 bn. As a global design platform, Canva has revolutionized the way individuals and businesses create visual content, backed by investors like Sequoia Capital China and Blackbird Ventures.
Second is Airwallex ($5.5 bn), a fintech leader providing cross-border payments and financial infrastructure, supported by Tencent Holdings and Sequoia Capital. In third place is Immutable ($2.5 bn), a blockchain gaming and NFT platform funded by Fabric Ventures and Temasek.
GO1 ($2 bn), specializing in corporate learning, and SafetyCulture ($1.67 bn), focused on workplace safety software, showcase the diversity of Australia’s startup scene, Beinsure states. Human resources solutions are also represented by Employment Hero ($1.37 bn) and Culture Amp ($1.5 bn), both improving how companies manage and engage employees.
LinkTree ($1.3 bn) has become a global tool for creators and businesses to manage online presence, while Pet Circle ($1 bn) leads Australia’s pet e-commerce market.
New Zealand makes its mark with Halter ($1 bn), an agri-tech startup using smart collars and software to manage livestock, supported by Bessemer Venture Partners.
Together, these 10 companies reflect the strength of the startup ecosystems in Australia and New Zealand. With strong investor backing and global ambitions, they demonstrate how the region is increasingly contributing to the world’s innovation economy.
Biggest 10 Unicorn Startups in Australia and New Zealand
| Rank | Unicorn | Valuation, bn | Country | Investors |
| 1 | Canva | $32 bn | Australia | Sequoia Capital China, Blackbird Ventures, Matrix Partners |
| 2 | Airwallex | $5.5 bn | Australia | DST Global, Sequoia Capital China, Tencent Holdings |
| 3 | Immutable | $2.5 bn | Australia | Fabric Ventures, AirTree Ventures, Temasek |
| 4 | GO1 | $2 bn | Australia | Y Combinator, M12, SEEK |
| 5 | SafetyCulture | $1.7 bn | Australia | Blackbird Ventures, IndexVentures, Tiger Global Management |
| 6 | Culture Amp | $1.5 bn | Australia | Felicis Ventures, Index Ventures, Blackbird Ventures |
| 7 | Employment Hero | $1.4 bn | Australia | OneVentures, AirTree Ventures, AMP New Ventures |
| 8 | LinkTree | $1.3 bn | Australia | AirTree Ventures, Insight Partners, Index Ventures |
| 9 | Pet Circle | $1 bn | Australia | Prysm Capital, Baillie Gifford & Co., TDM Growth Partners |
| 10 | Halter | $1 bn | New Zealand | Bessemer Venture Partners, Blackbird Ventures |
Valuation share of Top Unicorns in Australia and New Zealand
Global Unicorns Ranked by Country
- Unicorn Startups in the US
- Unicorn Startups in the UK
- Unicorn Startups in China
- Unicorn Startups in Canada
- Unicorn Startups in Germany
- Unicorn Startups in France
- Unicorn Startups in Singapore
- Unicorn Startups in Israel
- Unicorn Startups in Sweden
- Unicorn Startups in Finland
- Unicorn Startups in Norway
- Unicorn Startups in India
- Unicorn Startups in Brazil
- Unicorn Startups in South Korea
- Unicorn Startups in UAE
Methodology
The ranking of the top 10 unicorns in Australia and New Zealand is based on publicly available data from venture capital databases, company announcements, and reliable industry sources. A unicorn is defined here as a privately held, venture-backed company with a valuation of $1 bn or more, measured at the most recent funding round (post-money valuation).
We first identified all active unicorns headquartered in Australia and New Zealand. Companies that had gone public, been acquired, or fallen below the $1 bn threshold were excluded.
From this list, we selected the 10 highest-valued firms. Valuations were cross-checked against multiple sources, including CB Insights, PitchBook, Beinsure and press releases from investors and companies.
Investor information was included to illustrate the breadth of global capital supporting these startups. The ranking is presented in descending order by valuation, with data rounded to the nearest $10 mn where necessary.
This methodology ensures transparency, consistency, and comparability across companies. While valuations can fluctuate with market conditions, this ranking reflects the latest available figures at the time of publication.
It provides a snapshot of the most influential and highly valued startups shaping the innovation landscape in Australia and New Zealand.
FAQ
A unicorn startup is a privately held, venture-backed company with a valuation of $1 billion or more, measured at its most recent funding round (post-money valuation).
As of the latest data, there are 10 unicorn startups in Australia and New Zealand, with a combined valuation of nearly $50 billion.
The largest unicorn is Canva, a global design platform headquartered in Australia, valued at $32 billion.
They span fintech, SaaS, blockchain, e-commerce, agri-tech, HR tech, workplace safety, and creator tools, reflecting a diverse innovation landscape.
Canva ($32 bn, design platform)
Airwallex ($5.5 bn, fintech & payments)
Immutable ($2.5 bn, blockchain gaming & NFTs)
Yes. Halter, valued at $1 bn, is New Zealand’s top unicorn. It is an agri-tech company using smart collars and software to manage livestock.
The list is based on publicly available data from venture capital databases, company announcements, CB Insights, PitchBook, and press releases. Companies must be privately held, headquartered in Australia or New Zealand, and valued at $1 bn+ to qualify.
……………..
AUTHORS: Peter Sonner — Lead Tech Editor of Beinsure Media, Oleg Parashchak — CEO & Founder of Finance Media Holding
