In startup finance, what term describes a privately held company valued at $10 billion or more?

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In startup finance, a privately held company valued at $10 billion or more is called a decacorn.

The word combines “deca,” meaning ten, with “unicorn,” the established label for a private startup valued at more than $1 billion. The term is used for especially large venture-backed companies before they go public or are acquired.

A decacorn is not necessarily worth exactly $10 billion. The label generally covers any qualifying private company valued at $10 billion or above, based on an investment round, acquisition offer, or another market estimate. Valuations can change as new funding and financial information become available.

This term is often confused with “unicorn,” which refers to the lower $1 billion threshold. A “hectocorn” is an even rarer label associated with a private valuation of at least $100 billion.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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