TechnologyJuly 5, 2026
decacorn
/ˈdɛkəˌkɔːrn/
Definition
A private startup company valued at $10 billion or more.
Etymology
The term combines the Greek prefix 'deca-' (meaning ten) with the suffix '-corn' borrowed from 'unicorn,' a business term for a startup valued over $1 billion. It emerged in the 2010s to distinguish companies that have reached a decuple (tenfold) increase over the standard unicorn valuation threshold.
In the news
In the article, Mistral AI is described as a 'decacorn' to highlight its massive financial valuation and elite status within the global startup ecosystem. This label emphasizes the company's significant scale and market influence as it competes with major U.S. AI labs.
What is Mistral AI? Everything to know about the OpenAI competitor
Read the full article ↗TechCrunch