After Unicorns, Comes the 'Soonicorns'. There Are Nine in Italy (or 34)

"Soonicorn" is a compound word made up of "soon" and "unicorn" and refers to companies that are close to a billion-dollar valuation, and thus, it is expected that they will soon reach this milestone. In Italy, there are nine of them generating a total revenue of 354 million euros. The report "Italian Tech Landscape 2026" reveals that there are 9 "soonicorn" companies in our country: a figure that should be interpreted in the context of the broader international landscape.

Nine "Soonicorns" in Italy, or Perhaps Thirty-Four

It's a unicorn, but it's small: it's a "soonicorn". In the rich jargon of startups, which has seen many neologisms coined that are not always easy to understand, one has become widely known: the concept of "unicorn". The term refers to a startup that becomes large enough to be valued at over a billion and was created to indicate how rare this is.

The report "Italian Tech Landscape 2026", conducted by La Tech Made In Italy in collaboration with Altermind, found that the nine companies labeled as "soonicorn" in Italy operate in very diverse fields: from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, from software for businesses to aerospace, including personal services.

Of the nine Italian companies, the top three account for 90% of the total revenue: these are Unobravo, which offers psychological support services and generates 124 million euros; BizAway, which collects 116 million by managing business travel; and finally Musixmatch, which earns 75 million a year collecting song lyrics.

The other six startups are Akamas (Kubernetes optimization platform), Buzzoole (AI for influencer marketing), CoreView (cyber resilience for Microsoft 365), D-Orbit (satellite launches), Exein (security for IoT devices), and Leaf Space (ground communication to satellites).

"These nine names demonstrate that Italian tech has surpassed the stage of mere promises and has entered the phase of industrial maturity," explains Max Brigida, Founder of La Tech Made in Italy. "We are talking about companies that generate real value, qualified employment, and international competitiveness. The Soonicorns represent today the most vibrant segment of our ecosystem, and the next Italian unicorn is probably already among them."

However, this figure varies depending on how it is calculated and interpreted. According to the Stanford Graduate School of Business, there are as many as 34 Italian companies in the category of "soonicorn". According to this reading, Italy ranks fifteenth in the world for the number of "soonicorns" and sixth in Europe (behind the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden). Globally, the United States leads (2,194), followed by China (1,030), the United Kingdom (222), India (174), France (106), Germany (79), Canada (64), Israel (59), Japan, and Spain (45).

Regardless of the actual number, it is once again confirmed that Italy lags behind other major global economies. While it is positive to see that there is activity, undoubtedly more needs to be done to keep pace. In the case of "soonicorns" and unicorns, the key lies in a better corporate culture that focuses on growth and effective management, which is still too often difficult to find in the Italian landscape.