2026 is being viewed by international investors as the "year of the super unicorns," as many leading technology companies in the US and Europe are reportedly considering listing their shares with valuations exceeding $100 billion, many times higher than the traditional "unicorn" standard ($1 billion).
According to The Guardian, companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX, and Stripe are reportedly among the top 10 largest businesses considering initial public offerings (IPOs) in the near future.
The success or failure of these IPOs – regardless of whether stock prices rise, fall, or remain stable – is seen as potentially shaping how the market views the artificial intelligence (AI) race, as well as the question of whether the current wave of investment is creating a new tech bubble.
Previously, several companies had planned IPOs in 2025 but had to postpone or cancel them due to uncertainties related to the US government shutdown, job cuts, and the impact on the operations of market regulators.
Despite the volatility, international financial markets continue to surge, nearing record highs thanks to the explosion of artificial intelligence. Investors are expected to continue placing large bets on the technology sector in the near future.
Below are some prominent companies that analysts believe have the potential to capitalize on this trend for an IPO.
OpenAI: The Biggest Test of the AI Economy
Based in San Francisco (USA), OpenAI is a name synonymous with the global AI wave after launching its ChatGPT chatbot in November 2022. Despite still operating at a loss, the company has attracted significant investments from Microsoft and Japan's SoftBank Group.
OpenAI's value is believed to have increased from $29 billion in 2023 to approximately $500 billion last year. According to Reuters , if it goes public, OpenAI could reach a valuation of up to $1 trillion.
Behind these figures lies the expectation that the demand for AI and its transformative impact on work and life will offset the massive investment in infrastructure.
OpenAI has committed to spending $1.4 trillion over the next eight years on data centers and computer chips, but still needs to convince investors of its ability to recoup its investment.
Neil Wilson, an analyst at Saxo Capital Markets, commented: “OpenAI is clearly the biggest test for the entire AI economy, as well as the question of whether it’s all built on a solid foundation.”
Anthropic: AI and its impact beyond the technology market.
Like OpenAI, Anthropic – the company behind the Claude chatbot and the Claude Code app – is currently unprofitable. This month, the San Francisco-based firm signed a $10 billion investment deal, bringing its valuation to $350 billion.
Analysts suggest that if Anthropic goes public, the impact could extend beyond the AI field, as many of the company's employees support effective altruism.
Online discussions suggest that the proceeds from the sale of shares could be reallocated to social activities associated with the movement.
SpaceX: Technology, defense, and the Elon Musk factor.
Elon Musk's aerospace company is reportedly poised to reach an $800 billion valuation in December and is preparing for a potential IPO. However, according to CFO Bret Johnsen, "whether, when, and at what valuation the IPO will happen remains highly uncertain."
Experts believe that geopolitical instability could make the links between technology, aerospace, and defense more attractive. However, Elon Musk's personal reputation and developments at Tesla also make the IPO outcome difficult to predict.
Databricks: Growth fueled by data and AI
Databricks – a company that helps businesses build AI agents based on internal data – reported a revenue increase of over 55% over the past year and reached a valuation of $134 billion last month. CEO Ali Ghodsi said the growth was driven by the demand for AI applications requiring big data processing.
Stripe: The return of a global fintech powerhouse.
This online payment processing company was founded in 2010 by Irish brothers Patrick Collison and John Collison. Stripe is currently headquartered in California (USA) and Dublin (Ireland), and is considered one of the long-standing pillars of the global fintech industry.
Last year, several sources indicated that Stripe had reached a valuation of approximately $107 billion, marking a strong recovery from its $50 billion valuation in 2023. A Stripe spokesperson declined to comment on reports regarding the listing plans.