Tel Aviv University Ranks 3rd Worldwide for Producing Unicorn Founders

Twelve research master’s graduates from Tel Aviv University are among the founders of U.S.-based Deep Tech unicorn companies — an achievement that places TAU 3rd worldwide among universities outside the U.S., following Cambridge and Oxford.

^{Tel Aviv University by the numbers: 12 research master’s graduates from TAU are among the founders of Deep Tech unicorn companies. The University ranks 3rd worldwide among universities outside the U.S. The research identified 347 research master’s graduates and 270 unicorn companies founded by them.}

What Makes a Company a “Unicorn”?

A unicorn is a privately held startup company valued at more than $1 billion. The term was coined to reflect just how rare such companies were considered to be — much like the mythical creature.

The data, published by Prof. Ilya Strebulaev of Stanford University, place Tel Aviv University 1st in Israel and 3rd worldwide among universities outside the U.S. for the number of research master’s graduates — excluding MBA graduates — who are among the founders of Deep Tech unicorn companies.

Ranking of universities by the number of research master's graduates who are founders of unicorn companies: University of Cambridge ranks first with 19 founders, University of Oxford ranks second with 16, Tel Aviv University ranks third with 12, Hebrew University of Jerusalem ranks fourth with 8, Technion ranks fifth with 7, and Bar-Ilan University ranks sixth with 4.

^{University ranking by number of unicorn founders. Tel Aviv University ranks third in the world outside the United States, with 12 founders.}

The connection between research, technology, and entrepreneurship is also reflected in the numbers: 12 research master’s graduates from Tel Aviv University are among the founders of Deep Tech unicorn companies.

Among them is TAU alumnus Yuval Tal, founder of Payoneer, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Fleischman Faculty of Engineering.

Which Universities Lead in Unicorn Founders?

Among universities outside the U.S., the University of Cambridge ranks first with 19 unicorn founders, followed by the University of Oxford with 16. Tel Aviv University ranks third with 12, followed by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with eight, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology with seven, and Bar-Ilan University with four.

Prof. Moshe Zviran, Head of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tel Aviv University, says:

“The research findings place Tel Aviv University among a select group of leading academic institutions worldwide and demonstrate the international impact of the University’s graduates. Alongside excellence in research and teaching, the University works to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, providing students and researchers with the tools to turn knowledge and ideas into real-world impact.”

 

Prof. Noam Eliaz, Dean of Tel Aviv University’s Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, adds:

“I am proud to lead a faculty whose graduates do not simply join the forefront of global innovation — they create it. This ranking demonstrates the unique connection between research excellence, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to turn deep knowledge into technologies.”