(Yicai Global) Dec. 21 -- Some 57 startup became unicorns this year, and 13 of them were from China, per PitchBook Data Inc. figures

Seven groups' valuations dropped below the unicorn threshold of USD1 billion. The world has 227 businesses in the elite club, and about half of them focus on information technology and software.

Beijing Byte Dance Technology Co. (Toutiao) is worth the most among this year's newcomers at about USD20 billion.

The other dozen Chinese firms that made the cut are:

Beijing Homelink Real Estate Brokerage Co. (USD6 billion)

NIO Co. (USD5 billion)

Beijing Electric Vehicle Co. (USD4.2 billion)

Beijing Mobike Technology Co. (USD3 billion)

Ofo Inc. (USD3 billion)

SenseTime Group Ltd. (USD3 billion)

Hangzhou Souche Automotive Services Co. (USD1.5 billion)

UrWork (Beijing) Venture Investment Co. (USD1.5 billion)

Beijing Da Mi Technology Co. (USD1.5 billion)

AliSports (USD1 billion)

Beijing Yunify Technology Co. (USD1 billion)

Zhihu (USD1 billion)