THE $10 BILLION CLUB: Meet the most valuable startups in the US

Elon Musk

Over the past several years, we've seen a rise in private companies valued at more than one billion dollars — the so-called "unicorns."

But when too many startups became unicorns, a new class of startups emerged: "decacorns,"companies valued at more than $10 billion.

These are the Ubers and Airbnbs of the world; the startups that steadfastly remain private companies as they load up with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding at ever higher valuations.

With help from Pitchbook, we've compiled a list of the US startups valued at more than $10 billion by private investors. Whether they eventually go public, or stay privately held, these companies already have a huge influence on the tech industry.

Here are the seven most valuable startups in the US:

7. Dropbox

Valuation: $10 billion

CEO Drew Houston

Dropbox reached its $10 billion valuation in 2014 after a $617 million funding round. Since then, the company has shifted its focus to business customers, launching Dropbox Enterprise in 2015.

The company began to cut back its lavish spending on employee perks in 2016, something that was costing the company $25,000 per year per employee. While Dropbox doesn't disclose its financials, it's reported to have generated more than $500 million in revenue last year. CEO Drew Houston said in 2016 that the company is free cash flow positive, which is a milestone for a fast-growth tech company.

News broke in July that Dropbox was working with Goldman Sachs on the paperwork for an initial public offering, but it's looking like the company won't file until at least next year.

6. Samumed

Valuation: $12 billion

CEO Osman Kibar, CFO Cevdet Samikoglu, and chief medical officer Yusuf Yazici

San Diego-based Samumed is a health tech company focused on reversing aging. The startup has attracted $300 million in venture funding and a massive valuation, all thanks to a pipeline of what could be revolutionary treatments to regenerate hair, skin, bones, and joints.

Samumed was founded in 2008 and came out of stealth mode about two years ago when it started presenting some of its data. The startup is in the midst of several clinical trials and completed a 52-week Phase II clinical trial of an osteoarthritis treatment in July.

5. Pinterest

Valuation: $12.3 billion

CEO Ben Silbermann

In June 2017, Pinterest raised $150 million in funding from existing investors at a $12.3 billion valuation, bringing the app maker's valuation up slightly from $11 billion in April 2015.

The service, a combination of social network and online scrapbook, has more than 175 million monthly active users, over half of whom are international. The company has expanded its focus in recent months to overseas markets like the UK, France, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, and has doubled down on increasing the advertising on its platform. Last August, Pinterest acquired online bookmarking service Instapaper.

Pinterest reportedly expects to make $500 million in ad revenue this year, up 67% from $300 million in 2016.

Rumors swirled throughout 2016 that Pinterest was on the brink of going public, but its most recent influx of funding means an IPO could be delayed even further.

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