India is home to 21 unicorns, collectively valued at $73.2 billion

At $16 billion, Paytm is the most valued Indian start-up, according to Hurun Global Unicorn List, which pegs the number of unicorns in the country at 21, collectively valued at $73.2 billion. 

Eleven of these are backed by three Chinese investors. People of Indian origin have been behind 40 more such start-ups globally, collectively valued at $99.6 billion.

The report found that on an average, it takes seven years for a start-up to achieve the unicorn status in India, against 5.5 years in China and 6.5 yearsin the US.