Harvard-MIT Data Briefing
We're living through a once-in-a-generation technology shift. Harvard–MIT founders are creating unprecedented value.
We're living through a once-in-a-generation technology shift. Harvard and MIT founders are producing an unprecedented wave of AI and frontier-tech companies, contributing meaningfully to the global economy and society, and building the infrastructure, software, and applications the world relies on. The Harvard-MIT supercluster is one of the world's most productive ever, with companies in today's paradigm exhibiting systemic patterns of unprecedented, rapid growth and capital efficiency.
Harvard-MIT's AI Supercluster (Sept 2025)
Key insights from our 2025 Harvard/MIT AI Unicorn Trends Report:
- •26 AI unicorns valued at $124B on $12.6B raised (OpenAI/Anthropic excluded)
- •50% greater capital efficiency than non-AI peers (15% vs. 27.5% capital intensity)
- •4 years average to reach $1B+ valuation (median: 3 years)
- •11 unicorns ($79B) founded by under-25s/dropouts
- •40% of Forbes 2025 Top 50 AI companies
Economic Impact of Harvard-Founded Unicorns (2005-2025)
Key insights from our Harvard's Unicorn Economy: Global Economic Impact of Harvard-Founded Unicorns (2005–2025):
- •170 unicorns produced since 2005
- •9 new unicorns founded per year, on average, with 32% reaching $5B+ valuations
- •$6.1T in public market value (~11% of the S&P 500)
- •$560B in combined annual revenue
- •3.4M jobs supported worldwide (~638k direct; 2.73M indirect)
About 021T Capital
021T Capital Management, LLC backs ambitious founders at first-check to build $1T+ companies. Based in Cambridge, MA, we have a strong edge in the Harvard-MIT ecosystem, and are supported by world-class investors. Contact us: devon@021t.vc