CNBC Disruptor 50

A look back at the CNBC Disruptor 50: 9 years, 233 companies

2020 was a record-setting year for CNBC Disruptor 50 companies, despite initial concern that IPO activity and global M&A would stall due to the pandemic. In all, 14 companies from the 2020 list made their private-market exit — more than ever before in a year's time. Among those were some of the biggest in CNBC Disruptor 50 history, including Coupang, Airbnb, Snowflake, Coinbase and UiPath.

Sixty-five of the 233 companies named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list over the past nine years have become public companies through an IPO, direct listing or SPAC merger (a few have been acquired since). In all, 34 past disruptors have been acquired by large public incumbents, including deals in the past year made by American Express, Charles Schwab and The Carlyle Group.

Below is the complete history of the CNBC Disruptor 50, with details on each of the 233 start-ups to make the list between 2013 and 2021. Read more about the 2021 CNBC Disruptor 50 list and how we chose it.

KEY:
I = ineligible due to company age
A = acquired
P = public
X = shut down

*In 2013 the CNBC Disruptor 50 was an unranked list.

Company2021 rank2020 rank2019 rank2018 rank2017 rank2016 rank2015 rank2014 rank2013 made the list*Material changes
23ANDME--467125--YesAnnounced plans to merge with VG Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), in February 2021
3D ROBOTICS--------Yes-
ADYENPPP16-----IPO on June 13, 2018
AEREOXXXXXXX7YesBankrupt as of November 21, 2014; It was later purchased by DVR company TiVo for $1 million in March 2015
AFFIRMP2333------IPO on January 13, 2021
AIRBNBP417312541YesIPO on December 10, 2020
AIRTABLE46-36-------
AMP ROBOTICS25---------
ANGELLIST-------26--
APEEL30344848------
APPTIOAAAPP--30-IPO on September 23, 2016; Acquired by Vista Equity Partners on November 11, 2018
ATLASSIANPPPPPP--YesIPO on December 10, 2015
ATTABOTICS-38--------
AUDAX HEALTHAAAAAAAAYesAcquired by United Health Care on February 19, 2014
AURIS HEALTHAAA46-----Acquired by Johnson & Johnson on February 12, 2019
BEAUTYCOUNTERA48-------Acquired by The Carlyle Group on April 13, 2021
BESTOW35---------
BETTER.COM-15-------Announced plans to merge with Aurora Acquisitions Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), in May 2021
BETTERMENT------3645--
BILL.COMPP-----37-IPO on December 12, 2019
BIRCHBOX------4350--
BLIPPARXXX-30919--Entered into administration in UK court and laid off all employees on December 18, 2018; Its assets were later acquired by Candy Capital in January 2019
BLOCPOWER47---------
BLOOM ENERGYPPP-2363--IPO on July 25, 2018
BLUE APRONPPPP42----IPO on June 29, 2017
BOKUPPPP----YesIPO on November 20, 2017
BOXPPPPPPP-YesIPO on January 23, 2015
BREX6---------
BRIGHTROLLAAAAAAA27-Acquired by Yahoo on November 11, 2014
BROMIUMAA------YesAcquired by HP on September 19, 2019
BUTTERFLY NETWORKP32-------IPO on February 19, 2021 via a merger with Longview Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)
BUZZFEED--------Yes-
C3.AIP375032-----IPO on December 9, 2020; Formerly known as C3 IoT
CASPERPP8------IPO on February 6, 2020
CASTLIGHT HEALTHPPPPPPPPYesIPO on March 17, 2014
CHARGEPOINTP------12-IPO on March 1, 2021 via a merger with Switchback Energy Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)
CHECKOUT.COM13---------
CHIME825--------
CIRCLEUP--------Yes-
CITYBLOCK HEALTH28---------
CLEAR193922-------
CLOUDERAPPPPP14---IPO on April 28, 2017; Acquired by KKR and Clayton Dubilier & Rice on June 1, 2021
CLOUDFLAREPP---24---IPO on September 13, 2019