Next-generation unicorns are doing things their own way: A new generation of tech start-ups hoping to become the world’s next unicorns — startups that rocket to a USD 1 bn valuation — are very different from their predecessors,Erin Griffith writes for the NYT. Globally, the number of unicorns has soared from 131 in 2015 to 315 today, and the market is changing rapidly. Their growth potential is significant, both because many of the start-ups are adding value to industries such as agriculture and science — which have been largely underserved and need more software tools to adapt to the tech era — and because the value of high-momentum companies has already been proven, so investors are always on the hunt for the Next Big Thing.

Watch out for these potential unicorns: CB Insights, a firm that tracks venture capital and start-ups, has identified 50 potential next-generation unicorns, many of which address industry-specific niche areas. Names to keep an eye out for include:

• Benchling (which allows scientists to keep their records stored in the cloud);
• Farmers Business Network (which provides a mechanism for farmers to share and analyze data about their farms, buy supplies and sell crops);
• Faire (an online marketplace where local boutiques and vendors buy and sell wholesale goods).