About Enterprise Software sector in United States
The Enterprise Software sector in United States comprises 172K companies, including 39.4K funded companies having collectively raised $1.58T in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 23.1K are Series A+ funded, and 647 have achieved unicorn status.
Enterprise Software sector in United States has seen 13.9K acquisitions and 1.01K IPOs. This represents almost 8.6% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.0% exit rate of tech companies in general.
This sector includes companies offering cloud-based or standalone software solutions for enterprises such as ERP, CRM, HR software, etc.
Enterprise Software sector is also known as Enterprise Software Solutions, Advanced Enterprise Software or Digital Enterprise Software.
Enterprise first application providers, Cloud or web-based enterprise applications are included in this sector. Consumer first software solution, Enterprise tech hardware solutions, Marketplace platform, Software development services providers, Digital transformation services are excluded.
Top Enterprise Software Companies in United States
There are 172,139 Enterprise Software startups in United States which include Slack, OpenAI, Circle, Workday, Okta. Out of these, 39,378 startups are funded, with 23,148 having secured Series A+ funding, and 647 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 5,700 Enterprise Software startups in United States. Over the past 10 years, an average of 8,181 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Stanford University, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Here is the list of top Enterprise Software startups in United States
1. Slack
Developer of communication software for team collaboration and project management. This platform facilitates messaging, file sharing, and audio or video meetings. It integrates with various third-party applications to automate workflows and manage tasks. Users organize conversations into channels to coordinate projects and share information. The software includes tools for searching archives, managing user profiles, and implementing security protocols for data protection. Artificial intelligence features assist with summarizing content, drafting responses, and managing automated agents to streamline routine work processes.
Key facts about Slack
- Founded Year: 2009
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $1.22B
- Investors: Dragoneer Investment Group, Spark Capital and 69 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Apr 16, 2020, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 89/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 675 Competitors
2. OpenAI
Artificial intelligence research and development platform offering advanced language models. It enables businesses and individuals to build and integrate AI capabilities into their applications and services. It is a technology company specializing in the development of artificial intelligence models, including the popular ChatGPT, which enables users to interact with AI-powered conversational interfaces. The company's research focuses on achieving artificial general intelligence, a system that can solve complex human-level problems, while prioritizing safety and benefits. It provides its AI models through an API platform, enabling developers to integrate AI capabilities into their applications.
Key facts about OpenAI
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Series F
- Total Funding till date: $180B
- Investors: Microsoft, SoftBank Group and 96 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series F, Apr 22, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 89/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 182 Competitors
3. Circle
Cross-border payment solution for businesses focusing on cryptocurrency. It offers a payments API for payment processing, a payouts API for global payouts solutions, and more. The mobile application is available for Android users.
Key facts about Circle
- Founded Year: 2013
- Location: Boston (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $1.51B
- Investors: FTX, Fidelity Investments and 57 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Sep 22, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 88/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 568 Competitors
4. Workday
Developer of cloud software for human resources finance and operations. The software provides tools for managing workforce planning, payroll, financial accounting, and contract lifecycle management. The platform integrates data across business functions to assist with organizational management and administrative tasks. It includes artificial intelligence capabilities designed to automate workflows and support decision-making processes for enterprise management.
Key facts about Workday
- Founded Year: 2005
- Location: Pleasanton (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $352M
- Investors: Greylock Partners, T. Rowe Price and 12 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, May 15, 2013, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 88/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 8,033 Competitors
5. Okta
Provider of identity management solutions for workforces, customers, and AI. The company delivers platforms securing various identities within an identity security fabric. It offers solutions by identity type and industry. The company provides resources, support, and developer tools.
Key facts about Okta
- Founded Year: 2009
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $228M
- Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz and 13 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Feb 21, 2018, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 88/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 1,069 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Enterprise Software sector in United States
5,700 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Enterprise Software sector in United States. 12,357 Enterprise Software startups in United States were founded in 2020 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 5,700 |
2025 | 6,930 |
2024 | 7,254 |
2023 | 8,260 |
2022 | 6,772 |
2021 | 8,667 |
2020 | 12,357 |
2019 | 9,687 |
2018 | 8,497 |
2017 | 7,691 |
Stage-wise distribution of Enterprise Software sector companies in United States
Out of the total 172,139 Enterprise Software companies in United States, 39,378 have secured funding. Among them, 23,148 have reached Series A or higher, and 18,628 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 172,139
Funded - 39,378
Series A+ - 23,148
Series B+ - 18,628
Series C+ - 16,685
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 172,139 |
Funded | 39,378 |
Series A+ | 23,148 |
Series B+ | 18,628 |
Series C+ | 16,685 |
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Funding Trends in the Enterprise Software sector in United States
Total funding year-on-year in the Enterprise Software sector in United States
The Enterprise Software sector in United States saw a total funding of more than $1.33T in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding has been in 2026 at more than $343B till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $343B |
2025 | $226B |
2024 | $118B |
2023 | $78.1B |
2022 | $99.3B |
2021 | $172B |
2020 | $79.6B |
2019 | $83.4B |
2018 | $85B |
2017 | $44.8B |
Recent Funding Rounds in Enterprise Software in United States
In the year 2026, till September 2026, Enterprise Software companies in United States have raised $329B in equity funding across 2.26K rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till September 2025), Enterprise Software companies in United States had raised $145B across 2.72K rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 127.3% rise in funding in Enterprise Software companies in United States as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Enterprise Software companies in United States:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series C | 2569 | Sep 29, 2026 | - | |
Seed | 9776 | Sep 29, 2026 | ||
Series A | 6582 | Sep 29, 2026 | and 4 more | |
Seed | 3745 | Sep 29, 2026 | ||
Series F | 5174 | Sep 29, 2026 |
Top Investors in Enterprise Software in United States
Y Combinator is the top investor in Enterprise Software companies in United States based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Enterprise Software companies in United States:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Mountain View (United States) | ||
Washington, DC (United States) | ||
New York City (United States) | ||
Palo Alto (United States) | ||
Arlington (United States) |
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M&A activity in Enterprise Software sector in United States
In the year 2026, till September 2026, 633 acquisitions happened in Enterprise Software sector in United States. Last year, in 2025, a total of 909 acquisitions happened in Enterprise Software sector in United States.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Enterprise Software sector in United States:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Sep 28, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 28, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 28, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 28, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 25, 2026 |
Acquisition trends in Enterprise Software sector in United States
Here are the acquisition trends in Enterprise Software sector in United States:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 633 |
2025 | 909 |
2024 | 865 |
2023 | 776 |
2022 | 1,056 |
2021 | 1,528 |
2020 | 963 |
2019 | 988 |
2018 | 1,057 |
2017 | 894 |
IPOs in Enterprise Software in United States
In the year 2026, till July 2026, 17 IPOs happened in Enterprise Software sector in United States.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Enterprise Software sector in United States:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Jul 09, 2026 | Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) | |
Jun 04, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Jun 04, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
May 14, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
May 13, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) |
Colleges which produce the most Enterprise Software companies in United States
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Enterprise Software in United States
Most number of Enterprise Software startups in United States have been founded by alumni from Stanford University, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Stanford University | 2015 |
Harvard University | 1351 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1302 |
University of California (Berkeley) | 1104 |
University of Pennsylvania | 818 |
University of California (Los Angeles) | 811 |
Harvard Business School | 731 |
Cornell University | 703 |
Carnegie Mellon University | 632 |
Columbia University | 595 |
Total funding in Enterprise Software companies founded by alumni from top colleges in United States
In the last 10 years, Harvard University graduates' Enterprise Software companies in United States have raised the most funding among top colleges. Stanford University alumni are second, and University of Toronto alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Harvard University | $431B |
Stanford University | $411B |
University of Toronto | $286B |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $277B |
Carnegie Mellon University | $236B |
New York University | $188B |
Columbia University | $167B |
Stanford Business School | $153B |
Princeton University | $142B |
University of California (Berkeley) | $75.1B |
Top News in Enterprise Software in United States
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Omnissa Debuts AI Agents for IT, Managed Cloud PC Service, and Elara for AI GovernanceSiliconAngle•Sep 29, 2026•Omnissa
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Inmar Intelligence Launches Intelligent Inventory Platform for Healthcare NetworksPR Newswire•Sep 29, 2026•Inmar
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Boomi Named Leader in Forrester Adaptive Orchestration Software EvaluationSecurityBrief•Sep 29, 2026•Boomi
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Trintech Launches Three New AI Agents to Advance Governed Autonomous FinanceGlobal Fintech Series•Sep 29, 2026•Trintech
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Applied Systems Launches Epic Conductor, an AI Platform for Insurance Agency WorkflowsGlobeNewswire•Sep 29, 2026•Applied
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Genesys CEO Tony Bates Urges Enterprises to Rethink Operating Models for Agentic AIDataquest•Sep 29, 2026•Genesys
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