Unicorns can add up to a whole lot of money

The dictionary definition for unicorn is a mythical horselike animal with a horn coming out of its forehead.

Then there's the urban dictionary definition: a bisexual person, often female, who will join an existing couple for playtime.

But techies have a different take on what it means to be a unicorn.

To them, it describes a company with an equity value in excess of $1 billion.

One of Vancouver's favourite startups, Hootsuite, passed that point some time ago.

That was before the recent recession, so we'll never know for sure if it's still a unicorn until the owners take the company public.