IPO Market Update
IPOs Are Waking Up. Here's Why That's Great News for Private Market Investors.
Remember IPOs? The big confetti moments, the bell ringing, the headlines? Well, they’re starting to make a comeback, and that’s exciting news not just for Wall Street, but for everyday accredited investors as well.
After a sluggish few years, the IPO market is finally starting to show some signs of life. But here’s the thing: smart investors know the biggest potential returns aren’t always found at the IPO itself. They’re often created before a company goes public. That’s where pre-IPO investing comes in, and why the timing right now could be golden.
Let’s break it down.
The following content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to invest in any securities. Private investments are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk, including the potential loss of your entire investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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The 2025 IPO Forecast
According to Deloitte, the IPO market is heating up again after a deep freeze. As they put it, “confidence seemed to rebound with a series of strong IPOs” in early 2025, and they’re predicting we could see over 140 IPOs this year, potentially raising up to $18 billion in capital.
That would be the most active IPO calendar we’ve seen since the boom of 2021.¹
Over at EY, they’re calling it a “cautiously optimistic” recovery. The U.S. IPO market had 19 IPOs raise $8.4 billion in Q1 2025, more than double the capital raised in the same quarter last year.²
With a broader sector mix and stronger investor participation, this isn’t just a one-sector wonder. It’s a full-on reboot.
Want to see what pre-IPO opportunities are available on StartEngine? Click here.³
An IPO does not imply specific performance or results for investors. Investing in private securities carries significant risks, including but not limited to illiquidity, lack of dividends, dilution, and potential loss of principal. These investments are not suitable for all investors. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult with a licensed financial professional before making any investment decisions.
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What’s Driving the Comeback?
There’s no single factor behind the rebound, but a few trends are doing the heavy lifting:
- Rate cuts & inflation control: As the Fed dials back interest rates, the cost of capital is falling, great news for growing companies ready to go public.⁴
- Stronger market performance: The S&P 500 has been on a tear, and confidence tends to rise with stock prices.¹
- Pent-up demand: Companies that held off going public in the last few years are now revisiting their IPO plans.⁵
Even CNBC has taken notice, reporting that the tech IPO market is “finally showing signs of life,” with companies like Reddit and Astera Labs helping revive investor enthusiasm.⁵
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But Here’s the Catch…
You don’t need to wait for IPO day to invest in innovation.
In fact, that’s kind of late to the party. By the time a company goes public, a lot of the explosive early-stage value creation has already happened. The insiders, early believers, and pre-IPO investors? They’ve had their seat at the table for years.
And while IPO windows can slam shut with little warning (just ask 2022), investing in startups before they hit the big stage gives you a shot at getting in early, and potentially riding the wave if and when they go public.
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Why the Private Markets Matter Right Now
So how can you get in the door? Through StartEngine Private, which provides accredited investors with exposure to popular pre-IPO in the AI space, like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Databricks.³
Translation? Accredited investors like you can access investment offerings for private companies before they potentially go public (though there’s no guarantee they will). And with public markets waking up, now’s the time when we start seeing renewed investor interest and momentum in the private markets too. It’s a ripple effect.
Like PwC points out, “Valuations are rebounding, and companies are prepping for public readiness.” That means many of today’s private companies are already laying the groundwork to become tomorrow’s IPO headlines.⁴
If history’s any guide, the biggest winners aren’t just the ones who watch the parade. They’re the ones who helped build the floats early.
Want to see what pre-IPO opportunities are available on StartEngine? Click here.
Investing in private securities carries significant risks, including but not limited to illiquidity, lack of dividends, dilution, and potential loss of principal. These investments are not suitable for all investors. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult with a licensed financial professional before making any investment decisions.
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What You Can Do Next
If you’re feeling the FOMO, don’t worry, we’ve got you.
At StartEngine, we make it easy to gain exposure to pre-IPO companies from across sectors: AI, robotics, clean energy, consumer tech, and more. You can browse offerings, track your investments, and build a diversified portfolio from your laptop or phone — no Wall Street access required.
Because if the IPO market is warming up, then the private market is where the spark really begins.
To learn more about how these offerings are structured — and to review full risk disclosures and other important information — please visit startengine.com/private.
DISCLAIMERS & SOURCES
1. Source: Will Braeutigam, “Economic Trends Are Signaling an Upbeat IPO Market for 2025,” Deloitte, February 24, 2025
2. Source: Rachel Gerring & Mark Schwartz, “The U.S. IPO Market Progressed in Q1, But Uncertainty Has Emerged,” EY, April 29, 2025
3. The underlying companies held by StartEngine Private Funds LLC, and StartEngine Private LLC (together, “StartEngine Private”) are not participating or involved in the offering. The availability of company information does not indicate that the company has endorsed, supports or otherwise participates with StartEngine Private or any of its affiliates. StartEngine Crowdfunding LLC purchases shares from current and former employees, early investors, and advisors of the companies and sells the shares to StartEngine Private for each offering. When you make an investment in a company on StartEngine Private, you are purchasing an interest in a series of StartEngine Private Funds LLC or StartEngine Private LLC, each a Delaware limited liability company (together the “Series LLCs”), which were created to hold shares of privately held companies. An investor will not directly own or hold shares of the private company but instead will own member interests in a series of the Series LLCs, which either directly or indirectly, will hold shares in the company. There may not be a one-to-one economic parity on the value of the Series LLCs interests and the underlying shares.
This article includes statements about the company’s future plans, estimates, and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, assumptions, and available information. Words like “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and “can” show that these are predictions about the future. Actual results could differ significantly because of risks and uncertainties. Investors should not rely too heavily on these statements, as they are only valid on the date they are made. The company is not required to update them later, even if circumstances change.
4. Source: Mike Bellin & Doug Chu, “IPO Market Faces Renewed Uncertainty,” PwC, April 9, 2025
5. Source: Ashley Capoot, “Tech IPO Market Is Finally Showing Signs of Life,” CNBC, May 16, 2025
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