Many expect the IPO market to remain open in 2026. Now is the time for late-stage startups to get ready.
If your company is planning an IPO later this year or in 2026, this primer is for you. This information is vital for late-stage startups as they seek to build their IPO muscle, which few have given the dearth of IPOs over the last several years. You will want to start strategizing well ahead of your listing, ideally 6-12 months out. Given this will likely be before your company hires an investor relations lead, many planning aspects may fall on the shoulders of the corporate communications lead. These activities may include preparing colleagues for the process, crafting the investment story, starting to act like a public company, and exploring ways to make the most of the visibility an IPO brings.
This primer isn’t legal advice. While it is intended to provide a detailed overview of the IPO process and terminology, it is not a substitute for legal counsel.
Arena brings deep experience in IPO communications and we have scoured the SEC and legislative source material and leading corporate law firm opinions to ensure the information in this document is robust.
We created an IPO timeline for corporate communicators
If you’d like a copy, email us at info@arenaadvisorygroup.com with “IPO timeline” in the subject line.