Ibotta CEO Bryan Leach Advocates for Going Public, Urges Startups Not to Time the IPO Market

The Current IPO Landscape The U.S. IPO market has not rebounded in 2024 as many investors anticipated. Elevated interest rates and uncertainties related to the upcoming U.S. elections have led numerous companies to remain private, hoping for better conditions. Despite this, a few firms, including Ibotta, have successfully gone public this spring.

Ibotta’s Successful IPO Ibotta, an enterprise rewards platform that partners with major clients like Walmart and Exxon, debuted on the NYSE on April 18. Its initial public offering was priced at $88 per share but opened at $117. Although the stock is currently trading at $63, giving it a market cap of $1.7 billion, CEO Bryan Leach expresses no regrets about the timing of their IPO.

The Risks of Timing the Market Leach emphasizes that attempting to time the IPO market is a “huge mistake.” He suggests that uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve’s decisions makes it impossible to predict the best time to go public. Instead, he believes that readiness, rather than market conditions, should dictate the timing of an IPO.

The Downward Trend in IPOs The number of IPOs has drastically decreased since 2021, dropping from 310 to just 37 in the first half of 2024, according to PitchBook data. Many companies that expected to go public during this time are sidelined, grappling with inflated valuations from previous funding rounds and potential losses upon going public.

Long-Term Value of Going Public Despite Ibotta’s stock price decline, Leach argues that going public has provided significant long-term benefits. The company has gained legitimacy and trust in the market, making it easier to secure enterprise clients and attract top talent. The recent partnership with Instacart may not have been possible had Ibotta remained private.

The Importance of Readiness Ibotta’s decision to delay its IPO until 2024 allowed the company to demonstrate six quarters of profitability, a crucial factor for potential investors. Leach advises other companies considering an IPO not to wait for an elusive “better” market but to focus on their operational readiness.

Future Outlook for IPOs While the IPO market is currently quiet, analysts believe it will eventually reopen as interest rates begin to decline. There are already rumors of companies preparing to hire bankers for IPO processes, suggesting a possible resurgence by 2025.

Conclusion Ibotta’s journey emphasizes the importance of being ready for an IPO, rather than trying to time the market. By focusing on their growth and financial stability, companies can navigate the IPO landscape more effectively.