Exit & Success
IPO (Initial Public Offering)
Definition
When a company first sells shares to the public on a stock exchange. IPOs provide liquidity for early investors and employees.
Related terms in Exit & Success
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The event where founders and investors realize returns on their equity—typically through acquisition or IPO.
Acquisition (M&A)
When one company buys another. Acquisitions can be for talent, technology, customers, or market share. Most startup exits are acquisitions.
Unicorn
A private company valued at $1 billion or more. Building a unicorn shouldn't be the goal; building something valuable should be.
Fail Fast
The principle of quickly testing ideas and abandoning those that don't work. The faster you identify dead ends, the sooner you find the path forward.