Pre-IPO investing is a new way to invest in companies before they go public. It is a form of venture capital investment that provides equity or convertible debt to the company and gives the investor priority over later-stage investors.
The principles of Pre IPO investing are the same as with traditional venture capital or private equity investments, but instead of investing money upfront and then potentially receiving some shares in return, the investor invests after the company goes public and receives preferential shares.
It is an emerging strategy that allows investors to participate in future growth opportunities at little risk.
Pre-IPO investing is the marketing strategy that involves investing in a company before they make an Initial Public Offering (IPO). It is one of the four marketing strategies that can be used to invest in companies. It’s usually done with startups.
No matter what strategy you choose, your goal should be to maximize your return while minimizing your risk. Pre-IPO investing refers to the purchase of equity securities (stocks, bonds, etc.) from a private company.
Pre-IPO investors are usually those who are either venture capitalists or angel investors. They invest in a company before an Initial Public Offering (IPO) is issued, and as a result, they can get an equity position that last two years later on the day of the Initial Public Offering. This gives them access to certain insider information, including the opportunity to make money off of the IPO shares if they time their investment correctly.
What is Pre-IPO Investing?
It is defined as the practice of investing in a company before they go public through an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The pre-IPO investor may be looking for a short-term profit from the rising stock price once the company goes public, or the investor may be interested in a long-term strategic partnership with the company.
The pre-IPO investor is typically someone with significant financial resources – either an individual or a professional firm. It can also be a group of individuals who are interested in gaining a profit from their investment or a group of investment firms who want to get a strategic partnership with the company.
Pre-IPO Apply Benefits:
Having an early position in a company’s IPO (initial public offering) can have a huge impact on your portfolio. Let’s take a look at some of the pre-apply IPO benefits of investing.
- Pre-IPO investors are entitled to share in any proceeds from the sale of shares and are allowed to sell their holdings before the IPO takes place.
- Pre-IPO investors can influence and shape publicly traded companies ahead of time.
- Investors who get involved before an IPO also get to enjoy higher liquidity as buying/selling decisions are executed more quickly and at lower cost, especially if they want to liquidate all assets for an equity portfolio.
- On average, pre-IPO stock prices outperform those that come after IPOs.
Pre-IPO companies have some key pre apply IPO benefits that give them a great profit when they eventually go public. With these advantages, pre-IPO companies can benefit both their investors and themselves.
Investing in an IPO is not only a lucrative investment option but also an opportunity for investors to get early exposure to the new company and have input on how the company should be run. Hence, investing in a pre-apply IPO benefits both the investor and the startup or company in the long run.
Also read:
How to Buy Unlisted Shares In India?
How to Invest in Unlisted Companies?
What is the Delisting of Shares?
Why Invest in Pre-IPO Companies?
There are two main reasons that investors would invest in a pre-IPO company. While it is true that the returns in terms of capital gains are higher when compared to those of IPOs, they are also subject to greater risk. A company that has not yet gone public is not as transparent as a company that is already trading on a public exchange.
Pre-IPO investments are riskier than conventional venture capital because of the long time until the launch of this process as well as regulatory risk. Pre-IPO investments are risky because they come before the company’s main source of revenue is generated. Another risk is that the company might fail to go public.
There are many reasons that a company may fail to go public. They could change their business plan or not receive enough investor interest.
Who Can Be Involved in a Pre-IPO Company?
Family Offices: Family Offices play a significant role in the pre-IPO process. Family Offices form the core of the investment process and this can be seen in the fact that they account for over 40% of the total pre-IPO investments.
Venture Capital Firms: Venture capital firms account for about 30% of the total pre-IPO investments. They play a significant role in the pre-IPO process as they provide continuous funding, thereby allowing the company to grow without diluting its equity.
Hedge Fund Managers: Hedge Funds account for about 15% of the total pre-IPO investments. They are interested in the pre-IPO process due to the high growth the companies experienced during their pre-IPO stages.
Family Offices and Venture Capital Firms: The two types of investors are usually involved in the pre-IPO process.
Private Equity Firms: Private equity firms are also commonly involved in the pre-IPO investment process.
Private Equity Firms and Venture Capital Firms: The two types of investors are also commonly involved in the pre-IPO process.
Hedge Funds and Private Equity Firms: The two types of investors are also commonly involved in the pre-IPO process. These firms often have different investment strategies but they often collaborate.
Most important factors to consider before investing in a pre-IPO company?
Company Valuation: Before investing in any pre-IPO company, it is important to check the company valuation. The company valuation is not the same as the share price at which the company expects to go public. It represents the value of the company based on the revenues, profits, and the amount of debt that it holds.
Business Model: A potential investor should also check the business model of the company. When investing in a pre-IPO company, it is important to understand the business model and the value proposition of the company.
Corporate Structure: The corporate structure of a pre-IPO company is also an important factor to consider. The investor should look at how the company plans on distributing the equity, who the board members are, and how the company plans on managing the cash flow.
How to check if a pre-IPO company is reliable?
Company Size: The first thing to check is the size of the company. It should be large enough to bring value to the investors. The company should have more than 10-15 employees.
Company Experience: The second thing to check is the company’s experience. Check if the company has been operating for more than 3 to 5 years. If it is less than that, it is risky to invest in it.
Company Financials: The third thing to check is the company’s financials. You can check the company’s accounting information from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or from the company itself.
Details on Investor Information: The fourth thing to check is the details of the investor information. You can contact the investor of the company and ask about the company. You can ask about the company’s plans, its financials, and its revenue.
Pre-IPO’s to Watch out For in 2023
- Mobikwik
Mobile wallets have become increasingly integral to our lives, especially due to pandemic restrictions. After SEBI approval, the firm opted to put its IPO launch on hold in November of last year, in order to wait for more favorable market conditions. However, it will very likely be launched within the next year or so.
- BOAT
DRHP filed by Imagine Marketing Limited, the parent company of boAt, for an IPO of Rs. 2,000 crores was filed with SEBI on 26 January 2022. In this offer, shares worth Rs. 900 crores will be issued in a fresh issue, and Rs. 1,100 crores will be offered for sale. A pre-IPO placement will further assist the company in raising Rs. 180 crores. To date, the company is awaiting SEBI’s approval before it can float the IPO.
Final Words: Wrapping up
Pre-IPO investing is an exciting way to get involved in the high-growth tech sectors. However, you should be aware of the fact that this is a very risky way to make money. Therefore, you should only invest what you can afford to lose. We hope this blog post has provided you with all the information you need to get started.