I don't know why comments pointing out this simple fact are getting downvoted.

The oversimplified view that has been drilled into startup discussions for years has been that IPO is the singular goal for every startup and they need to get there as fast as possible, but that hasn't been true for a long while. There are high profile examples like Stripe with no intent to go public any time soon. Some public companies are even gradually doing share buybacks partially to remove their public exposure.

Being a public company kind of sucks in many ways. I'll admit my sample size is small, but every post-IPO CEO I've known has expressed some regrets about going public. It was a fascinating revelation to me after being raised on the idea that IPO is the ultimate victory goal of every startup.

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bix6 an hour ago | parent | next [-]

IPO is the singular goal for a venture backed company…

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freecodeio an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

lol but they're trying to IPO, it's what sam altman has been talking about for the past 2 years? Are you saying you know something better about sam altman than his public opinions?

	▲	scott_weber a minute ago \| parent [-]
		I am not sure why you'd, at this late date, think Sam Altman's public statements have anything to do with anything. Time and time again demonstrated compulsive bullshitter.

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sodapopcan 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm guessing downvotes are not because people don't understand that this happens, but because based on OpenAI's words and actions it is highly unlikely that this is what they are doing. Also, Stripe has been confirmed to be profitable.

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watwut 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I understand it as IPO is the ultimate victory for investors. They finally get their reward, sell in the overpriced moment and can go their merry way.