Ready to get in on the ground floor of something big?
Airbnb and DoorDash ended 2020 with eye-popping initial public offerings, and you shouldn’t expect 2021 to be any less flashy. More big tech companies are preparing to go public, and you probably use at least one of these services yourself.
Whether you’re a seasoned investor or are entering the world of stocks for the very first time, it pays to know what’s coming down the pipeline.
Here are eight of the hottest IPOs investors are looking forward to in 2021.
1. Instacart
When the coronavirus pandemic descended on the U.S. in March, most companies faced a pretty grim forecast of layoffs, furloughs and bankruptcies.
But some companies happened to be perfectly positioned for a dramatic shift in consumer behavior. Instacart, the online grocery delivery company, is one of those “right place, right time” companies.
It’s now partnered with more than 500 retailers to provide delivery from nearly 40,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. And after a recent round of funding, Instacart says it’ll expand to include even more retailers.
An IPO is still only in the rumor stage; there haven’t yet been any filings or announcements. However, Reuters reports the San Francisco-based company has already enlisted investment bank Goldman Sachs to help ready an IPO valued at about $30 billion.
2. Bumble
Yes, Bumble’s IPO is generating some serious buzz.
Bad puns aside, the company is set to take advantage of the ever-expanding boom in virtual dating. With bars closed, concerts postponed, house parties outlawed and workplaces remote, where else would you meet a potential partner?
Tinder may still be the top dating app, but Bumble is flying up the ranks. The female-first app allows women to make the initial move, and it has advanced beyond dating to include professional and social networking, too.
Match Group, the parent company of Tinder and a variety of other dating apps, offered to acquire Bumble for $450 million back in 2017. But since that time, the dating app has grown from 22 million users to more than 100 million, according to various media reports.
Bumble is preparing for an initial public offering that could come early in 2021, and it’s seeking a valuation of $6 billion to $8 billion, says BNN Bloomberg.
3. Robinhood
Robinhood has helped bring simple investing to the masses. By dropping commission and trading fees, the app makes sure every dollar you make stays in your account.
It turns out that Americans — especially young Americans — are very interested. The app has amassed more than 13 million users, including 3 million who joined in the first quarter of 2020 alone.
Once your application is approved, you can transfer funds to your account and start investing right away.
The company has picked Goldman Sachs to lead preparations for an IPO in 2021, which could value it at more than $20 billion.
4. Nextdoor
Feeling a bit distant from your neighbors these days? Rather than getting tangled up in the behemoth known as Facebook, some Americans have turned to neighborhood apps like Nextdoor to replace their block parties.
On Nextdoor, you can sell your old television, ask for advice on where to find great holiday deals or report a wily coyote roaming around the area.
Nextdoor says the app now includes 250,000 neighborhoods, spanning 11 countries.
The company is targeting a valuation between $4 and $5 billion, according to Bloomberg.
5. GitLab
GitLab, a site that helps developers share and manage code, had IPO aspirations as far back as 2017.
It had recently planned to go public in November 2020, before postponing the date after the COVID-19 pandemic began sinking the economy.
GitLab co-founder and CEO Sid Sijbrandij told CNBC during the summer that “we will go out when we and the markets are ready.”
The company is letting some employees sell a portion of their equity in an offering that values GitLab at more than $6 billion, CNBC reports.
6. Stripe
Yet another trend that’s benefited from the pandemic: digital payments.
Online shopping is more popular than ever and most Americans can even imagine a cashless future. Stripe, a payment processing platform, is positioned to reach new heights as the shift in consumer behavior continues.
Stripe helps companies big and small accept digital transactions — and big companies are certainly represented. Stripe powers the transactions of heavyweights like Amazon, Lyft, Instacart and Pinterest.
Bloomberg reports the fintech company is considering another round of funding that would boost its valuation to $70 billion or even $100 billion.
Stripe has consistently denied it’s planning an IPO, but that hasn’t stopped eager investors from raising their expectations with every major development.
7. Squarespace
Ever explored the idea of making your own website? Even if you haven’t, you’ve probably seen ads for Squarespace, which allows you to design and host a site without worrying about all that pesky coding.
The company is pursuing an IPO in the first half of 2021, according to Bloomberg. It was valued at $1.7 billion back in 2017 and is looking to exceed that in an IPO.
Several of Squarespace’s chief rivals are already publicly traded, including Wix.com and GoDaddy.
8. Coursera
Unlike some of its competitors in the online education space, Coursera doesn’t just offer casual classes to boost your knowledge. The platform works with more than 200 universities and companies to offer professional certification and even degree programs.
Online learning was already trending up before the pandemic hit. Now, even more Americans are using the internet to pivot to stable, lucrative careers. In November, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo launched a free online learning platform — powered by Coursera — to help unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers advance their job prospects.
Coursera is considering an IPO that would give it a valuation close to $5 billion, Bloomberg reports.
How do I invest in an IPO?
Who doesn’t love a good launch party? With a bunch of exciting companies looking to go public in 2021, now might be the time to finally get in on the action.
Robinhood isn’t just poised for an IPO this year; it’s also the simplest way to invest in other inspiring companies. Just download the app, fill out an application and transfer funds to your account. The best part? No trading fees.
If you want to invest but aren’t sure about picking individual stocks, you might try automated investing. Acorns is an app offering five different investment portfolios that automatically adjust your mix of stocks and other assets to protect you when markets are plunging.
A cool thing about Acorns is that you can add to your account using your spare change. A debit card linked to the app rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference.
