Speaking at a conference in Madrid, executives and founders from three unicorn technology companies said startups should focus on solving customer problems and building sustainable businesses rather than treating an initial public offering (IPO) as the ultimate objective, according to BusinessWorld.
The executives argued that an IPO should be a natural outcome of a well-run business, not an end in itself. They warned that chasing a public listing can distract startups from developing viable products and gaining market traction. One founder noted that many successful companies delayed their IPOs for years to refine their operations.
The panelists encouraged founders to set key performance indicators around customer satisfaction and revenue growth rather than metrics tied to the IPO timeline. The remarks come amid a broader debate in the tech industry about the pressures of going public and the long-term benefits of staying private longer.