Startups are delaying IPOs and staying private longer, with the median age of IPO companies in 2025 reaching 13 years since founding, up from 10 years in 2018, according to Renaissance Capital.

The shift is fueled by alternative capital sources like private equity, VC, and private credit, which provide enough funding without going public.

A University of Florida study shows the average age of public companies has more than doubled since 1980, while median revenue at IPO rose from US$64 million to US$218 million in 2024.

CB Insights reports over 1,200 unicorns worldwide. OpenAI now holds a US$500 billion valuation—the highest among private firms.

Global private-equity assets under management have exceeded US$12 trillion and are projected to double within the next decade, Preqin said.

🔗 Source: CNBC