Hottest IPOs on bridge for 2021 include these household names

Ready to step into the ground floor of something big?

Airbnb and DoorDash ended 2020 with jaw-dropping initial public offerings, and you shouldn’t expect 2021 to be any less flashy. More and more big tech companies are getting ready to go public, and you’re probably using at least one of these services yourself.

Whether you’re a seasoned investor or entering the world of stocks for the very first time, it helps to know what’s going on in the pipeline.

Here are eight of the biggest IPOs that investors look forward to in 2021.

1. Instacart

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States in March, most companies faced a rather grim forecast of layoffs, layoffs and bankruptcies.

But some companies were perfectly positioned for a radical change in consumer behavior. Instacart, the online grocery delivery company, is one such “right place, right time” business.

It has now partnered with over 500 retailers to deliver from nearly 40,000 locations in the United States and Canada. And after a recent round of funding, Instacart says it will expand to include even more retailers.

An IPO is still only at the rumor stage; there has been no filing or announcement yet. however, Reuters reports that the San Francisco-based company has previously called on investment bank Goldman Sachs to help it prepare for an IPO valued at around $ 30 billion.

2. Bumble

Yes, the Bumble IPO is generating a real buzz.

Bad puns aside, the company is poised to profit from the ever-growing boom in virtual dating. With bars closed, concerts postponed, home parties banned, and remote workplaces, where would you meet a potential partner?

Tinder may still be the best dating app, but Bumble is moving up the ranks. The feminine app first allows women to take the first step, and it has gone beyond dating to also include professional and social networks.

Match Group, the parent company of Tinder and a variety of other dating apps, offered to acquire Bumble for $ 450 million in 2017. But since then the dating app has grown from 22 million users to over 100 million, according to various media reports.

The story continues

Bumble is preparing for an initial public offering which could come in early 2021 and is seeking a valuation of $ 6 billion to $ 8 billion, according to BNN Bloomberg.

3. Robinhood

Robinhood has helped bring a simple investment to the masses. By removing commissions and trading fees, the app ensures that every dollar you earn stays in your account.

It turns out that Americans – especially young Americans – are very interested. The app has amassed over 13 million users, including 3 million who joined it in the first quarter of 2020 alone.

Once your request is approved, you can transfer funds to your account and start investing immediately.

The company has chosen Goldman Sachs to lead preparations for an IPO in 2021, which could value it at more than $ 20 billion.

4. Nextdoor

Do you feel a bit removed from your neighbors these days? Rather than tangling with the monster known as Facebook, some Americans have turned to neighborhood apps like Nextdoor to replace their neighborhood parties.

On Nextdoor, you can sell your old TV, ask for tips on where to find great vacation deals, or report a cunning coyote wandering the area.

Nextdoor says the app now includes 250,000 neighborhoods in 11 countries.

The company is aiming for a valuation of between $ 4 billion and $ 5 billion, according to Bloomberg.

5. GitLab

GitLab, a site that helps developers share and manage code, had IPO aspirations as early as 2017.

It had recently planned to go public in November 2020, before postponing the date after the COVID-19 pandemic began to sink the economy.

GitLab co-founder and CEO Sid Sijbrandij said CNBC during the summer that “we will go out when we and the markets are ready”.

The company lets some employees sell part of their capital in an offer valuing GitLab at more than $ 6 billion, CNBC reports.

6. Stripe

Yet another trend that has 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 change in consumer behavior continues.

Stripe helps businesses large and small accept digital transactions – and large businesses are certainly represented. Stripe powers the transactions of heavyweights like Amazon, Lyft, Instacart, and Pinterest.

Bloomberg reports that the fintech company is considering another round of funding that would bring its valuation to $ 70 billion, or even $ 100 billion.

Stripe has always denied planning an IPO, but that hasn’t stopped eager investors raising their expectations with every major development.

7. Squarespace

Have you ever explored the idea of ​​creating your own website? Even if you haven’t, you’ve probably seen ads for Squarespace, which allow 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 in 2017 and seeks to overtake it on an IPO.

Several of Squarespace’s main rivals are already publicly traded, including Wix.com and GoDaddy.

8. Coursera

Unlike some of its competitors in the online education arena, Coursera doesn’t just offer casual classes to improve your knowledge. The platform works with more than 200 universities and companies to offer professional certifications and even degree programs.

Online learning was already on the rise before the pandemic hit. Today, even more Americans are using the Internet to grow into stable and 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 improve their job prospects.

Coursera is considering an IPO that would give it a valuation close to $ 5 billion, Bloomberg reports.

How to invest in an IPO?

Who doesn’t love a good launch party? With an exciting group of companies looking to go public in 2021, maybe now is the time to finally jump into the action.

Robinhood isn’t just ready for an IPO this year; it’s also the easiest way to invest in other inspiring businesses. Simply download the app, fill out an app and transfer funds to your account. The best part? No trading fees.

If you want to invest but are not sure about choosing individual stocks, you can try automated investing. Acorns is an app with five different investment portfolios that automatically adjust your mix of stocks and other assets to protect you when the markets dip.

One cool thing about Acorns is that you can add to your account using your spare currency. A debit card linked to the app rounds your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference.