April 10, 2017
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Spotify — long rumored to be planning an IPO in the next year — might remix its plans. Instead, the report claimed the world’s largest streaming service would go public with a direct listing, rather than an Initial Public Offering, an option that is much more common for smaller companies that don’t expect a big publicity splash when entering the market, and one that is exceedingly rare for a company that, well, makes a big splash with just about every move it makes.
Read ArticleApril 6, 2017
If Spotify’s interest in a direct listing is genuine, it would also demonstrate that the Swedish company isn’t in need of the kind of cash that is typically raised by issuing new shares and selling them via an IPO, said Santosh Rao, an analyst at Manhattan Venture Partners, a venture capital firm. “It does show that they might not need the money because they wouldn’t be issuing new shares,” Rao said in a phone interview. “But if you want real movement in the stock, if you want the stock to find its value, you have to go through the traditional bidding process.”
Read ArticleApril 6, 2017
Snap Inc. has launched a new search function in its Snapchat app to help users more easily discover photo and video stories. This change moves Snap closer to becoming a major online video hub, and is likely to help the company increase advertising revenue and grow its user base.
Read ArticleVenture Bytes is a monthly insight report highlighting topical ideas, current trends and emerging opportunities in the global technology landscape