Latest news with #TomaszTunguz
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Figma aims at $16.4 billion valuation as tech IPOs bounce back
Figma is targeting a fully-diluted valuation of up to $16.4 billion in its initial public offering, as the cloud-based design software firm prepares for a debut on the NYSE that could inject fresh momentum into a resurgent market for tech listings. The San Francisco-based company, along with some investors, is eyeing proceeds of up to $1.03 billion by selling nearly 37 million shares priced between $25 and $28 each, it said on Monday. The listing could be a major milestone for Figma, coming more than a year after its $20 billion sale to Adobe failed due to regulatory hurdles in Europe and the UK. An equities rally and a bunch of strong debuts recently have helped remove the IPO market overhang. Figma is expected to start trading close on the heels of stablecoin giant Circle , which debuted with eye-popping gains last month and has continued surging since. As a major technology player that appears supportive of bitcoin, Figma has already drawn attention on social media. The company had around $70 million invested in Bitwise's bitcoin exchange-traded fund as of March 31 and intends to allocate a further $30 million to bitcoin, its filing showed. Figma expects to list under the symbol "FIG". Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Allen & Co and J.P. Morgan are among the underwriters for the offering. It was valued at $12.5 billion in a tender offer last year that allowed employees and early investors to cash out a portion of their stake. Figma is a cloud-based design platform that allows users to collaboratively create and edit apps, websites and software interfaces. Its customers include ServiceNow, Workday and SAP. Its revenue rose 46% in the first three months of 2025, while net income jumped three-fold. "Figma's product is its primary marketing engine. Its collaborative nature fosters viral, bottoms-up adoption, leading to a best-in-class sales efficiency," said Tomasz Tunguz, founder of venture capital firm Theory Ventures. The company has also signaled it may take "big swings" with M&A, with co-founder and CEO Dylan Field saying it is prepared to "make decisions that may not seem immediately rational." Still, the listing will take place at a time when the industry landscape is shifting. While Figma is sharpening its focus on AI, it has also warned that design tools driven by the technology could make some customers less reliant on its platform. The company has noted that restrictive immigration policies could impact its ability to recruit talent, citing past adjustments to hiring practices due to changes in visa assessment frameworks. A majority of its revenue in 2024 came from outside the United States, exposing it to potential demand softness if international clients tighten their purse strings in response to tariffs. Renewed trade tensions could also add to the caution among IPO investors, risking further disruption. Against this backdrop, investor attention remains firmly on companies with solid fundamentals and a clear path to profitability, said Leslie Marlow, a corporate attorney at Blank Rome.
Mint
9 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Figma aims at $16.4 billion valuation ahead of IPO on NYSE
Figma is aiming for a fully-diluted valuation of up to $16.4 billion as it readies for an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange, a move that could energize the currently recovering tech IPO market, according to a report by Reuters. The San Francisco-based design software company, together with some of its investors, plans to raise as much as $1.03 billion by offering nearly 37 million shares priced between $25 and $28 each, according to a statement released Monday. This IPO marks a key moment for Figma, coming more than a year after its $20 billion proposed acquisition by Adobe was blocked due to regulatory concerns in the UK and Europe. The broader market's recent rebound and successful IPOs like that of Circle have renewed optimism around tech listings. Figma's upcoming debut has already drawn attention, partly due to its pro-bitcoin stance and social media buzz. As of March 31, it had $70 million invested in Bitwise's bitcoin ETF and plans to invest an additional $30 million, its filing shows. The company will list under the ticker symbol "FIG", with Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Allen & Co., and J.P. Morgan managing the offering. Figma was last valued at $12.5 billion in a 2024 secondary share sale involving early investors and employees. Figma offers a collaborative design platform used to build websites, applications, and user interfaces, with clients including SAP, Workday, and ServiceNow. The company saw a 46% increase in revenue and a threefold jump in net income in Q1 2025. Venture capitalist Tomasz Tunguz praised Figma's product-led growth model, noting that its collaborative features promote viral user adoption and sales efficiency. CEO Dylan Field has also suggested the company is open to bold acquisitions that may seem unconventional at first glance. However, the IPO comes amid changing industry dynamics. While Figma is investing in AI, it acknowledges that AI-powered design tools could reduce customer dependence. The company also pointed to restrictive immigration policies as a hiring challenge and warned of potential global demand risks tied to tariffs and economic uncertainty. Corporate attorney Leslie Marlow noted that in this evolving environment, investors are prioritizing firms with strong financials and clear paths to profitability. (With inputs from Reuters) Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Figma aims at $13.7 billion valuation as tech IPOs bounce back
Figma is targeting a valuation of $13.65 billion in its U.S. initial public offering, as the cloud-based design software firm prepares for a debut that could inject fresh momentum into a tech listings market already roaring back to San Francisco-based company, along with some investors, is eyeing proceeds of up to $1.03 billion through a sale of nearly 37 million shares priced between $25 and $28 each, it said on Monday. The listing could be a major milestone for Figma, coming more than a year after its $20 billion sale to Adobe was terminated due to regulatory hurdles in Europe and the UK. While investors have been eager for new share sales for months, the uncertainty sparked by President Donald Trump's tariffs kept a major recovery in an equities rally and a bunch of strong debuts recently are helping lift the overhang. Figma will start trading close on the heels of stablecoin giant Circle, which debuted with eye-popping gains last month and has continued surging a major technology player that appears supportive of bitcoin, Figma has already draw attention on social media company had around $70 million invested in Bitwise's bitcoin exchange-traded fund as of March 31 and intends to allocate a further $30 million to bitcoin, its filing is a cloud-based design platform that allows users to collaboratively create and edit apps, websites and software customers include ServiceNow, Workday and SAP. Its revenue rose 46% in the first three months of 2025, while net income jumped three-fold."Figma's product is its primary marketing engine. Its collaborative nature fosters viral, bottoms-up adoption, leading to a best-in-class sales efficiency," said Tomasz Tunguz, founder of venture capital firm Theory company has also signaled it may take "big swings" with M&A, with co-founder and CEO Dylan Field saying it is prepared to "make decisions that may not seem immediately rational." Figma expects to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FIG". Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Allen & Co and J.P. Morgan are among the underwriters for the offering. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. From near bankruptcy to blockbuster drug: How Khorakiwala turned around Wockhardt Paid less than plumbers? The real story of freshers' salaries at Infy, TCS. What if Tata Motors buys Iveco's truck unit? Will it propel or drag like JLR? As deposit ground slips under PSU banks' feet, they chase the wealthy If data is the new oil, are data centres the smokestacks of the digital age? Stock Radar: M&M likely to break out from 1-year consolidation range; time to buy? Will consumer stocks see a comeback this festive season? 12 stocks to keep an eye on even when analysts are not bullish Don't fear volatility, focus on businesses: 5 mid-cap stocks from different sectors with upside potential of up to 27% Best way to deal with volatility, just ' Hold' for wealth creation: 7 large-cap stocks with an upside potential of up to 41%
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Figma aims at $13.7 billion valuation as tech IPOs bounce back
The company said on Monday it, along with its investors, plans to raise up to $1.03 billion in its initial public offering in the United States. About 37 million shares are expected to be up for sale in the IPO, priced between $25 and $28 each. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Figma is targeting a valuation of $13.65 billion in its U.S. initial public offering , as the cloud-based design software firm prepares for a debut that could inject fresh momentum into a tech listings market already roaring back to San Francisco-based company, along with some investors, is eyeing proceeds of up to $1.03 billion through a sale of nearly 37 million shares priced between $25 and $28 each, it said on listing could be a major milestone for Figma, coming more than a year after its $20 billion sale to Adobe was terminated due to regulatory hurdles in Europe and the investors have been eager for new share sales for months, the uncertainty sparked by President Donald Trump's tariffs kept a major recovery in an equities rally and a bunch of strong debuts recently are helping lift the overhang. Figma will start trading close on the heels of stablecoin giant Circle, which debuted with eye-popping gains last month and has continued surging a major technology player that appears supportive of bitcoin, Figma has already draw attention on social media company had around $70 million invested in Bitwise's bitcoin exchange-traded fund as of March 31 and intends to allocate a further $30 million to bitcoin, its filing is a cloud-based design platform that allows users to collaboratively create and edit apps, websites and software customers include ServiceNow, Workday and SAP. Its revenue rose 46% in the first three months of 2025, while net income jumped three-fold."Figma's product is its primary marketing engine. Its collaborative nature fosters viral, bottoms-up adoption, leading to a best-in-class sales efficiency," said Tomasz Tunguz, founder of venture capital firm Theory company has also signaled it may take "big swings" with M&A, with co-founder and CEO Dylan Field saying it is prepared to "make decisions that may not seem immediately rational."Figma expects to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FIG". Morgan Stanley , Goldman Sachs, Allen & Co and J.P. Morgan are among the underwriters for the offering.
The Star
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Google places ads inside chatbot conversations with AI startups
The Google AdSense network, which traditionally displays ads in search results and in the margins of websites, has expanded to include conversations with chatbots operated by AI startups. — Bloomberg Google's ad network has begun showing advertising within the flow of conversations with chatbots – part of Alphabet Inc's efforts to keep its edge in digital advertising as generative artificial intelligence takes off. Earlier this year, the Google AdSense network, which traditionally displays ads in search results and in the margins of websites, has expanded to include conversations with chatbots operated by AI startups. Google made the move after conducting tests last year and earlier this year with a handful of startups, including AI search apps iAsk and Liner, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Showing ads alongside its own search results is the heart of Google's business, bolstered by a business that serves up advertising across much of the web. That empire has come under threat as new entrants like OpenAI and Perplexity AI seek to siphon off the search giant's audience with products aiming to help users find what they are looking for more quickly. As Google invests heavily to protect its lead, finding the best way to monetize generative AI will be crucial, said Tomasz Tunguz, a general partner at Theory Ventures. "Feedback loops are incredibly important,' Tunguz said. "Having greater visibility into what's working' is essential to success. A Google spokesperson confirmed that "AdSense for Search is available for websites that want to show relevant ads in their conversational AI experiences.' Startups iAsk and Liner declined to comment on their relationship with Google. Regulators are increasingly scrutinising Google's influence over the advertising economy that underpins the open web. Google Search, an industry juggernaut, yielded more than US$198bil (RM854.27bil) in revenue in 2024, almost 60% of Alphabet's annual sales. In April, a federal judge found that the Alphabet unit violated antitrust law in the markets for advertising exchanges and tools used by websites to sell ad space, known as ad servers. The company has argued that it has a dominant position because its tools are effective and easy to use. Now, with its burgeoning business relationships with startups, Google aims to profit even if its share of the search market dwindles. Running experiments with AI startups will allow the company to test the waters for advertising in the relatively new world of AI chats. Generative AI startups are increasingly exploring advertising-based business models to offset the high costs of answering users' questions with artificial intelligence. For example, before inviting users to ask follow-up questions, iAsk shows ads below its AI-generated responses. In addition to Google, startups such as Koah Labs have begun allowing brands to serve ads to the chatbot audience. AI search startup Perplexity, one of the most prominent players using AI to reshape internet services, establishes relationships directly with brands that want to buy ads on the site, according to a person familiar with the matter. Perplexity allows brands to sponsor follow-up questions to users' queries. To keep its product accessible for students, a key audience, Liner has focused on delivering a select number of ads tailored to users' searches. People using generative AI tend to click on fewer links – which may pose challenges for startups seeking to make money through online advertising, where brands often pay per click. But Liner users, who come to the site for research, often click on links, and the longer queries allow for more targeted advertising, Chief Executive Officer Luke Jinu Kim said in an interview. With its advertising, Liner is trying to achieve something that is "more like a very early version of Google search ads,' Kim said, adding that he hopes the site will show a small number of ads that are highly related to the query. – Bloomberg
