By Jennifer Mathews
- IPOs are heating up again, with analysts predicting up to $50B raised from 160 new listings this year
- In 2021, 66% of IPOs ended the year trading below their offering price, leaving many retail investors burned
The IPO market is back on stage, and Wall Street wants us to believe it’s the hottest ticket in town. Analysts forecast up to $50 billion raised from 160 new listings in 2025. But for Black and Brown investors, often the last ones allowed past the velvet rope, this comeback feels like déjà vu. Remember 2021? IPOs were hyped like the latest Jordan drop or Beyoncé tour date, with everyone scrambling to get in. But by the end of the year, 66% of those IPOs were trading below their offering price.
Why This Matters: IPOs are often sold as a chance to get in on the ground floor, but too often, retail investors are left holding the bag when the excitement fades. Treating IPOs like lottery tickets risks widening financial gaps rather than closing them. For families stretching paychecks and trying to invest in the future, that hangover that was four years ago wasn’t just financial, it was cultural. Earlier this year, Klarna even pulled its IPO plans after unpredictable tariffs rattled the market, showing how quickly the hype can fade.
The truth is, IPOs should be approached with the same mindset we bring to big cultural moments. Just like not every sneaker release or concert tour deserves your money, not every IPO deserves your investment. The question isn’t “how big is the hype or marketing?” but “does this company have staying power long-term?”
Situational Awareness: More IPOs are coming, with some going to the moon and others crash out. The wins will go to those who treat IPOs not as quick flips but as strategic plays in the long game of wealth-building.
CBX Vibe: ‘Money On Money’ Young Thug, Future
