The evolution of the private marketplace is one of the most significant developments to shape the capital markets in decades.

Just consider the statistics. In the late 1990s, there were more than 8,000 publicly listed companies in the United States. By 2008, there were fewer than 5,000. As of 2023, there were approximately 4,317.

Further, those companies that opt to go public are waiting longer to do so. According to a January 2025 analysis by Morningstar, the median age of companies debuting in the public markets increased from 6.9 years a decade ago to 10.7 years today.

Related: Go Public or Stay Private? What's The Right Move For You?

Companies launch initial public offerings to access capital, boost visibility and provide liquidity for investors. Today, though, private equity firms, family offices and other strategic investors offer companies that same opportunity without the need to list.

Staying private means avoiding quarterly........

© Entrepreneur