IPO readiness workshop: Swiss startups gain insights from industry experts about going public

18.09.2023 13:15, Rita Longobardi

A number of success factors are crucial to the viability and feasibility of an Initial Public Offering. The IPO Readiness Workshop delivered insights into the complex topic, assisted the invited scale-ups with key resources and expert lessons learned, and showcased the importance of a concise equity story.

Going public is a significant decision and milestone for any company, its shareholders, and the management team involved. The  IPO readiness workshop at SIX Swiss Exchange guided the Swiss scaleups through the most important key phases in an IPO preparation journey. The experts not only covered primary considerations of an IPO but also provided first-hand practical insights on what matters when planning to go public and shared pitfalls to avoid in the preparation phase.



Fabian Gerber and Sarah Suter from SIX Swiss Exchange started the topic of why going public and the basic requirements of an IPO and also introduced the SME Stock Exchange segment Sparks. The resources required for the preparation of the financials are often underestimated. Tobias Meyer and Marc Ledermann at EY, and Annette Weber and Sandro Fehlmann at Advestra covered the financial readiness and corporate governance for an IPO, Internal Control Systems, and legal advice when considering going public.

The IPO process officially starts with a kick-off meeting and takes about six months. Companies should already conduct a readiness check much earlier and ensure that they have the right strategy, corporate governance, legal structure as well as adequate financial reporting in place. Michelle Tschumi, Nicola Leuenberger, Simone Hollenwäger, and Cédric Meier at Zürcher Kantonalbank focused on the crucial elements of the IPO journey with a convincing equity story and building a strong project team.



The scaleups benefited from an empowering workshop that helped them gain a deeper insight into the challenges of the initial public offering and also had inspiring networking opportunities.

Next opportunity: Sparks IPO Academy
Fast-growing scaleups and established SMEs seeking capital can participate in the upcoming Sparks IPO Academy, a 6-month training program by SIX Swiss Exchange, developed in collaboration with leading capital market specialists in Switzerland. The next IPO Academy will start in November. Apply here.