CEO stands confidently with investors and analysts on bustling stock exchange floor with smartphones and laptops showing tech

Liftoff Files $400M IPO Despite $1.85B Debt Load

Liftoff Mobile has officially started its march toward the public markets, filing an S-1 late Tuesday as investors watch for the next tech offering after Discord’s own IPO buzz.

At a Glance

  • Mobile ad-tech firm Liftoff Mobile filed IPO paperwork, targeting $400 million in proceeds
  • The company carries $1.85 billion in debt and posted a $48 million net loss on $519 million 2025 revenue
  • Blackstone, which took majority control in the 2021 merger that created Liftoff, will keep that stake after listing
  • 15 banks are on the ticket, including Goldman, Jefferies, and Morgan Stanley as joint leads

Why it matters: A heavily indebted, loss-making ad-tech firm is testing investor appetite for new issues at a time when public markets have been starved of tech IPOs.

Bold infographic bar chart showing Liftoff Mobile's 140000 plus apps milestone with bright typography and mobile icon grid ba

Filing Details

The S-1 remains blank on the exact share count or price range, but Renaissance Capital pegs street expectations at $400 million. The company was created in 2021 when Liftoff and Vungle merged, with Blackstone acquiring the majority position and installing new management.

Post-offering, Blackstone will continue to hold the majority of shares, according to the filing.

Financial Snapshot

Liftoff’s platform claims 140,000 apps as customers. For 2025 it reported:

Metric Figure
Revenue $519 million
Net Loss $48 million
Total Debt $1.85 billion

Underwriting Army

The deal carries an unusually large syndicate for its size:

  • Joint bookrunners: Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, Morgan Stanley
  • 12 additional banks marketing the shares
  • 3 financial institutions, including Blackstone, in ancillary roles

Sources told News Of Philadelphia the broad lineup could signal either strong early demand or a need to spread risk across multiple institutions.

Market Context

The filing follows reports that Discord is also exploring a public listing, hinting at renewed tech IPO activity after a prolonged lull. Liftoff’s move will test whether investors are ready to back a high-debt, founder-free ad-tech name at the lower end of the tech spectrum.

Jordan M. Lewis reported the initial filing late Tuesday.

Author

  • I am Jordan M. Lewis, a dedicated journalist and content creator passionate about keeping the City of Brotherly Love informed, engaged, and connected.

    Jordan M. Lewis became a journalist after documenting neighborhood change no one else would. A Temple University grad, he now covers housing and urban development for News of Philadelphia, reporting from Philly communities on how policy decisions reshape everyday life.

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