At a Glance
- SpaceX aims to debut in June 2026, targeting over $30 billion.
- OpenAI and Anthropic may go public this year, with OpenAI eyeing up to $1 trillion.
- The IPOs could lift the U.S. economy and fuel AI investment.
- Why it matters: A buoyant IPO market historically benefits local economies and can boost AI spending across the tech sector.
2026 could be a landmark year for AI and tech as SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic prepare for potentially record-sized IPOs. These debuts promise to inject massive capital into the market and may shape the future of AI investment. With valuations ranging from $30 billion to $1 trillion, the stakes are high.
IPO Timelines and Expectations
SpaceX is reportedly targeting a June launch, with CEO Elon Musk confirming preparations on X. Musk said Ars Technica’s reporting was accurate. The company could raise over $30 billion.
Meanwhile, OpenAI has hired Wilson Sonsini to prepare for an IPO as early as this year, while Anthropic’s chief communications officer said there were no immediate plans. Reuters reported that OpenAI could raise up to $1 trillion as early as late 2026.
Elon Musk stated:
> “Ars Technica’s reporting was accurate.”
Sam Altman said:
> “going public was ‘the most likely path’ for OpenAI, ‘given the capital needs that we’ll have, and sort of, the size of the company.'”
Jay Ritter told News Of Philadelphia:
> “There have only been a small number worldwide that have raised more than $20 billion but, but it’s entirely possible that OpenAI or SpaceX would be raising more than that.”
- SpaceX
- OpenAI
- Anthropic
Potential Market Impact
Ritter said a buoyant IPO market historically benefits local economies and can offset negative effects of trade tariffs. He noted that the AI sector could single-handedly save the U.S. economy. Deutsche Bank’s George Saravelos wrote that without tech spending the U.S. would be near recession.
Jay Ritter said:
> “A buoyant IPO market historically has benefited local economies, especially those where employees have a lot of equity-based compensation, but the general economy as well.”
George Saravelos wrote:
> “In the absence of tech-related spending, the U.S. would be close to, or in, recession this year.”
Investor Sentiment and Hype
Renaissance Capital’s Nick Einhorn said the companies could rely on investor interest regardless of market conditions. Einhorn also said the AI space is still new and that more AI stocks will help define metrics. He warned that if IPOs go poorly, it could pull back AI investment.
Nick Einhorn said:
> “The AI space in general, it’s pretty new.”
Nick Einhorn said:
> “If the IPOs go well, that will certainly encourage more investment in AI by private companies and by large public companies that are maybe not AI-specific companies.”
Nick Einhorn said:
> “If these IPOs do poorly, it could cause investors and CTOs and CIOs and CFOs to, you know, pull back a little bit on AI investment.”
Key Takeaways
- SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are eyeing IPOs that could reshape the tech landscape.
- The potential valuations range from $30 billion to $1 trillion, creating significant market impact.
- Investor sentiment remains cautious, with potential risks of overvaluation and market pullback.
The 2026 IPO wave could reshape the tech landscape and test the resilience of the AI bubble.
