Group 1: Market Overview - The US tech IPO market shows signs of recovery after a prolonged slump, but performance varies significantly among companies [1] - StubHub's IPO was disappointing, with its stock price dropping 21% from the IPO price of $23.50 to $18.46, marking three consecutive days of decline [1][2] - StubHub's market capitalization has decreased from $8.6 billion at IPO to $6.8 billion [2] Group 2: StubHub Financial Performance - StubHub's revenue grew by 10% year-on-year to $397.6 million in Q1, but net losses widened to $35.9 million compared to $29.7 million in the same period last year [2] - The CEO indicated that new transparent pricing regulations in the US will have a "one-time impact" on the company's finances [2] - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against StubHub's competitor, Live Nation, raising concerns about regulatory scrutiny in the online ticketing industry [2] Group 3: Comparison with Other Companies - In contrast to StubHub, other recently listed companies like Klarna Group, Figma Inc, Circle, and Netskope have provided substantial returns to early investors [2] - Pattern Group, another new listing, saw its stock rise over 11% on its first day, closing at $15.63 with a market cap of approximately $2.5 billion [2] Group 4: Pattern Group Overview - Pattern Group raised $300 million in its IPO, with half of the funds going to investors [3] - The company, founded in 2013, is the second-largest Amazon seller in the US, providing sales optimization services across various e-commerce platforms [3] - In Q2, Pattern's revenue increased by 39% year-on-year to $598.2 million, with a net profit of $16.4 million, up from $11.3 million the previous year [3] - 94% of Pattern's revenue comes from sales on Amazon, indicating a significant dependency on the platform, which poses a potential risk if Amazon changes its policies [3]

Core Insights - The U.S. tech IPO market shows signs of recovery after a prolonged slump, but performance varies significantly among companies [1] Group 1: StubHub Performance - StubHub's IPO was priced at $23.50, but the stock has fallen 21% to $18.46, marking three consecutive days of decline [1][2] - The company's market capitalization has decreased from $8.6 billion at IPO to $6.8 billion [2] - StubHub reported a 10% year-over-year revenue increase to $397.6 million in Q1, but net losses widened to $35.9 million from $29.7 million a year earlier [2] - Recent U.S. regulations on transparent pricing are expected to have a "one-time impact" on StubHub's finances, according to CEO Eric Baker [2] - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against StubHub's competitor, Live Nation, raising concerns about regulatory scrutiny in the online ticketing industry [2] Group 2: Pattern Group Performance - Pattern Group went public with an IPO price of $14, opening at $13.5 and closing up over 11% at $15.63, with a market cap of approximately $2.5 billion [1][3] - The IPO raised $300 million, with half of the funds going to investors [3] - Pattern, founded in 2013, is the second-largest Amazon seller in the U.S., providing sales optimization services across various e-commerce platforms [3] - The company reported a 39% year-over-year revenue increase to $598.2 million in Q2, with a net profit of $16.4 million, up from $11.3 million a year earlier [3] - 94% of Pattern's revenue comes from sales on Amazon, indicating a significant dependency on the platform, which poses a potential risk if Amazon changes its policies [3]

Core Insights - The hiring of the first sales representative is a critical inflection point for early-stage founders, with the potential for significant growth if done correctly [1][2] - Approximately 50% of first sales hires do not last beyond their first year, highlighting the importance of making the right choice [2] - Successful first sales hires share specific traits and attributes, which can be identified through pattern matching [3] Hiring Timing - Founders should ensure there is some level of product-market signal before hiring the first Account Executive (AE), which includes having real customers willing to pay [6][8] - The zero-to-one journey can be broken down into four micro-stages, including design partners and paid early customers [11] Ideal Candidate Profile - The first sales hire should be a hybrid player, capable of handling multiple roles such as lead generation, qualification, and closing [9] - Key characteristics of an ideal first sales hire include being startup-tested, a full-stack generalist, a missionary rather than a mercenary, a fast learner, and possessing grit and resourcefulness [10][12][13] Hiring Strategy - Hiring two sales representatives staggered by 30-45 days can create faster learning loops and help identify whether issues are people or process-related [16][17] - Starting with one hire may be necessary if runway is tight or sales signals are not strong enough, with a fast "gate" for hiring a second representative recommended [18][19] Interviewing and Onboarding - Founders should utilize sales leaders as advisors to help vet sales talent and assess candidates effectively [22] - Setting up the first sales hire for success involves providing product knowledge, starting prospecting immediately, maintaining CRM hygiene, and establishing feedback loops [23][24] Company Developments - Centari raised $14 million to enhance deal intelligence in M&A and financing [27] - Pocus announced advancements in decision-making intelligence for sales representatives [28] - Netskope raised $908 million in its U.S. IPO, achieving a valuation of $7.26 billion [29] - Klarna successfully listed on the NYSE at a $15.1 billion valuation, raising $1.37 billion [30] - Apollo introduced a go-to-market AI Assistant to automate various sales processes [31]

Company Overview - StubHub has recently gone public on the New York Stock Exchange, but its stock has experienced a decline, dropping more than 7% on its third day of trading and down 18% from its IPO price of $23.50 to $19 [1][2] - The company has faced delays in its IPO process, with the most recent postponement occurring in April due to market volatility caused by tariff announcements [3] Financial Performance - In the first quarter, StubHub reported a revenue increase of 10% year-over-year, reaching $397.6 million, while its net loss widened to $35.9 million from $29.7 million a year ago [4] - The company's market capitalization has decreased from approximately $8.6 billion at its IPO to about $7 billion [3] Regulatory Environment - Recent federal regulations regarding transparent ticket pricing are expected to impact StubHub's financial results, which CEO Eric Baker described as a "one-time" hit [4] - The Federal Trade Commission has initiated legal action against StubHub's competitor, Live Nation Entertainment, for alleged illegal resale practices, indicating increased scrutiny on the online ticket selling industry [5] Market Context - Despite StubHub's struggles, other tech IPOs have shown positive performance, with companies like Klarna, Figma, and Circle delivering early returns for investors [2] - The tech IPO market is showing signs of resurgence, as evidenced by the performance of Amazon reseller Pattern Group, which saw its stock rise 10% despite initial declines [6]

Core Insights - The IPO market has experienced a strong summer with successful launches from crypto and tech companies, but there are signs of weakness in consumer-related IPOs [1][2][3] Group 1: IPO Performance - StubHub's stock fell nearly 20% below its IPO price after a poor market debut [2] - Pattern Group had a lackluster debut, pricing at the midpoint of its range and briefly dipping below its IPO price of $14 [2] - Klarna, a buy-now pay-later lender, has also seen a significant decline from its IPO price, indicating investor concerns about consumer spending [3]

Core Viewpoint - StubHub's stock performance has been disappointing since its IPO, trading 13% below initial pricing after two days, contrasting sharply with other recent IPOs like Figma and Klarna, which have seen significant gains [2][4][7] Company Performance - StubHub's stock closed lower for both sessions following its IPO, despite record highs in major indexes, indicating a lack of investor confidence [2][3] - The company faces long-term challenges, including competition from Live Nation and Vivid Seats, which may be impacting its stock performance [3] Market Comparison - In comparison to StubHub, companies like Figma and Klarna have enjoyed strong market debuts, attributed to their positive public perception and customer satisfaction [4][5] - Figma's IPO was celebrated with a block party, highlighting its popularity among digital designers, while Klarna's "buy now pay later" model, despite some criticism, is well-received by its users [5][6] Customer Sentiment - StubHub is perceived as a necessary service rather than a beloved brand, with many customers expressing dissatisfaction, which may contribute to its stock struggles [2][6]

Company Overview - Pattern Group, co-founded by David Wright and Melanie Alder in 2013, is a leading reseller on Amazon and has recently gone public with an IPO on September 19, 2025 [1][3] - The company operates as an "ecommerce accelerator," assisting over 200 brands in optimizing sales across various online marketplaces, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and TikTok Shop [4] IPO Details - The IPO raised $300 million, with shares sold at $14, opening at $13.50, and valuing the company at approximately $2.5 billion [2] - The stock's performance saw a decline on its Nasdaq debut [1] Financial Performance - In Q2, Pattern reported a revenue growth of 39% year-over-year, reaching $598.2 million, with net income increasing to $16.4 million from $11.3 million the previous year [6] - Operating income for the same period was $30.1 million, up from $23.1 million [6] Market Position - Pattern ranks as the No. 2 Amazon seller in the U.S. based on customer reviews, with 94% of its 2024 revenue derived from consumer product sales on Amazon [3][7] - The company faces competition from millions of merchants on Amazon's platform, where third-party vendors account for over half of all goods sold [7] Industry Context - The tech IPO market has recently seen a resurgence, with several companies, including Pattern, entering the public markets after a period of inactivity [5] - Pattern's IPO comes amid global trade uncertainties, particularly due to U.S. tariffs affecting international trade, which the company acknowledged in its prospectus [9][10] Risks - The company highlighted its reliance on Amazon as a significant risk, noting that any changes in Amazon's policies or relationship could adversely impact its growth and financial condition [11]

Dawn Capital’s latest partner, Shamillah Bankiya, stopped by Equity this week to talk about the European landscape and the biggest misconceptions Americans have about the European startup world. Dawn Capital is a marquee firm in the UK with more than $2 billion in AUM, 34 exits, and 11 unicorns. Names in the portfolio consist of names including AI companies Collibra and Dataiku. It focuses on early-stage companies, backing them from seed to Series C. It’s currently investing from its $620 million Fund V. ...

Company Overview - StubHub Holdings experienced a challenging stock-market debut, with shares dropping as much as 6% after an initial surge of 7% to over $25, ultimately closing at $22 after pricing at $23.50 [1][4] - The IPO raised approximately $800 million, indicating significant investor interest despite the initial volatility [1] Market Context - The debut coincided with the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, but the market's reaction was muted, affecting overall trading momentum [2][3] - StubHub's performance on its first trading day did not match the enthusiasm seen in other recent IPOs like Figma and Klarna, suggesting a potential decline in investor enthusiasm for new offerings [2][4] Revenue Outlook - CEO Eric Baker indicated that federal regulations regarding ticket-pricing transparency could lead to a one-time revenue hit of approximately 10% for the company [3] - Despite the anticipated revenue dip, Baker expressed optimism about the company's long-term prospects, suggesting a reset in the market could lead to recovery [3]

Company Overview - Cybersecurity company Netskope is targeting a valuation of $7.3 billion after pricing its shares at $19 for its upcoming IPO, which is at the top end of its expected range [1] - The share sale raised $908.2 million, and Netskope will begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "NTSK" [1] IPO Market Context - Netskope's IPO is occurring during a resurgence in IPO activity following a prolonged period of inactivity due to high inflation and rising interest rates, which has generated optimism on Wall Street and among venture capitalists [2] - Other recent IPOs include StubHub, which saw a 6% decline on its first trading day, and CoreWeave, which closed flat but later saw its shares triple [2] Recent Market Trends - The buy now, pay later firm Klarna experienced a 15% increase in its debut this month, indicating positive market reception for new listings [3] - Other companies like Bullish, Figma, and Circle have also seen significant gains since their market debuts, reflecting a favorable environment for IPOs [3]