Eight Startups Poised for Near-Term IPOs
Crunchbase identifies eight venture-backed startups, including Anthropic, Oura, and Notion, with a high probability of going public within the next six months.
Eight venture-backed startups, spanning AI, fintech, and consumer health, are identified as having at least a 40% chance of going public within the next half-year, according to Crunchbase's intelligence tools. The public-market window is narrowing, but a handful of well-funded private companies still have a shot at a 2026 listing.
SpaceX's historic $86 thousand million IPO in June helped drive global venture-backed IPO proceeds to $110.8 thousand million in the first half of 2026. That total far surpasses the $12.6 thousand million raised in the same period last year. With the post-Labor Day filing sprint underway, attention is turning to which other companies might join the fray.
AI and Software Contenders
Anthropic, the world's most valuable venture-backed startup, plans to beat rival OpenAI to the public markets. A Wall Street Journal report last week suggested it could debut as soon as September or October, raising up to $100 thousand million. Crunchbase's model, however, favors a six- to 12-month timeline. The company has raised $125 thousand million from private investors since its 2021 founding.
San Francisco-based productivity software maker Notion is also a strong near-term candidate. It has raised over $343 million and has reportedly posted strong revenue growth from enterprise AI offerings. Startup reporter Alex Konrad noted the company appointed a new board with significant public-company experience, calling it a big step towards an IPO.
SambaNova, a developer of specialized AI chips, is a probable IPO candidate. Co-founder and CEO Rodrigo Liang told CNBC in July the company was strongly considering a U.S. IPO next year. This followed a $1 thousand million Series F raise this summer at an $11 thousand million valuation.
Consumer and Financial Services
Smart-ring maker Oura is mulling an offering as soon as September or October, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Finland-based company, which has raised $1.5 thousand million, could fetch a valuation above the $11 thousand million from its most recent funding. A listing would test public appetite for consumer health hardware.
Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is another probable entrant. The Cheyenne, Wyoming-based company filed a confidential IPO registration almost a year ago but paused plans. In May, CEO Arjun Sethi said the company was around 80% ready for a 2026 listing, though it has reportedly weighed a delay until 2027.
Payments giant Stripe is a perennial subject of speculation. It has raised $10.4 thousand million since 2010 but has delayed going public with repeated tender offers. Crunchbase assesses it is a very likely long-term candidate, with a six- to 12-month timeframe being more believable than the next half-year. CEO John Collison has said the company is in no rush.
Climate and Health Tech
Sweden-based green-steel maker Stegra has raised approximately $12.6 thousand million across equity and debt. Bloomberg reported in June 2025 that it was considering an IPO to fund expansion. It has attracted orders from Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and IKEA parent Ingka Group. Crunchbase gives it a roughly even chance of listing within six months.
OpenEvidence, an AI platform for doctors, is a probable candidate likely to go public within six months if it pursues a listing. CEO Daniel Nadler told CNBC in January the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company would consider an IPO after OpenAI and Anthropic listed. He said there's an order to nature, where foundation model companies go public first, then the application layer follows.
The assessments are based on company data including funding history, financial growth, and leadership hires. They are directional, not guarantees, and may change with new market data.
