Could a Space X IPO Reopen the Market — and Will You Be Ready?

The IPO market has been, to be blunt, sluggish. After a period of volatility, companies and investors alike have been waiting for market conditions to align — investor sentiment, rationale valuations, and renewed confidence in growth.

For the most part, IPO markets take time to reopen; they reignite when a series of events restores momentum. The question for companies looking to enter the market is not if the spark will come, but whether they will be prepared to move when it does.

The last time we saw a catalyst was during the pandemic, when digital-first, tech- and cloud-enabled products reignited IPO activity. High profile offerings such as Airbnb and DoorDash did more than go public; they reset investor expectations and demonstrated strong market demand and high growth in uncertain conditions.

The New Frontier?

While no one can truly predict the market with certainty, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year, with several highly anticipated, marquee IPOs, notably SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic. SpaceX stands apart — not only for its scale, but more so for its diversification across aerospace, satellite communications through Starlink, and now integrating an expanded role in AI through xAI, which hosts Elon Musk’s Grok AI platform. 

At the same time, AI-focused companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI continue to push the technology boundaries, drawing more investor attention every day.

In December 2025, reports that SpaceX was targeting a 2026 IPO coincided with a meteoric (forgive the pun) spike in space-sector valuations. The Procure Space ETF (UFO), a stock composite of space stocks reflects this renewed investor interest.

By February 2026, developments continued, including SpaceX’s integration with xAI and new AI product announcements from Anthropic. This contributed to increased volatility across the tech sector, as seen in movements with the S&P North American Technology Software Index.

These developments suggest a notable shift in investor sentiment as well as an appetite for sectors such as aerospace and AI. This sector has been seen as highly speculative, promising transformative growth but lacking public market validation. Mega IPOs can provide that legitimacy to restore confidence and unlock broader market participation. For companies considering an IPO, this shift is critical; when investor sentiment turns, timelines will ultimately compress.   If the IPO window opens, will you be ready?

Market momentum can shift quickly, especially when marquee IPOs set the tone. Companies successful in this journey are not scrambling when conditions turn; they’re prepared well in advance. IPO readiness is not just about timing the market, but about having the financial reporting, internal controls, governance, and compliance to execute with confidence.

Ready to Take the Next Step on Your IPO Journey?

Our IPO and Public Company Services team helps companies of all sizes prepare for every phase of the journey, from pre-IPO readiness and SOX implementation to navigating life as a public company. Whether you’re preparing to go public or positioning yourself for the next inflection point, we can help ready you to move when opportunity strikes.

Start your journey with EisnerAmper’s free IPO Readiness Assessment as well as our Guide to IPO Readiness.