What Does It Take to IPO? A CFO's Playbook for IPO Readiness

The article provides a comprehensive guide for founders and CFOs preparing for an IPO, emphasizing that only a small percentage of unicorns are actually IPO-worthy and that preparation requires 18-24 months of intensive work across financial, accounting, and operational domains. It details the critical steps in IPO readiness, including financial metric thresholds (Rule of 40+, $300M+ ARR), the CFO team structure needed, accounting standards compliance, and governance requirements.