Building the Next Generation of Public Companies: Why the Aquis IPO Academy Matters

For decades, the UK public markets have played a critical role in helping ambitious companies scale. Listing on a stock exchange has traditionally provided growth businesses with access to long-term capital, enhanced credibility, and a platform for expansion. Yet in recent years the pathway from promising private company to successful public business has become more complex and less predictable.
IPO volumes in the UK have fallen significantly from their peaks earlier in the decade. Many high-growth companies now remain private for longer, raise capital in venture markets, or consider listing overseas.
The feedback we often get from founders considering an IPO in the UK is that the vast amount of work and costs that appears to be needed can feel complex, opaque and daunting. The even bigger issue is that it can be difficult to get enough visibility on their ability to access the capital they need without spending a significant amount of time and money first.
At the core of this challenge is confidence: how to give founders early visibility, that they can execute an IPO successfully navigating regulatory approval and positioning for capital raising, in a cost and time efficient manner.
Against that backdrop, our IPO Academy represents a meaningful step forward. It tackles these issues head on and aims to rebuild the bridge between innovative growth companies and the public markets by providing education, guidance, and access to the capital markets ecosystem.
More than simply an educational programme, the initiative reflects a broader effort to strengthen the UK’s pipeline of future listed companies by building confidence for both founders and investors.

The biggest barrier to going public is a lack of understanding about what the process actually involves and a misconception about when a company can IPO.
Founders often spend years mastering product development, customer acquisition, and fundraising in private markets. But the transition to public ownership introduces new considerations: governance structures, financial reporting, regulatory requirements, investor communications, and market dynamics.
For many entrepreneurs, these topics are unfamiliar territory.
The IPO Academy seeks to demystify this journey. Over the course of a structured programme, participating companies gain exposure to the mechanics of a public listing and the disciplines required to operate successfully as a public company.
This includes practical guidance on building an equity story, understanding investor expectations, preparing governance frameworks, and navigating the regulatory environment.
By bringing together founders, advisers, and investors, the programme creates a forum where companies can learn directly from those who have successfully guided companies through the process.
Education alone cannot guarantee a successful IPO, but it can significantly reduce uncertainty and ensure that founders make informed decisions about when—and whether—to pursue a listing.

Another challenge facing public markets is the shrinking pipeline of IPO-ready businesses.
In previous decades, many companies went public relatively early in their growth journey. Today, abundant private capital means businesses can remain private for far longer. While this can be beneficial for some firms, it also reduces the number of companies reaching public markets and limits opportunities for broader investor participation.
Initiatives like our IPO Academy help address this challenge by encouraging companies to consider public markets as a viable and attractive growth option earlier in their journey.
By engaging with founders earlier in their development, the programme helps companies begin preparing for the governance, reporting, and strategic disciplines that public markets demand and gives exposure to the types of investors that could support them on their public market journey. Even if participants do not immediately pursue a listing, they leave with a clearer understanding of what the path could look like.
Over time, this type of preparation can create a deeper pipeline of companies capable of entering public markets with confidence.

The programme also reflects a recognition that successful capital markets rely on a strong ecosystem.
An IPO is not simply a transaction between a company and investors. It involves advisers, brokers, lawyers, accountants, regulators, and market operators working together to ensure that companies are properly prepared and investors have the information they need.
By convening these stakeholders within a structured programme, our IPO Academy helps strengthen connections across this ecosystem. Founders gain access to expertise that might otherwise be difficult to obtain, while advisers and investors gain earlier visibility into emerging growth companies.
This network effect is particularly valuable for smaller or earlier-stage businesses that may not yet have extensive capital markets relationships.

Another important aspect of the programme is its emphasis on broadening participation in public markets.
Historically, the pool of companies reaching IPO has not always reflected the diversity of the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. For example. women-founded businesses remain significantly underrepresented among listed companies.
By actively encouraging a more diverse range of founders to participate, our IPO Academy has the potential to expand the set of companies considering a public listing.
Greater diversity among listed companies benefits the entire market. It brings new perspectives, new sectors, and new opportunities for investors. More importantly, it helps ensure that the benefits of public capital markets are accessible to a wider range of entrepreneurs.

For many scaling companies, the traditional perception of a stock exchange listing can feel daunting. Concerns around regulatory complexity, reporting requirements, or market expectations may discourage founders from exploring the option.
Growth markets, including Aquis, aim to provide an environment specifically designed for ambitious smaller companies. By combining regulatory oversight with a framework tailored to growth businesses, they offer an accessible entry point to public capital.
The IPO Academy complements this approach by preparing companies to take advantage of that opportunity. Rather than encountering public markets for the first time during an IPO process, founders can engage with the ecosystem earlier and build the knowledge required to succeed.

Healthy public markets play an important role in economic growth. They provide companies with access to expansion capital, allow investors to participate in the success of growing businesses, and create transparency and accountability across the corporate landscape.
Ensuring that innovative companies view UK public markets as an attractive destination is therefore a strategic priority.
By supporting founders, encouraging IPO readiness, and building stronger connections across the ecosystem, programmes like this help reinforce the UK’s position as a global centre for growth capital.

Ultimately, the success of the IPO Academy will not be measured solely by how many companies list immediately after completing the programme. Its true impact lies in fostering a culture where founders understand the value of public markets and feel confident engaging with them.
Some participants may go on to list within a few years. Others may simply incorporate stronger governance, clearer financial reporting, and more structured strategic planning into their businesses. All of these outcomes strengthen the foundations for future public companies.
In that sense, the programme represents a long-term investment in the health of the capital markets ecosystem.

The journey from ambitious startup to successful listed company has never been straightforward. But with the right support, education, and connections, the path becomes far more accessible.
The Aquis IPO Academy is a recognition that the future of public markets depends not only on regulation or infrastructure, but also on people: founders who are willing to take the leap into public ownership and investors who believe in their potential.
By helping those two groups connect earlier and more effectively, the initiative offers a promising blueprint for how exchanges can play a more active role in nurturing the next generation of public companies.
The program will do more than produce a handful of IPOs. It will play a meaningful role in ensuring that the UK continues to create—and list—the next generation of growth companies.

Further information about the IPO Academy and details on how to apply can be found here.