The soon-to-be-published book, The IPO Playbook, by Steve Cakebread offers readers an expert perspective on the ins and outs of an initial public offering, from how to make the decision to go public, to timing, and preparation, including building the right internal team and identifying external partners.
While there are a number of books on IPOs already on the market, most focus on how to invest in IPOs.The remaining "how-to" books that would directly compete with The IPO Playbook are written by investment bankers, lawyers, accounting or investment firms, with the majority of these books more than five-years old.
In contrast, The IPO Playbook offers the perspective of someone who has worked inside companies to build both the internal and external teams and ultimately lead the companies to a successful IPO.
Cakebread doesn't suggest that an IPO is right for every business, but rather the discipline forged in preparing for an IPO is worthwhile for ensuring the financial health of any business. He points to his family's Cakebread Cellars, as an example of a privately-held business that used the discipline of IPO-prep processes. For businessesinterested in going public, he recommends doing so early to gain access to critical capital needed for growth, and instill a discipline that will make the company healthier overall.
Cakebread's stories, from his time leading Salesforce, Pandora, and Yext IPOs, and earlier career at Autodesk, Silicon Graphics and HP, make this book not just a useful reference guide, but also an enjoyable read.