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Figma Reports Strong Revenue and Profit Growth Ahead of NYSE IPO

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Figma, the cloud-based design platform, revealed robust revenue and profit growth in its filing for an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange, setting the stage for one of 2025’s most anticipated listings. This move comes more than a year after Adobe’s planned $20 billion acquisition of Figma was called off due to regulatory hurdles in Europe and the UK.

For the first quarter ending March 31, 2025, Figma reported revenue of $228.2 million, a significant increase from $156.2 million in the same period last year. Its net income also tripled to $44.9 million. The company’s valuation had reached $12.5 billion last year during a tender offer allowing early investors and employees to cash out partially.

Figma’s IPO had been expected after Adobe’s acquisition was blocked and mutually shelved in December 2023. CEO and co-founder Dylan Field emphasized the company’s commitment to AI development, acknowledging that investing heavily in this technology could affect near-term efficiency but is vital for long-term growth. Field indicated the company will take “big swings” on platform investments and potential mergers and acquisitions, even if such moves may not seem immediately rational.

The company plans to use a portion of the IPO proceeds to pay down borrowings under its revolving credit facility, which it has used to manage upcoming tax payments. Major investment banks Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Allen & Co, and J.P. Morgan are leading the underwriting of the offering. Figma’s shares are expected to trade under the ticker symbol “FIG.”

Two Chinese AI Chip Firms Target $1.7 Billion IPOs Amid U.S. Export Curbs

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Two Chinese artificial intelligence chipmakers, Moore Threads and MetaX, are seeking to raise a combined 12 billion yuan ($1.65 billion) through initial public offerings (IPOs) on Shanghai’s STAR Market, according to filings released Monday. The companies are betting that U.S. export restrictions on advanced semiconductors will drive demand for homegrown alternatives.

Beijing-based Moore Threads aims to raise 8 billion yuan, while Shanghai-based MetaX targets 3.9 billion yuan. Both firms design graphics processing units (GPUs)—vital components for AI applications—and are attempting to position themselves as domestic challengers to Nvidia, whose chips are now largely restricted from sale in China.

Their listing bids come as China accelerates its push for semiconductor self-sufficiency amid tightening U.S. sanctions. In April, Washington imposed additional curbs that banned Nvidia’s popular H20 chips from export to China. Earlier restrictions have also blocked Chinese chipmakers from using top-tier global foundries such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

Although both Moore Threads and MetaX acknowledged in their IPO filings that U.S. sanctions present operational challenges, they also highlighted the market opportunity those restrictions have created. “U.S. restrictions… are prompting Chinese companies to accelerate domestic substitution,” Moore Threads stated. Similarly, MetaX noted that geopolitical pressures are “forcing domestic clients to use domestically-produced GPU products.”

Financially, both firms remain deep in the red.

  • Moore Threads reported 2024 revenue of 438 million yuan but posted a loss of 1.49 billion yuan, adding to losses of 1.67 billion yuan in 2023 and 1.84 billion yuan in 2022.

  • MetaX had 2024 revenue of 743 million yuan with a 1.4 billion yuan loss, following losses of 871 million yuan in 2023 and 777 million yuan in 2022.

Despite these losses, analysts say that access to China’s capital markets is critical for these startups to scale R&D and reach economies of scale. “Moore Threads and MetaX are both considered leading GPU firms in China,” said He Hui, semiconductor research director at Omdia. “IPO funding is essential to sustain innovation and growth.”

Founded in 2020, both companies were launched by veterans of major U.S. chipmakers.

  • MetaX’s leadership includes former AMD executives, notably Chairman Chen Weiliang, AMD’s former global head of GPU product line design.

  • Moore Threads was founded by ex-Nvidia personnel, including Chairman Zhang Jianzhong, previously Nvidia’s general manager in China.

These two firms join a rapidly expanding field of Chinese AI chipmakers such as Huawei, Cambricon, and Hygon, all seeking to fill the void left by restricted foreign chip supply and capitalize on Beijing’s semiconductor independence ambitions.

Travel Tech Firm Navan Confidentially Files for U.S. IPO

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Navan, a corporate travel and expense management company based in Palo Alto, California, announced on Friday that it has confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering (IPO). The company has not yet disclosed the terms of the offering.

Backed by investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed, Navan raised $304 million in equity and structured debt financing in 2022, when it was valued at $9.2 billion. The filing comes amid renewed optimism in the U.S. IPO market, which has seen a resurgence after a slow start to 2025.

Recent IPO successes in the technology and finance sectors, such as space and defense tech company Voyager Technologies and advertising technology firm MNTN, have helped build momentum. Shares of Chime Financial also surged in a notable New York debut, encouraging upcoming offerings from crypto exchange Gemini and fintech company Klarna.

Matt Kennedy, senior strategist at Renaissance Capital, highlighted growing IPO activity and interest from both institutional investors and traders eager to participate in strong growth opportunities with reasonable valuations.

Founded in 2015 originally as TripActions, Navan began as a corporate travel management platform designed to modernize services traditionally provided by companies like American Express and SAP Concur. It later broadened its offerings to include corporate payments and expense management.

Navan’s client roster includes companies such as Zoom Communications and Lyft, according to its website.