When to Go Public

Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn

As a serial entrepreneur who recently took LinkedIn through its initial public offering, Reid Hoffman knows investors and early employees have expectations around taking a company public. "When people invest in a company, they expect to have some liquidity in the stock, at some point," says Hoffman. He discusses why any company that goes public must be able to show they have their house in order on a quarterly basis, and why its leaders must choose a time that is right for future growth.