Copyright Benzinga
On its first day of trading, electric aircraft startup Beta Technologies (NYSE:BETA) made a remarkable debut, raising $1 billion and closing in the green. Beta Sells Nearly 30 Million Shares At Debut The Vermont-based company’s shares were priced at $34 for its initial public offering (IPO), exceeding the projected range of $27 to $33. Beta Technologies sold 29.9 million shares, raising over $1 billion at a valuation of $7.4 billion. Notably, Beta Technologies secured funds, totaling $1.15 billion, from institutional investors such as Fidelity and the Qatar Investment Authority, rather than traditional Venture Capitalists. Major investors in Beta Technologies include Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and General Electric (NYSE:GE). Despite a slight dip at the start of trading, the shares eventually closed 5.88% higher at $36. However, it fell 1.68% during the pre-market trading session on Wednesday. IPO In Shutdown CEO Kyle Clark took an unconventional approach by filing the IPO paperwork during the government shutdown. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently provided guidance permitting companies stuck in IPO limbo to release statements that automatically take effect after 20 days, even without an SEC staff review. While bank advisers called the move risky, Clark said, “It actually is not. I think the more time we spend with investors, the better this is going to be for Beta,” as reported in the CEO’s interview with TechCrunch. “We got stronger and stronger, and our oversubscription speaks for itself,” he added. Clark Prefers Slow And Steady Growth CEO Clark said he preferred to see the company's stock grow steadily and sustainably rather than surge unpredictably. He is now turning his attention back to strengthening operations, particularly the commercial certification of its electric aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Beta's IPO filings reveal rising revenue but widening losses. Founded in 2017, the company earned $15.6 million in the first half of 2025, twice last year's figure, but its net loss grew about 33% to $183 million over the same period. IPO Boom Under Trump The success of Beta Technologies’ IPO is indicative of the favorable business climate under President Donald Trump and a surge in investor demand for new equity stories. The IPO market has been experiencing a resurgence in 2025, with a 49.5% increase in the number of companies going public in the U.S. compared to 2024, as of September. The total proceeds collected by the third quarter of 2025 reached $31 billion, a 17.1% rise from the previous year, despite the post-2021 cooldown. READ NEXT: ‘Merger Monday’ Makes Comeback As US M&A Tops $80 Billion In 24 Hours Image via Shutterstock
