Raspberry Pi sets IPO jam for June

The Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Raspberry Pi is now set for June 2024, and $40 million is expected to be raised. The confirmation was published by the London Stock Exchange, itself likely delighted to be listing the company considering the fall of its share of funds raised in IPOs in Europe. According to the filing, the …

[Dvon of Edzore]

Carving up the Pi

What we see here is the Upton's retirement plan. It's no longer fun to operate a small, agile, and focused organization designed to bring new people into STEM education. Building the parts that go invisibly deep inside other products brings in both the money and the ulcers. Better to unload the whole thing on other suckers while they still have some positive press to squander.

No one can serve two masters. RasPi will now be under new international governance at the whim of whatever cause gets the publicity. Goodbye, Raspberry Pi!

[JLV]

Re: Carving up the Pi

Meh. I love endless cynicism as much as the next person, but surely having some more robust finances to continue their outstanding work can't be too terrible an outcome.

[Dvon of Edzore]

Re: Carving up the Pi

If this were simply an industry grant with very limited strings attached, or a government incentive to build a new factory in a disadvantaged area, I might agree. Going public means business decisions will be made in the interests of the shareholders. No longer shall the lofty goals of the founders be echoed by strong community support, which has been the continuing value behind the Raspberry Pi. Now quarterly profits will determine both sales allocation and new product development. Rumors in The City and at other stock exchanges will drive short-term thinking, to the usual disastrous results. "Continue their outstanding work" shall be relegated to an increasingly inaccurate marketing phrase.

[steviebuk]

Re: Carving up the Pi

True, unless they did what Facebook did where Zuckerberg, who I dislike, has the controlling voting shares so no one can kick him out and he's free to piss away billions on the pet project that was the Metaverse.

But I doubt they are doing that here so the largest share holding will get to decide what happens. And that looks like it might be ARM who, as we know, are now owned by Softbank. Would not suprise me if we, at some point, see Raspberry Pi sold off to Softbank.

[TimMaher]

Re: “Goodbye, Raspberry Pi!”

Wasn’t that a big hit in the seventies?

[werdsmith]

Re: “Goodbye, Raspberry Pi!”

I can't see you I don't need you

Sure to want me back another day

[David 132]

Re: “Goodbye, Raspberry Pi!”

1969, if I must put my pedantic hat on.

I was about to say that it was the first single ever played on Radio 1, but of course I'm confused; that was actually "Flowers in the Rain".

[Jamie Jones]

Re: “Goodbye, Raspberry Pi!”

1968, if my pedantic hat must beat up your pedantic hat!

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: “Goodbye, Raspberry Pi!”

"Drove my Mini to the Embankment but the sewage sludge was high ...." - Oh nostalgia

[Jason Bloomberg]

$40 million

Hopefully some of that will be spent on production capacity and we don't have to wait months before we can buy new product after the initial launch and limited stock sells out in minutes.

[Dickie_Mosfet]

Selling out in minutes

Agreed, and this is why I thought the pre-ordering arrangement for the Raspberry Pi 5 was quite a good idea.

[Jason Bloomberg]

Re: Selling out in minutes

I thought pre-ordering was even worse, selling out limited stock which didn't even exist before launch. It was still the same, selling to the lucky few who got in quick, while everyone else had to wait months to get their hands on one. It was hyped as being better - and somehow recompense for makers being 'thrown under the bus' during the shortages - but it was really just a polished turd.

And it proved to be a farce when people, who pre-ordered immediately, were still waiting for "ring fenced supply" months later while others were buying next day deliveries from other retailers.

[werdsmith]

Re: $40 million

Sony, who are the production partner and already investors, are expanding Raspberry Pi production in Inazawa Japan.

But I keep reading people talking about availability, the Pi 5 has been very available and if I want one I could have it by the weekend no problem. 4 or 8 versions both.

[Jason Bloomberg]

Re: $40 million

the Pi 5 has been very available

Now, yes. But six months ago most were looking at a two to three month delivery even if they ordered at pre-launch.

[Anonymous Coward]

Suspiciously under overinflated

$40 million must be the smallest IPO I have ever heard of for a company with such name value. Reason for optimism.

[Jason Bloomberg]

Re: Suspiciously under overinflated

It does seem rather down on the $500 million which had been widely touted. I can't see the motivation to IPO to only generate $40 million, that if their requirements are so low, their future prospects were so good, they couldn't have secured funding by some other means.