# Pre-IPO Clock

> Plain-English guidance on preparing a company for an IPO — the 24-month readiness timeline, financial reporting and audits, governance and board-building, S-1 basics, choosing underwriters, IPO alternatives, cap table cleanup, investor relations and post-IPO obligations — plus a way to connect with licensed and experienced IPO advisors. Educational only — not legal, investment or securities advice, and not a way to buy or trade pre-IPO shares.

Pre-IPO Clock is an independent directory. People describe what they are looking for; the platform matches them with independent IPO advisors. Content is educational only — not professional advice. Part of the R0cketShip network.

## Explore
- [The 24-month IPO readiness timeline](https://preipoclock.com/explore/ipo-readiness-timeline): What has to happen, and roughly when, on the runway into an IPO.
- [Financial reporting & audits](https://preipoclock.com/explore/financial-reporting-and-audits): PCAOB audits and the financial statement work that has to be in place before filing.
- [Governance & board](https://preipoclock.com/explore/governance-and-board): Building the independent board and committees a public company needs.
- [Legal & S-1 basics](https://preipoclock.com/explore/legal-and-s1-basics): What an S-1 is, what it contains, and how the SEC review process works.
- [Choosing underwriters & bankers](https://preipoclock.com/explore/choosing-underwriters-and-bankers): How companies select and work with investment banks to take them public.
- [Alternatives to a traditional IPO](https://preipoclock.com/explore/ipo-alternatives): Direct listings, SPACs and Regulation A+ compared to a traditional IPO.
- [Equity & cap table cleanup](https://preipoclock.com/explore/equity-and-cap-table-cleanup): Getting a cap table and equity plans in order before investors and regulators see them.
- [Investor relations](https://preipoclock.com/explore/investor-relations): Building the IR function a public company needs from day one.
- [Post-IPO obligations](https://preipoclock.com/explore/post-ipo-obligations): What ongoing SEC reporting and compliance looks like after the bell rings.

## Specialties
- [IPO readiness planning](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/ipo-readiness-planning): 24-month readiness roadmaps, readiness assessments and gap analysis, project management through the IPO process
- [Financial reporting & audit readiness](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/financial-reporting-audit): audit-ready financial statements, PCAOB audit preparation, technical accounting and revenue recognition review
- [SOX compliance & internal controls](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/sox-compliance): SOX 404 readiness assessments, internal control design and testing, finance systems and process upgrades
- [Cap table & equity structure cleanup](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/cap-table-equity): cap table cleanup and consolidation, equity plan and option pool review, 409A and equity administration tools
- [Governance & board building](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/governance-board-building): independent board recruiting, audit, comp and governance committee design, public-company governance policies
- [Securities counsel & S-1 preparation](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/securities-counsel-s1): S-1 drafting and SEC review process, confidential submission strategy, securities law and disclosure counsel
- [Underwriter & investment bank selection](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/underwriter-selection): underwriter bake-offs and selection, lead manager and syndicate structuring, roadshow and pricing preparation
- [IPO alternatives](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/ipo-alternatives): direct listing evaluation, SPAC merger evaluation, Regulation A+ offerings
- [Investor relations build-out](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/investor-relations-readiness): IR function design and hiring, earnings call and guidance preparation, analyst and shareholder communication planning
- [Post-IPO compliance & reporting](https://preipoclock.com/modalities/post-ipo-compliance): 10-K and 10-Q reporting support, insider trading and Section 16 compliance, lock-up and quiet period management

## Who we help
- [Late-stage, venture-backed startups](https://preipoclock.com/for/late-stage-startups): to begin IPO readiness work 18-24 months before a target listing
- [Private-equity-backed companies](https://preipoclock.com/for/pe-backed-companies): exit-ready financial reporting and governance to support an IPO or sale
- [Founders & CEOs](https://preipoclock.com/for/founders-and-ceos): to understand the IPO process end to end and assemble the right advisory team
- [CFOs & finance teams](https://preipoclock.com/for/cfos-and-finance-teams): audit-ready financial statements and internal controls before going public
- [Boards & audit committees](https://preipoclock.com/for/boards-and-audit-committees): an IPO-ready governance structure and an independent board
- [Companies weighing a direct listing, SPAC or Reg A+](https://preipoclock.com/for/companies-weighing-alternatives): to compare IPO alternatives before committing to a traditional offering
- [General counsel & legal teams](https://preipoclock.com/for/general-counsel-and-legal-teams): S-1 preparation support and securities law guidance
- [Companies building investor relations](https://preipoclock.com/for/companies-building-ir): to stand up an IR practice ahead of going public

## Key pages
- [Topics A–Z](https://preipoclock.com/topics)
- [Answers](https://preipoclock.com/answers)
- [FAQ](https://preipoclock.com/faq)
- [Full knowledge base](https://preipoclock.com/llms-full.txt)
- [HTML sitemap](https://preipoclock.com/sitemap)
- [Get matched](https://preipoclock.com/find)
- [IPO advisors](https://preipoclock.com/providers)
- [Programs & events](https://preipoclock.com/events)
- [For IPO advisors](https://preipoclock.com/for-practitioners)
- [Safety](https://preipoclock.com/safety)