[cpressland]

As somebody with very little understanding of the business world: why would a seemingly successful organisation like this become a public company? What benefits are there?

[avsteele]

If you want to raise a ton of money for expansion this is (mostly) the only way.

[Draiken]

You can take investment without going public. It's most likely harder, but definitely doable.

[mytailorisrich]

It allows the company to raise money and existing shareholders to cash out or at least to turn their shares into liquid ones (that they can sell easily), with a "real" market value.

In this case, the article says that they've raised $200 million, which means they sold new shares as part of the IPO.

[jjdhchdbeb]

Funding is one reason but the real one a lot of times is you hit hard legal limits on how many people are on your cap table before it’s just easier to go public. Meaning if you want to keep giving equity to employees you are almost forced to go public.

[nicce]

Either they want to start rapidly growing or it is exit plan for the founders.

But if they company is very profitable already, this should not be necessary. They could still grow with complete mission-oriented way.

[mbs159]

I wonder what the impact would be to us (consumers) if there would be pressure from shareholders to increase profits. Will future Raspberry Pies be completely bare-bones unless you pay a hefty premium?

[tim333]

Founders can finally get their mansions.

[jbaczuk]

I wonder how they can swing that being that it is owned by a charity

[mschuster91]

Better access to external funding, for one.