Anthropic Sets Sights on IPO, Enlists Wilson Sonsini for 2026 Plans

TLDR

• Anthropic has hired Wilson Sonsini to begin preparing for a potential IPO in 2026.
• The company’s customer base has grown to over 300,000, up from fewer than 1,000 two years ago.
• Anthropic’s large accounts, worth at least $100,000 annually, have increased by over seven times in the past year.
• The company is working toward a private funding round that could push its valuation above $300 billion.
• Anthropic recently acquired Bun, a developer tool, marking its first acquisition.

Anthropic, the artificial intelligence startup behind the Claude chatbot, has enlisted legal firm Wilson Sonsini to prepare for a potential initial public offering (IPO) in 2026. This move signals that Anthropic is actively pursuing a public listing, which could provide the company with substantial capital for expansion. Industry insiders believe the startup’s rapid growth has led to increasing IPO discussions.

Company’s Growth Paves the Way for IPO

Anthropic has made substantial strides in recent years, expanding its customer base dramatically. By September, the company reported over 300,000 business customers, a sharp increase from fewer than 1,000 two years ago. The growth is not limited to small accounts; its large accounts, valued at $100,000 or more annually, have increased by over seven times in the past year.

The company’s rapid expansion reflects its success in the AI sector, where demand for large language models continues to grow. As Anthropic positions itself for an IPO, it aims to leverage public markets for additional capital. This could help fund its future acquisitions and further expand its business reach.

While preparations for an IPO are underway, Anthropic has emphasized that discussions are in the early phases. The company has not made any decisions regarding the exact timing or even whether it will proceed with an IPO.

Insiders suggest that the company is aiming for a private funding round that could push its valuation above $300 billion. They also expect the company’s annualized revenue to surge to around $26 billion by next year. Despite this progress, it remains unclear when the company will finalize its plans to go public.

Anthropic’s Rapid Expansion Draws Attention

As part of its efforts to strengthen its position, Anthropic recently acquired Bun, a JavaScript and TypeScript toolchain that enhances developer productivity. The company’s Chief Product Officer, Mike Krieger, noted that Bun’s technical excellence aligned with Anthropic’s goals. Bun’s over 7 million monthly downloads and its adoption by companies like Midjourney are testaments to its success.

The acquisition of Bun represents Anthropic’s first foray into acquisitions. While the terms of the deal remain private, it signals the company’s commitment to strengthening its technological offerings. Moving forward, Anthropic aims to integrate Bun’s capabilities into its Claude Code product.

Anthropic is not the only AI company preparing to go public. OpenAI, another AI giant, has also begun making preparations for an IPO, with some estimates valuing the company at $1 trillion. OpenAI plans to file for its IPO in late 2026, with the possibility of a starting valuation of $60 billion.

While Anthropic moves forward with its own IPO preparations, its timeline may still shift depending on market conditions. With both companies eyeing public listings in the near future, the competition for public market access is intensifying.

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