Understand how liquidity events can turn your equity into cash

Explore articles and guides to prepare for every type of private company liquidity event—from tender offers to IPOs.

Secondary transactions

Author:The Carta Team

Date:April 2026

featured article

The secondary market, explained

Understand the function of the private secondary market and how companies can benefit from secondary liquidity and secondary market transactions.](/content/learn/equity/liquidity-events/secondary-transactions/index.html)

Liquidity

June 2026

A founder’s guide to the tender offer

Learn what a tender offer is and how you can use one to provide liquidity for your shareholders, from the strategic benefits to the process for a successful transaction.

View](/content/learn/equity/liquidity-events/tender-offer/index.html)

Going public

Author:The Carta Team

Date:July 2025

featured article

IPO readiness

Preparing for an IPO can feel like stepping into the unknown. This article covers everything you need to know before, during, and after an IPO—so you can go public with confidence.](/content/learn/startups/exit-strategies/ipo/readiness/index.html)

Liquidity

March 2023

Initial public offerings (IPO)

An IPO is when a private company trades shares on a public stock exchange for the first time. Learn more about the IPO process & alternative exit options.

View](/content/learn/startups/exit-strategies/ipo/index.html)

Mergers & acquisitions

M&A: A definitive guide to mergers and acquisitions

The M&A process: How to know when the time is right to sell

What happens to stock when a company is bought?

Purchase price allocation (PPA): How it works

State of Private Markets

Authors:Peter Walker & Kevin Dowd

Date:February 2024

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State of Private Markets: Q4 and 2023 in review

While volatility diminished in 2023, fundraising activity in the startup ecosystem remained near recent lows in Q4 2023.](/content/data/state-of-private-markets-q4-2023/index.html)