2018 IPO Watch Part 1: 13 Companies Closing In on Billion-Dollar Valuations

In our 2018 IPO watch, we're keeping track of ForbesSept. 26, 2017, list of 25 startups whose valuations could reach $1 billion or more.

Private companies with a valuation of $1 billion or more are known as "unicorns," and there were four unicorns that went public in Q2 2017.

2018 IPO Watch

They were Okta Inc. (Nadsaq: OKTA), Cloudera Inc. (NYSE: CLDR), Delivery Hero AG (ETR: DHER), Blue Apron Holdings Inc. (NYSE: APRN).

That's double the two that went public in Q1 2017.

A billion-dollar valuation isn't a guarantee a company will go public, but we do know the CEO of one company on the list has already said he wants to go public by 2019.

If you haven't heard of these companies yet, that's okay. We are going to share the first 13 now and the next 12 within the next two weeks.

And the first company on our IPO watch list is a data-insight provider that's expected to generate $70 million this year...

IPO Watch, Company No. 25: Looker

Looker is a data platform that provides its clients with customizable reports so they can receive real-time insights.

Companies can monitor web analytics through Looker to easily see changes in daily active users, bounce rates, and new versus returning visitors, in real time. That lets marketers quickly know the effectiveness of their ads and marketing campaigns.

Looker has big-name clients like the music-streamer Spotify, dating site OkCupid, and Dollar Shave Club.

So far, the data company has raised $178 million. Its anticipated 2017 revenue is $70 million.

IPO Watch, Company No. 24: Optoro

Optoro calls itself a "reverse logistics" company, which is a fancy way of saying it handles customer returns and overstock issues for other businesses.

Instead of having to deal with returns directly and trying to relist them for sale, companies can outsource their returns and overstock with Optoro.

Once an item is returned, Optoro can immediately list an item through its network of direct-to-consumer and business-to-business marketplaces.

To date, it has received $129 million in funding, and estimated revenue this year is expected to top $50 million.

IPO Watch, Company No. 23: Orbital Insight

Orbital Insight uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to gather information from satellite images.

For example, satellites can take pictures of parking lots, and artificial intelligence could relay to a parking lot operator information on how many spaces are available at certain times.

Provided with that information, a parking lot operator could consider whether they need to expand or decrease the amount of lot attendants they have at certain times of the day.

Orbital Insight has raised $79 million, and its anticipated revenue for 2017 is $20 million.

IPO Watch, Company No. 22: Outreach

Outreach sells software subscriptions that helps salespeople manage their workflow.

It also lets organizational leaders measure the performance of individual sales reps, teams, and entire sales organizations.

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This lets managers have more data-driven coaching conversations.

Outreach has raised $60 million and should net $27 million in revenue for 2017

IPO Watch, Company No. 21: PillPack

It's important for patients to take medication at the appropriate time and the appropriate day. PillPack helps them do that, by mailing prescriptions already divided by the day and time.

All the patients have to do is open and take their prescriptions. More than 40,000 people use PillPack.

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Introducing PillPack

PillPack has raised $118 million. Its 2017 revenue forecast is $100 million.

IPO Watch, Company No. 20: Plaid

Plaid develops software that connects startups in technology with the banking sector.

It offers account and routing number authentication, verification of income, and real-time balance checks.

Payment system Venmo, stock exchange Robinhood, and cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase are all Plaid customers.

Plaid has received $60 million in funding and could net $40 million in revenue for 2017.

And the next company on the list is becoming a leader of the U.S. food home-delivery market, which is expected to climb 176%, from $43 billion in 2017 to $76 billion by 2022...

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IPO Watch, Company No. 19: Postmates

Postmates is a competitor to Grubhub and DoorDash, two of the most well-known U.S. food-delivery companies.

It receives up to 25% in commissions on every sale, and Postmates is available in 250 U.S. cities. It has over 100,000 independent contractors, according to Forbes.

The company has raised $278 million and estimates 2017 revenue of $300 million.

CEO Bastian Lehmann says an IPO may happen in 2019.

IPO Watch, Company No. 18: SeatGeek

SeatGeek operates a mobile-based ticket event marketplace, allowing concert goers and sports fans to search for tickets.

Its "SeatGeek Open" platform allows teams and performers to sell tickets directly through apps and websites that their fans already use.

It has raised $160 million, with 2017 revenue expected to be $70 million.

IPO Watch, Company No. 17: Segment

Segment provides data and analytics services for companies that want more insight on their marketing efforts.

Segment allows clients to see their average revenue-per-e-mail campaign and how many leads were generated from e-mail campaigns.

The company has received $109 million in funding. Segment is expected to generate $45 million in revenue this year.

IPO Watch, Company No. 16: ServiceTitan

ServiceTitan helps home-service providers, like plumbers, electricians, and contractors, use software to improve their businesses.

Through ServiceTitan, a company can track how well their office staff converts calls into appointments, as well as customer satisfaction levels, and can be notified of appointment cancellations in real time.

The company has raised $98 million, and its revenue is expected to reach $39 million for 2017.

IPO Watch, Company No. 15: Spire

Spire's business is the building and launching of satellites that are as small as a wine bottle.

These "CubeSats" are used to track a ship's movements and weather for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

It has launched 51 CubeSats to date.

The company has raised $110 million, and it forecasts 2017 revenue of $39 million.

IPO Watch, Company No. 14: Vlocity

Vlocity delivers industry-specific cloud solutions and mobile software. Its 80 clients include T-Mobile, MetLife, and the City of New York.

Tech behemoth Salesforce has a venture capital division that invested in Vlocity in 2015, and Vlocity is headquartered in Salesforce's San Francisco headquarters.

Vlocity has raised $105 million, and its year-end revenue is anticipated to hit $75 million.

IPO Watch, Company No. 13: Zola

Zola is an online wedding-registry site, but it doesn't sell any products.

Products ranging from jewelry to dining room furniture are available from over 500 companies. The company offers free shipping on most orders.

Zola has raised $41 million in equity, with projected revenue of $120 million in 2017.

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