Goldman Sachs says IPO market is open for business as AI companies dominate capital raises

The IPO window that spent the better part of two years stuck shut appears to have finally unstuck. Matthew McClure, Goldman Sachs’ global co-head of investment banking, declared the IPO market “open for business,” pointing to a surge in investor appetite that has particularly favored companies with artificial intelligence at their core. The numbers paint a lopsided picture. AI-related companies have generated more than 50% of all capital raised through IPOs this year, despite representing roughly 20% of total deals. A market that rewards quality over quantity IPO proceeds in 2026 are expected to quadruple compared to 2025 levels. The current environment rewards companies with proven scalability, clear paths to profitability, and operational maturity. Goldman Sachs itself has been riding a wave of deal activity. The firm reported record M&A volumes exceeding $1 trillion in announced deals during the first half of 2026, cementing its position at the top of the investment banking league tables. AI’s gravitational pull on capital markets The dominance of AI-themed companies in this year’s IPO pipeline tells a story about where institutional capital wants to be. When a category that...