Why 2026 Is a Pivotal Year for Private, Pre-IPO, and Microcap Investing, and What That Means for DealFlow Discovery
As we head into January 2026, the capital markets landscape is in a period of subtle but consequential transition, one that has real implications for the direction of private company financings, pre-public valuations, and the small-cap ecosystem that DealFlow Discovery Conference now reflects. For years, microcap investing sat at the intersection of retail enthusiasm and institutional skepticism. The post-pandemic rally and a renewed appetite for growth sectors saw capital flow back into public small caps in 2023–2024, but by 2025 the narrative shifted: The IPO Window Is Reopening, But Not in a Traditional Way After a notable slowdown in exits…