Dropbox may launch its IPO as early as 2017.
The data storage company has hired advisers to discuss the possibility of going public with its stock. These preliminary talks are designed to determine Dropbox’s potential valuation and how realistic it would be for the company to get a listing.
At June’s Bloomberg Technology Conference — which showcases innovative Silicon Valley companies and products — Dropbox announced that it is finally free-cash-flow positive. A combination of revenue growth and discipline on costs helped make this a reality.
Dropbox was founded in 2007 in San Francisco, where the company has launched a slate of data-storing products and file synchronization offerings. Most recently, the company has been looking to expand into the cloud industry.
One of the company’s weaknesses lies in its inability to translate its laptop and PC success to mobile devices. An app called Dropsync may help to fix this problem as it allows you to upload files larger than 10 MB instantly without consuming too much battery life.
Another service that the startup has recently launched is Dropbox Paper, which is a digital whiteboard that allows you to embed images, text, video, audio files and more. It also has functionalities for the workplace, allowing you to share notes, collaborate and chat with other employees.
There are 500,000 million registered people and 200,000 businesses that use the company’s services. Research firm Gartner predicts that Dropbox and rival Box Inc (NYSE:BOX) have been so dominant that 70% of companies in the industry will no longer exist in two years.
