Figma IPO: A Retail Trader's Misfortune and the Random Allocation Process

Figma's initial public offering (IPO) exploded on day one, tripling and reaching over $55 billion in value. One investor attempted to buy 1,000 shares through Robinhood's IPO Access program but only received one share out of the request. The allocation process is random and doesn't depend on the number of shares requested or account size.

Firefly Aerospace, a Texas-based space technology company, has made a significant stride in its journey to become a public entity. The company, known for its lunar landing achievements, successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO) on July 28, 2025. The IPO, which was priced at $45 per share, raised a substantial $868.3 million, surpassing the initial expectations [1][2][3].

The IPO saw a strong demand from investors, with the company increasing the number of shares sold by 19% from its originally planned offering. This upsized IPO has set a new benchmark for the space technology sector, securing a valuation of $6.32 billion [4][5]. Firefly's IPO is expected to be one of the largest US space IPOs of the year, highlighting the growing interest in space exploration and technology [6].

Firefly Aerospace's IPO comes on the heels of its historic moon landing in March 2025, where it became the first commercial firm to land a spacecraft upright on the lunar surface. This achievement has significantly bolstered the company's credibility and investor confidence [7][8].

The IPO has also garnered attention for its random allocation process. Similar to other IPOs, Firefly's IPO allocation is random and does not depend on the number of shares requested or the size of the investor's account. This process, while fair, has led to some investors receiving fewer shares than they requested [9].

As Firefly Aerospace begins its journey on the Nasdaq, investors are eager to see how the company will leverage its IPO proceeds to fuel its space exploration ambitions. The company has indicated that the funds raised will be used to support its mission to develop and launch small satellites, as well as its plans for future lunar missions [10].

In conclusion, Firefly Aerospace's IPO is a landmark event in the space technology sector. The successful IPO not only highlights the company's achievements but also underscores the growing interest in space exploration and technology. As the company prepares to trade on the Nasdaq, investors will be closely monitoring its progress and the impact of its IPO on the broader space industry.

References:
[1] https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr2=p:fp,m:tn,ct:all,kt:org,pg:1,stl:txt,b:&fr=fp-tts&p=Firefly+IPO
[2] https://www.barrons.com/market-data/quotes/index/fly
[3] https://www.investing.com/news/ipo/firefly-aerospace-launches-ipo-raises-868-million-in-nasdaq-debut-1354132
[4] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/firefly-raises-868-million-upsized-us-ipo-sets-sights-positive-liftoff-2025-07-28
[5] https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/moon-exploration-company-firefly-s-ipo-pricing-shows-investor-demand-keeps-rising
[6] https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/07/science/firefly-aerospace-ipo
[7] https://www.usnews.com/investing/news/2025/08/07/firefly-aerospace-set-to-debut-after-largest-us-space-ipo-of-year
[8] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/04/firefly-aerospace-ipo
[9] https://www.fastcompany.com/91381837/firefly-aerospace-ipo
[10] https://www.fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-announces-launch-of-initial-public-offering