Shield AI IPO: When Will Shield AI Stock Begin Trading?
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Explore opportunities to invest the stock before a potential Shield AI IPO. Linqto* removes barriers to private markets and gives you access to invest in pre-IPO companies. Shield AI is available for investment on Linqto as of January 17th, 2025. Accredited investors only, $1,000 minimum for the first investment.
Table of Contents
Notable Shield AI News
01/17/2025: Shield AI hits $5bn valuation
12/05/2024: Shield AI and Palantir Deepen Partnership
10/31/2024: American Drone Startup Notches Rare Victory in Ukraine
07/01/2024: Shield AI’s V-BAT Selected for $198 Million Contract
Older news…
About Shield AI
Shield AI is a defense startup building the world’s best AI pilot for the U.S. and international militaries. The company was founded in 2015 by brothers Ryan and Brandon Tseng and Andrew Reiter.
Brandon Tseng is a former Navy Seal officer who saw opportunities for AI and military flight autonomy while serving in Afghanistan. His brother Ryan was the Founder and CEO of WiPower, a wireless charging startup he later sold to Qualcomm.
They started Shield AI with family seed money to build a prototype of its first autonomous drone, Nova. The Nova 2 can now autonomously navigate buildings and subterranean enemy territory, providing visual intelligence and dropping payloads. It’s a drone similar to the Skydio 2+, which can navigate tight indoor spaces.
Shield AI added a second autonomous vehicle to its fleet, the V-BAT, which can operate alone or as a team. It is also developing solutions to integrate AI pilot capabilities into fighter jets.
The company’s mission is:
To protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
Here’s a video demonstrating the capabilities of the V-BAT aircraft team:
Ownership
Shield AI is a venture-backed startup owned by the co-founders, employees, and venture capital firms.
The company completed its latest funding round in December 2023. Shield AI’s Series F raised $500 million in debt and equity financing, for a total of $1.07 billion since its founding.
Private Shield AI investors include U.S. Innovative Technology Fund (USIT), Riot Ventures, ARK Invest, Disruptive, Founder Collective, Bloomberg Beta, Breyer Capital, Silicon Valley Bank Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Point72 Ventures, Homebrew, and Snowpoint.
Palantir, Airbus, and L3 Harris are reportedly participating in a new funding round in January 2025.
Funding Rounds
| Round | Date | Est. Valuation | Raise Amount | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series G (developing) | 01/17/25 | $5.00B | $200.00M | NA |
| Series F | 12/28/23 | $2.80B | $500.00M | $ 43.79 |
| Series E | 12/13/22 | $2.30B | $225.00M | $ 40.39 |
| Series D | 08/23/21 | $1.21B | $210.00M | $ 24.04 |
| Series C | 02/22/21 | $300.99M | $90.00M | $ 11.61 |
| Series B | 08/13/19 | $152.20M | $22.20M | $ 7.86 |
| Series A1 | 12/30/18 | $82.00M | $10.00M | $ 5.12 |
| Series A | 03/23/17 | $25.50M | $10.50M | $ 1.85 |
| Seed Round | 05/26/16 | $6.15M | $2.65M | $ 0.80 |
| Source: Caplight |
Valuation
The Shield AI valuation is $5 billion based on a fresh investing round underway in January 2025. This would presumably be a Series G. A Financial Times report indicates the developing round aims to raise $200 million.
IPO Potential
The Shield AI IPO date is currently unknown. In early 2025, the company was raising a significant private growth round. Large late-stage funding rounds typically provide enough funds for two years of operations.
The latest round indicates the company will continue to raise private funds before an IPO, which now seems unlikely in the next two years.
Shield AI is likely working on new products with private funds. It could tap the public markets in the next three to five years if IPO market conditions improve. An IPO can help it raise more funds than a private round to help capitalize on significant initiatives.
A blockbuster IPO from Anduril could entice Shield AI to go public.
How to Invest in Shield AI Stock
Shield AI is private, but non-accredited retail investors can invest today via Cathie Wood’s ARK Venture Fund.
Direct ownership opportunities should increase in frequency with a recent valuation increase.
1. Access Shield AI stock via pre-IPO investing platforms
The author has seen multiple opportunities to invest in Shield AI stock on prominent pre-IPO investing platforms.
For investment opportunities and private stock estimates, investors can monitor platforms like Linqto (which has recent availability) and Hiive. Other pre-IPO platforms, including EquityZen, Forge Global, and Equitybee.
Minimum investment amounts range from $1,000 to $50,000 on these platforms and investors much be accredited.
Signing up for online access to pre-IPO data, deal alerts, and expressing interest in currently unavailable startups is free.
The ARK Venture Fund owns a stake in Shield AI. Retail investors can buy the fund via SoFi Invest or Titan. $500 minimum investment.
The Fundrise Innovation Fund (review) is a similar fund that provides access to pre-IPO startups.
However, investors cannot select individual pre-IPO companies, and Shield AI stock is currently not present in the portfolio. $10 minimum investment.
Check out our list of top pre-IPO investing platforms for current share availability across platforms.
Please note: This is a testimonial in partnership with Fundrise. We earn a commission from partner links on AccessIPOs.com. All opinions are my own.
2. Participate in the Shield AI IPO through a broker
A small group of venture capital and individual investors have invested in Shield AI. These are deep-pocketed investors and likely not advocate for an IPO in the immediate future, even if broader market conditions improve.
Shield AI revenue, profitability, and growth will be key factors in the company’s decision to pursue an IPO.
I expect at least one additional private funding round to be completed to help raise Shield AI’s valuation going into an IPO.
Most retail investors will not receive IPO shares. Savvy retail IPO investors may find opportunities to invest during the IPO when it arrives — acquiring shares at the IPO price the day before the stock begins trading on the open market.
The following online brokers give customers free access to IPOs, even with low account balances:
TradeStation has a longer track record of accessing more than 360 IPOs and secondary offerings via its partnership with ClickIPO.
But Robinhood and SoFi Invest have the advantage of Silicon Valley networks and a history of getting allocations for high-profile IPOs.
Read the S-1 filings to find mentions of these online brokers to determine which could offer shares to customers. Often, retail customers are shut out.
Check out this list of best brokers for IPO investing to learn more about IPO access for retail investors.
3. Buy the stock after the IPO
For seasoned investors like many of our readers, gaining access to pre-IPO shares or securing an allocation during the IPO, potentially years down the road, is somewhat uncommon.
However, the waiting game can be worthwhile. The IPO filing opens a gateway to valuable financial insights, and each passing quarter adds more depth to the company’s overall performance.
Often, IPO stock prices soar, especially for companies in high demand. Timing is key — being an early player can lead to lucrative gains when strategically selling during a peak.
For those without IPO access, the post-IPO temptation to grab shares at inflated prices is real. Resist the urge to chase these overpriced shares right out of the gate.
History shows that stock prices often dip after the initial enthusiasm, creating optimal entry points for savvy investors.
In this game, selectivity and patience are your allies. The most groundbreaking companies tend to command higher valuations a decade down the line. So, resist the urge to follow the crowd and focus on the long game for potential lasting wealth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Shield AI stock publicly traded?
No. Shield AI is no publicly traded.
What is the Shield AI stock price?
A public Shield AI stock price does not exist because the company is private.
Pre-IPO market data provided by Caplight Q1 2025 suggest an estimated price range of about $85 per share based on the $5 billion funding round news.
What is the Shield AI stock symbol?
There is no Shield AI stock symbol yet because it is a private company.
Here are a few Shield AI ticker suggestions that are available in the U.S.:
- SDAI
- SHAI
The Global X Defense Tech ETF already occupies the ticker symbol SHLD.
Where is the Shield AI S-1 Filing?
Shield AI has not released an S-1 filing to the public, and no confidential S-1 filing has been reported yet.
The company may be weighing its options for pursuing a private, public, or acquisition path.
News of a confidential or public S-1 filing would kick off the IPO process, suggesting the IPO could occur during the following months.
When the company releases the S-1 filing to investors, we’ll link to and embed the document on this web page.
In the meantime, you can check out the most recent S-1 filings in our S-1 filings feed.
Shield AI News Archive
04/04/2024: Shield AI has agreed to buy Sentient Vision Systems
12/29/2023: Shield AI Raises $500M Series F
10/31/2023: Shield AI Raises $200M at $2.7B Valuation
12/13/2022: Shield AI raises another $60M at a $2.3B Valuation
06/22/2022: Shield AI Raises $165M Series E
09/05/2021: Growth Spurt at Shield AI
Conclusion
Investors become interested in buying companies riding extraordinary macroeconomic and technology trends (AI, robotics, autonomous defense).
However, retail investors may find it challenging to acquire ownership in Shield AI or other innovative defense companies such as Anduril.
However, pre-IPO investing platforms have opened more opportunities for retail investors. Shield AI has a rare, easy entry point with the ARK Venture Fund. Retail investors can get started with only $500.
If you’re interested in more direct investment opportunities like those available on the Hiive platform, you must monitor availability or place a bid where you are comfortable owning shares.
Shield AI may be multiple years away from a public offering or acquisition as a relatively new company (founded in 2015) and still developing new products.
Good luck if you wish to buy Shield AI stock before the Shield AI IPO. Invest in pre-IPO and IPO companies at your own risk.
Craig Stephens is a former IT professional who left his 19-year consulting career at the IRS to be a full-time finance writer. A DIY investor since 1995, he started Access IPOs in 2016 to provide a resource for ordinary investors pursuing access to IPOs. Craig studied Finance at Michigan State University and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and three children. Learn more about Craig.
Risk Statement: Investing in IPOs and pre-IPO startups involves significant risk. Do not invest in companies based solely on what is included in this article. Only invest in IPOs and pre-IPO companies with money you can afford to lose. Access IPOs is for informational purposes only. Mentions of specific investments should not be construed as financial advice. Conduct personalized research and consider consulting with an investment advisor before investing.
