Founders

Markets for bold founders

Raise capital and unlock liquidity through our trusted pathways built for scaling your business.

  1. Overview
  2. How to join our markets
  3. Compare our markets
  4. Our listed community
Get in touch

For founders building what’s next

Whether you’re at the idea stage, scaling for growth or preparing for life as a public company, the London Stock Exchange can support you at every point on the journey from private to public.

Our markets, guidance and resources help you explore capital-raising options, compare pathways across AIM, the Main Market and the Private Securities Market, and make informed decisions as your business grows.

Explore our ‘Guide for Entrepreneurs’

The London Stock Exchange in numbers

Our markets connect founders and growing businesses to the capital and investors they need to succeed.

  • 1,500+
    issuers on our markets
  • 35%
    based outside of the UK
  • £5.7trn
    aggregate market capitalisation
  • £18.5bn+
    capital raised in 2025

Data as of March 2026.

How to join our markets

Raising capital through the London Stock Exchange is a structured, well-supported process. Here’s what the journey typically looks like, from choosing the right market to life beyond listing.

  1. 1

    Our markets are designed to support businesses at different stages of growth. Your ambitions, scale and funding needs will shape the right choice.

    Private Securities Market
    A private market that provides founders and private companies with controlled access to liquidity.

    AIM
    For ambitious small and medium-sized companies looking to raise capital and scale.

    Main Market
    A global public market providing access to leading UK and international companies, and potential inclusion into our leading FTSE indices.

    You’ll also decide how to join our markets – through an IPO, raising capital and broadening ownership, or a direct listing for companies not seeking to raise funds at admission.

    Read more about our markets
  2. 2

    Going public means assembling an experienced team to support you through the process. This typically includes legal advisers, accountants, a corporate broker or investment bank and sector specialists.

    Our Private Securities Market, AIM and Main Market advisers will help you choose the right fit for you and your business.

    Discover our advisers
  3. 3

    Each of our markets has its own admission requirements. With support from your advisers, you’ll prepare the necessary documentation and apply to the relevant regulator alongside the London Stock Exchange for admission to trading.

    Your advisers will help to ensure requirements are met efficiently and that you’re ready for the transition to becoming a public or traded company.

  4. 4

    Ahead of admission, your corporate broker and other advisers will help introduce your business to potential investors through presentations and a formal roadshow.

  5. 5

    After admission, you will join our issuer community and become a part of the London Stock Exchange Family! Your advisers will continue to support investor engagement. as well as key investor milestones.

    As a public company, you’ll meet ongoing reporting and disclosure requirements, helping build transparency, trust and long-term investor confidence.

    Read more about our markets
    Receive our monthly London Markets Update

Our markets

The London Stock Exchange is designed to support businesses at different stages of growth and development. Each of our markets serves a distinct purpose, giving founders and business leaders the flexibility to choose the route that best aligns with their strategy and ambition.

  • Purpose-built for ambitious growth companies looking to access public capital as they scale. AIM offers a flexible regulatory environment, established global investor base and strong ecosystem of experienced advisers. Designed for smaller, growing businesses, AIM provides a simpler route to IPO than the Main Market, with straightforward admission requirements – including no minimum free float, market capitalisation or financial track record. This makes it well suited to companies seeking to raise capital, build profile and accelerate growth while remaining agile.

    Learn more about AIM

  • One of the world’s leading international capital markets, providing access to deep pools of institutional capital and global visibility. Our Main Market is designed for companies seeking a public listing under FCA oversight, supporting businesses that are ready to raise significant capital, broaden their shareholder base and strengthen credibility with investors worldwide.

    Use the comparison table below to see what route to market is best for your company.

    Comparison between AIM and Main Market.
      AIM Main Market
    Domicile Any Any
    Admission AIM admission document and Nominated Adviser declaration of suitability Prospectus to FCA
    Adviser Nominated Adviser at all times Sponsor required on listing (including certain listing category transfers such as transfers from the transition segment to the ESCC category)
    Minimum free float Part of Nominated Adviser assessment of appropriateness 10%
    Revenue criteria N/A N/A
    Learn more about Main Market

  • Our Private Securities Market supports founders and private companies seeking controlled access to liquidity, without becoming fully public. Built on trusted market infrastructure, it enables companies to manage ownership transitions, support long-term incentives and engage investors privately, while helping them prepare for a potential future public listing.

    Learn more about Private Securities Market

Our listed community

When a company joins the London Stock Exchange, they are given access to our innovative Issuer Services platform. The platform provides insightful data analytics, access to Reuters news, and Investor Relations and Shareholder engagement tools.

Discover the stories behind the companies that have joined the London Stock Exchange. From early ambition to life as a listed company, explore the milestones, decisions and leadership journeys that shaped their path to market.

Learn how founders have navigated the transition from private growth to public listing, building resilience, credibility and long-term success along the way.

Explore our Issuers Services platform
Discover our advisors

Sustainable Finance

Access the capital you need to scale solutions supporting the low carbon transition, connecting green companies with sustainability focused investors.

Explore Sustainable Finance

Get in touch

Looking for more information about our markets?

It’s never too early to start thinking about raising capital. Talk to us about how you can access the funding you need to achieve your ambitions.

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