Putting together an IPO is no easy feat. Just getting your finances in order can be a herculean effort. Add in the laundry list of compliance requirements, and it simply becomes too much for most firms to handle on their own. That's especially true for young companies in emerging industries like biotech or AI, where corporate governance may have taken a backseat to product development.

Enter, Mike Aiello. He's the CEO and managing partner at Centri Business Consulting, one of the country's fastest growing accounting and advisory firms. Mike founded Centri in 2011 with a focus on capital markets, transactions and emerging growth organizations. It has since grown from its Philadelphia, mid-Atlantic roots to eight offices nationwide, with around 250 staff providing support to more than a thousand companies.

Mike walks us through the massive undertaking that is IPO preparation, and how Centri guides their clients through that process. He also shares his thoughts on the current state of IPOs and SPACs, and explains why he feels optimistic for the future of capital markets.

Highlights:

Mike's path to founding Centri (3:14)
Centri's menu of services (6:26)
The state of the IPO market (8:34)
SPACs (12:09)
Getting ready for an IPO (13:56)
Working with AI companies (15:39)
Recruiting talent from 'The Big 4' (18:05)
Importance of corporate culture (19:22)
Priorities for growth (21:57)
Upcoming 'Capital Markets Conference' (25:28)

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If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

Mike Aiello, CEO and Managing Partner, Centri Business Consulting – You Can't Unring That Bell: How one firm helps companies get IPO-ready