---
title: "Tech Enthusiasts Skeptical About Investing in Anthropic Shares at $3 Trillion Valuation"
url: https://newscentral.site/tech-enthusiasts-skeptical-about-investing-in-anthropic-shares/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Business"
published: 2026-10-08T05:56:37.000Z
updated: 2026-10-08T06:51:27.355Z
id: 2f2746e1-2b61-439e-b717-67a438b3b499
source: "Business Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/anthropic-ipo-market-investor-demand-2026-10"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/tech-enthusiasts-skeptical-about-investing-in-anthropic-shares/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Tech Enthusiasts Skeptical About Investing in Anthropic Shares at $3 Trillion Valuation

A recent poll conducted during Tech Week in San Francisco showed that tech enthusiasts were skeptical about investing in Anthropic shares at a valuation of $3 trillion.

A room full of tech enthusiasts gathered at San Francisco's Tech Week event showed skepticism about investing in Anthropic shares when asked if they would buy them at a $3 trillion valuation. The poll was taken by Business Insider's chief correspondent Ben Bergman during the Tech Insider: Growth Mode event, sponsored by Fidelity.

The crowd's response was telling, with only three hands raised when considering a share price of $3 trillion. When the price was slightly higher, to $5 trillion, a few more people showed interest, but still not many. The poll results reflect the uncertainty surrounding Anthropic's upcoming IPO.

In contrast, outside the event venue, hundreds of people lined up to get into Anthropic's Claude Founder House, eager to experience the company's presence at Tech Week. This enthusiasm suggests that while there may be doubts about investing in Anthropic shares, the company itself remains a draw for many in the tech community.

The Tech Insider: Growth Mode event was held in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood on Wednesday night, and it provided an opportunity for attendees to engage with industry leaders and investors. One of those investors, Matt Murphy, had just spoken onstage before Business Insider's Ben Bergman put his question to the audience about Anthropic shares.

The company is expected to test its hype when it goes public and faces scrutiny from the public markets. Anthropic has been a prominent symbol of the artificial-intelligence gold rush, and its IPO will be closely watched by investors and analysts.

The tech industry is bracing for a potential IPO boom, but it's not all smooth sailing. While the market has raised a significant amount of money so far this year, there are concerns that the numbers may mask underlying challenges.

Anthropic, one of the most high-profile AI startups, is aiming to go public at a valuation of $2 trillion, down from its initial target of $3 trillion. This move suggests that investors may be getting more cautious about valuations in the private markets.

The IPO market has been characterized by a lack of offerings, with some closely watched candidates stumbling along the way. Just last week, Oura, a maker of smart rings, pulled its planned IPO due to choppy market conditions. This decision reflects a broader trend of companies waiting for more clarity on investor demand before going public.

According to Heidi Mayon, a partner at Simpson Thacher who worked on Oura's planned offering, there is an "overarching feeling that companies are holding back until Anthropic and OpenAI complete their IPOs. She notes that while SpaceX showed that it's possible for companies to raise money in the current market, few want to compete with these AI model providers for investor attention.

The high valuations of private AI companies are also posing a challenge for startups looking to go public. Mayon suggests that some companies may be better off pricing their shares more conservatively rather than trying to squeeze every possible dollar out of an offering.

The tech crowd's lukewarm response to Anthropic's proposed $3 trillion valuation may have left room for a strong first-day performance and subsequent momentum in the market.

Investors are now looking for companies that can demonstrate growth with cash efficiencies and discipline", according to Nasdaq's senior vice president and head of new listings, Jack Cassel. This shift in focus means they're asking tougher questions about business models, product plans, and long-term strategies. Companies will need to provide clear answers to these queries if they want to attract investors.

The increased scrutiny may deter some consumer and software companies from going public until one or both of the frontier labs - likely Anthropic and its AI-focused peers - have successfully navigated the IPO process. However, other corners of the market are still thriving. Biotech has seen 22 IPOs this year, with more expected before the end of the year.

When Anthropic finally goes public, it will be a crucial test of whether the artificial-intelligence hype train can deliver on its promises in terms of financial performance. The success or failure of this high-profile listing could have significant implications for the broader market and the future of AI-related investments.

---
Source: [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/anthropic-ipo-market-investor-demand-2026-10)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/tech-enthusiasts-skeptical-about-investing-in-anthropic-shares/
