Wealthfront, the Palo Alto-based robo-adviser known for its sleek automation and hands-off investment tools, officially launched plans Tuesday for an initial public offering that could raise up to $450 million—a major moment for one of fintech’s most recognizable disruptors.

The move follows the company’s confidential filing earlier this summer and signals a dramatic step from private startup to publicly traded heavyweight.

34.6 Million Shares on Deck for Nasdaq Debut

In its announcement, Wealthfront said it intends to offer 34.6 million shares at a price between $12 and $14, placing the midpoint valuation at roughly $450 million raised. About 21.5 million of those shares will come directly from the company, with another 13.1 million offered by existing shareholders eager to cash in on the firm’s long-awaited debut.

At the midpoint of the offering, Wealthfront’s market capitalization would reach approximately $2.4 billion, placing it firmly among Silicon Valley’s next generation of financial innovators.

Fenwick & West LLP is advising Wealthfront, while Latham & Watkins LLP is counsel to the underwriters.

A Platform Built for “Digital Natives”

Founded in 2007, Wealthfront describes itself as a platform for “digital natives”—those born after 1980, including Millennials and Gen Z—who prefer app-based money management to traditional brokerage desks.

In its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Wealthfront wrote:
“Our platform is designed to address the needs of wealth builders within these generations... We succeed because our clients succeed.”

Wealthfront’s suite includes automated investing, cash management, borrowing products and financial planning tools, creating a digital ecosystem designed to turn savings into long-term wealth with minimal human intervention.

Backed by Big-Name Investors

The company’s roster of backers includes Tiger Global, DAG Ventures, Index Ventures and Ribbit Capital, all of whom helped propel the firm into the upper tier of consumer-facing fintech startups.

Wealthfront had filed its IPO plans confidentially in June, but did not disclose share totals or its pricing window until now.

Nasdaq Listing and Additional Share Options

Wealthfront plans to list under the ticker symbol WLTH, with underwriters holding a 30-day option to purchase up to 5.2 million additional shares at the IPO price to stabilize the offering if demand surges.

The company expects the offering to price the week of Dec. 8, setting the stage for a closely watched debut that will test investor appetite for fintech firms in a fluctuating market.

Legal Teams Behind the Offering

The Fenwick team representing Wealthfront includes Michael Brown, Ran Ben-Tzur, Ari Haber and Chelsea Anderson.
The Latham team advising the underwriters includes Richard Kline, Sarah Axtell and Zuzanna Gruca.