As the pipeline for mature private companies builds toward an expected surge in IPOs, Carta and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader in financial advisory services, today announced an expanded strategic relationship designed to help private company founders, executives, and employees prepare for liquidity events.
Through this collaboration, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s suite of services will be integrated into the Carta platform, offering users streamlined, trusted access to personalized financial guidance, education, and tailored wealth planning resources as their companies progress from startup to public company and beyond.
“Preparing for a private liquidity event or an IPO comes with a lot of financial decisions for founders and employees,” said Henry Ward, chief executive officer, Carta. “Our expanded collaboration with Morgan Stanley helps us support startups at every stage, from formation to IPO. By bringing Morgan Stanley Wealth Management onto the Carta platform, we’re giving founders and employees the guidance they need to make confident decisions today and plan for what’s next.”
The announcement comes amid an expected surge in IPOs in coming months. More than 180 companies have filed for IPOs this year, nearly a 30% increase over last year. Analysts anticipate 40 to 60 IPOs to raise roughly $10 billion by the end of 2025.
Carta currently serves nearly 1,000 late-stage companies, including 84% of all U.S. companies with valuations exceeding $1 billion.
The Morgan Stanley Wealth Management collaboration is the latest announcement for Carta’s IPO Advisory product suite and deepens the existing Morgan Stanley at Work and Carta collaboration.
Carta now has a complete IPO Advisory package to help startups and employees at every stage, from formation to IPO:
Last week, Carta announced the New York Stock Exchange as its preferred partner for IPO listings.
Earlier this year, Carta announced Odyssey Trust as Carta’s preferred provider for public transfer agent and trust services.
In November 2024, Carta announced Morgan Stanley at Work as Carta’s exclusive U.S. public equity management and broader workplace benefits platform for late-stage private companies going public.
"With the expansion of this strategic relationship, Morgan Stanley builds on its reputation as an industry leader in the private markets space,” said Jed Finn, Head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. “With our integrated three-channel approach—combining the personalized guidance of our Financial Advisors, the scalability and white glove service of our workplace solutions, and the power and flexibility of the E*TRADE self-directed platform, we are uniquely positioned to support private market executives and their teams at every stage of their wealth journey. We are here to deliver the full firm to these companies and participants as they navigate the path from startup to IPO and beyond.”
Through this partnership with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Carta users can expect:
Deep domain expertise in private capital: Morgan Stanley advisors have decades of experience in the private markets and are uniquely qualified to help Carta customers understand the intricacies around their equity.
Streamlined digital integration with Carta: Carta customers will have direct access to personalized Morgan Stanley Wealth Management resources such as financial education and research directly within their Carta portal, with the ability to connect with an advisor when they’re ready.
Unique access to Morgan Stanley’s product suite: Founders, executives, and employees can leverage solutions across Morgan Stanley such as investment advisory services, financial planning, cash management, retirement solutions, giving capabilities, and intellectual capital.
Liquidity education and guidance: As participants of private companies participate in private liquidity events and eventually transition to the public markets, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management will provide personalized guidance for Carta users based on their specific goals.
