This article shows how both technological and competitive risks affect the
timing of private and initial public offerings in an emerging industry. Ear
ly private financing occurs in industries that are perceived to be risky, w
ith high development costs and low probability of being displaced by techno
logically superior rivals. Early public financing occurs in industries perc
eived to be viable, with low development costs and low probability of displ
acement. Due to feedback effects between financial and product markets, the
value of investors proprietary information is greater in private than in i
nitial public offerings. This has implications for underpricing.