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As Groupon Files For IPO, What SoCal Firms Might Be Next?

Interest in technology IPOs appears to have hit a new high Thursday, as daily deals firm Groupon filed for an IPO, saying that it is looking to raised up to $750M in an IPO. The firm's filing had been anticipated, and follows a huge runup in the recent IPO of LinkedIn, and widespread speculation on what firms might be next to file. Southern California has had its own share of IPOs over the last year, including Demand Media, Active Network, and Boingo Wireless. However, a number of Southern California firms have been rumored to be seeking IPOs, who have not yet filed. Those firms are:

1. eHarmony [profile]

Business: Online matchmaking/dating.
Backers: Fayez Sarofim & Co, Sequoia Capital, and Technology Crossover Ventures
Why: Founder and major investor Greg Waldorf recently stepped down; rumored to have left to avoid shares lockup in the case of an IPO.

2. LegalZoom [profile]

Business: Online legal documents
Backers: Institutional Venture Partners, Kayne Anderson, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Polaris Venture Partners
Why: Rumored to be very profitable, waiting on market.

3. SpaceX [profile]

Business: Commercial spaceflight
Backers: Elon Musk, Founders Fund
Why: Long rumored to be seeking an IPO; has been detailing financials; Musk has had another recent IPO (Tesla) now under his belt.

4. Fisker Automotive [profile]

Business: Electric cars
Backers: A123 Systems, Ace Investments, Eco-Drive (Capital) Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, New Enterprise Associates, Palo Alto Investors, Qatar Investment Authority
Why: Interest in electric cars at a high; successful IPO at Tesla (see SpaceX) might have been driving these rumors.