A Netscape moment?
Will Nanosys's IPO usher in a nanotechnology boom?
FOR many in the computer industry, the excitement of Google's impending initial public offering (IPO) brings back memories of Netscape's flotation, in August 1995, which began the internet boom. Those in the fledgling nanotechnology industry—which involves engineering tiny structures and materials at the atomic scale—are also recalling the heady days of nine years ago, but for a different reason. Nanosys, a highly regarded nanotech startup that filed for its IPO in April and could go public as early as next week, is now being touted as the “Netscape of nanotech”, whose flotation will trigger many “me too” IPOs. Is the comparison valid?
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “A Netscape moment?”
From the July 31st 2004 edition
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