Carl Chiou

Carl Chiou is a Managing Director and Partner at William Blair, where he serves as the Head of West Coast Equity Capital Markets. He is based in the firm's San Francisco office and has extensive experience in investment banking, particularly in equity capital markets.14

Professional Background

Carl Chiou joined William Blair's investment banking team in 2018. Prior to his current role, he worked for prominent financial institutions such as Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers.1 His expertise lies in various aspects of equity capital markets, including:

• Direct listings
• Initial Public Offerings (IPOs)
• Follow-on offerings
• Pre-IPO capital raises
• Convertible debt offerings3

Notable Transactions

Throughout his career, Carl has been involved in numerous high-profile transactions, including:

• LivePerson - convertible debt offering (joint bookrunner)
• Pluralsight - initial public offering (active bookrunner)
• Pure Storage - convertible debt offering (joint bookrunner)
• Zscaler - initial public offering (joint bookrunner)
• Stitch Fix - initial public offering (active bookrunner)
• Snapchat - initial public offering (joint bookrunner)
• Coupa - initial public offering (active bookrunner)
• Talend - initial public offering (active bookrunner)1

Expertise and Influence

Carl Chiou is recognized for his insights into the IPO process and equity capital markets. He has shared valuable advice for companies preparing for IPOs, emphasizing the importance of:

• Educating CEOs and boards about the IPO process
• Building a strong cash runway before going public
• Leveraging equity research analysts effectively
• Carefully selecting and working with banking partners
• Conducting thorough investor education prior to IPO roadshows2

Language Skills

In addition to his professional expertise, Carl is fluent in both English and Mandarin1, which likely enhances his ability to work with a diverse range of clients and partners in the global financial markets.