I hate to be pedantic, and I don't want to take this thread off topic, but IPO is a noun, not a verb. It stands for initial public offering, and I'd prefer if people claiming to be in the know could use it properly. Please don't misuse simple terminology, as it promotes misuse by the younger people who would like to create companies.
I simply disagree that because some people decided to misuse a term, it is now appropriate. I think the use of IPO as a verb was done to sound sophisticated (and legitimate) and exciting, without understanding what SOX compliance involves. It seems to me that the only reason one would say "IPO" as a verb rather than "go public" would be to demonstrate some familiarity with jargon and gain some credibility among amateurs.
I may be a bit off, or poor in my ability to communicate my point, but it it seems you are appealing to authority in your argument for the use of IPO as a verb.
My anecdotal evidence dates back to Netscape, so 1995. Shortly thereafter, the Valley was deluged by people with limited knowledge of financial markets who might have been reaching for the faux sophistication you describe, but this was before all that (and long before SOX). Bankers still usually got it right back then, but they didn't do most of the talking.
Anyway, I'm all for pedantry. I do take issue with your assertion that inappropriately verbing the acronym will hold younger entrepreneurs back in some way. I do not believe it.
It seems to me that you might have some special reverence for the term. Fair enough. Surely you've seen this happen before though, to lesser words?
