What is Lockup Expiration? The Most Overlooked Event in IPO Investing
Everyone watches IPO day one. Almost nobody watches day 180. That's when the lockup expires — and billions of dollars in insider shares suddenly become available for sale. Historically, this is one of the most predictable price-moving events in public markets. And almost no retail investor tracks it.
What is BellipoBellipo is the first platform built entirely around the IPO lifecycle — from S-1 filing to first trade, lockup expiration, and beyond. We deliver real-time pipeline tracking, AI-powered S-1 briefs, and proprietary demand scoring, plus precision alerts: PING fires when pricing becomes official — typically the evening before trading, occasionally the morning of, always before the open — carrying the final offer price. STRIKE fires the instant the first trade prints. Retail investors get to prepare for IPO day with the same intelligence institutions take for granted.
Learn moreWhat a Lockup Period Is
When a company IPOs, insiders — founders, early employees, and venture investors — agree not to sell their shares for a set period, typically 180 days. This prevents a flood of selling on day one and gives the stock time to find a market-driven price.
When that period ends, those insiders are free to sell. And they often do — especially employees who have been waiting years for liquidity.
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The Historical Impact
Research shows that, on average, stocks decline 1-3% around lockup expiration. But averages hide extremes:
- • Uber dropped 7% on its lockup expiration day as early investors sold aggressively
- • Beyond Meat fell 15% in the week surrounding its lockup expiry
- • Some companies see no impact — if insiders signal they won't sell, the market prices it in
- • The size of the lockup overhang — total shares eligible for sale — is the key variable
Why Nobody Tracks It
Lockup expiration dates are buried in S-1 filings and prospectus supplements. No broker sends you a notification. No financial app has a lockup calendar. If you want to know when Figma's lockup expires, you have to read the prospectus yourself and calculate the date.
Bellipo's ORBIT module tracks every lockup expiration date automatically. Free users see the date. Pro users get countdown alerts and insider selling signals.
Track every IPO from filing to first trade — and beyond
IPO Lifecycle Management (ILM)
Reserve Your SpotFounding spots are limited · No credit card
IFWritten by
Isam Fathi
Founder & CEO, Bellipo
Building the IPO Command Center — so retail investors walk into IPO day with the same intelligence institutions take for granted.
Follow @bellipohqThe IPO Command Center
Don't watch the next IPO from the sidelines.
Track every IPO from S-1 filing to first trade. PING fires when pricing becomes official — typically the evening before trading, occasionally the morning of, always before the open — carrying the final offer price. STRIKE fires the instant the first share trades. Walk in ready, not reacting. Bellipo doesn't stop at the open — ORBIT follows the post-IPO window where the base forms. This is IPO Lifecycle Management (ILM).
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