Retail investors seize IPO spotlight

Retail surge

- Mayur Bhalerao [e-mail]

As total fundraising through initial public offers barrels towards a record high in 2025, the definitive trend is of the impressive rise of the retail investors this year—climbing to nearly a quarter of allotments in such share sales.

Marquee IPOs from Aequs, Meesho, Vidya Wires and Wakefit Innovations—along with upcoming issues from NephroPlus and Corona Remedies—are set to push total fundraising past ₹1.61 trillion across 97 deals this week, overtaking last year's ₹1.59 trillion from 91 issues. More IPOs are lined up for the rest of the month, making it almost certain that the calendar year will end with an even bigger bounty for companies making debut.

Retail allotments now command a 24% share in the amounts raised this year, a surge from 21% recorded in 2024, according to Prime Database. Though this remains lower than a retail share of 27% in 2023 when ₹49,435.5 crore were raised.

This year, retail investors were allotted ₹36,431 crore across 93 IPOs.This figure marks their highest capital absorption in three years, comfortably eclipsing the ₹32,957 crore received in 2024.