<h1>Surge of draft IPO filings by new-age unicorns as private funding softens and public markets become exit route</h1> A strategy consultancy reports an accelerated wave of draft red herring prospectus filings by new-age companies across sectors, driven by softer private funding and a shift toward public-market financing for scale and exits. The consultancy's IPO Readiness Index indicates roughly one-third of such unicorns/soonicorns are prepared to list, citing stronger topline growth, improved unit economics and clearer profitability plans. The filings signal a market test of which business models can sustain shareholder value as public markets become a mainstream capital route for previously growth-focused disruptors.