Postman’s Valuation Takes a Hit in Recent Secondary Deals 📉
Postman, the Indian-origin SaaS startup, has been making headlines in the recent weeks due to its secondary deals at a 30-40% discount. While these transactions are typically finalized at a 10-15% discount to the last primary valuation, Postman’s latest deals have taken a significant hit. This drastic decrease in value comes after the company’s valuation more than doubled during the peak funding cycle of this year, highlighting the challenges faced by SaaS firms in terms of revenue multiples. Here are some key insights into the situation:
What’s Happening with Postman?
- Postman’s secondary deals at a 30-40% discount have raised eyebrows in the industry.
- Investors have witnessed a steep decline in the valuation of SaaS firms recently.
- The company’s value has been readjusted based on revenue projections.
Investors Selling Stakes 🔍
- Angel and early investors have started partially selling their stakes in Postman.
- Existing investors like Nexus Venture Partners, Bond Capital, and Battery Ventures are actively involved.
- The market is witnessing a correction in valuations for SaaS unicorns.
The Story of Postman 🚀
- Postman, founded a decade ago, is an API management platform assisting enterprises in managing interactions between apps.
- The company’s annual recurring revenue is estimated to be in the range of $120-150 million.
- Monetization delays have impacted the overall ARR growth rate of Postman.
Current Scenario in the Industry 💼
- SaaS investments experienced a slowdown across different company stages last year.
- Investments in late-stage SaaS firms dropped by more than a third in the past year.
- Mid-stage SaaS firms saw their investments more than halve in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Revenue Multiples and Valuations 💰
- Icertis, Innovaccer, and Whatfix are among the SaaS firms dealing with new funding rounds and valuation adjustments.
- Revenue multiples for listed software companies are currently stabilized at six times, lower than pre-pandemic levels.
- Indian enterprise tech continues to trade at a three-turn revenue multiple premium over US SaaS multiples.
Hot Take: Evaluating Postman’s Declining Valuation 📉
As the SaaS industry navigates through challenging times, Postman’s recent secondary deals reflect a broader trend of declining valuations that many firms are experiencing. While the company’s initial surge in value during the funding peak of this year was notable, the correction in revenue multiples has notably impacted its standing. It remains to be seen how Postman and other SaaS players adapt to the evolving market dynamics to drive sustainable growth and attract investor confidence.