A Design Revolution Meets Wall Street
In a world increasingly shaped by digital experiences, Figma has emerged as the dominant collaborative design tool—powering everything from product wireframes to design systems. Now, this unicorn design company is stepping onto Wall Street with one of the most anticipated IPOs in the tech industry.
For UX/UI designers, this is more than a stock listing—it’s a defining moment for our field. For investors, it’s a chance to enter the next phase of a company already integrated into the workflows of Google, Netflix, Zoom, Uber, and thousands more.
This article breaks down everything you need to know:
– How to buy shares on Robinhood
– Figma’s product suite: Figma, FigJam, Dev Mode
– Company history and why it was founded
– Financials, S-1 breakdown, revenue vs. losses
– Why Adobe failed to buy it
– Lock-up periods and when insiders may sell
– And why Figma is leaving Adobe XD and Sketch in the dust
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice.
The Origin of Figma: From Vision to Disruption
Founded in 2012 by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace, Figma began with a simple but radical idea: Design should be accessible to everyone, everywhere, in real time.
At the time, design was locked behind expensive licenses, local installations, and poor collaboration tools. Dylan and Evan, former Brown University students, sought to build the Google Docs of design. They joined the Thiel Fellowship (which offers $100,000 to drop out of college and pursue a startup) and never looked back.
Their mission was to bring collaborative, browser-based design to the masses—where anyone could contribute regardless of device or location.
The Full Figma Suite: More Than Just a Design Tool
Figma has rapidly expanded from a collaborative interface design tool to an all-in-one creative platform for product teams. Here’s a breakdown of their growing suite:
Figma (2015 Launch)
The original core product—browser-based interface design.
- Real-time collaboration (multiple cursors, comments)
- Cross-platform accessibility (no installation needed)
- Auto layout, smart components, and responsive resizing
- Cloud versioning, prototyping, and component libraries
- Used by top tech companies to build apps, websites, dashboards
FigJam (2021 Launch)
A digital whiteboard for brainstorming, user journeys, team retrospectives, and wireframing.
- Post-it notes, stickers, live cursors, drawing tools
- Templates for sprint planning, UX research, empathy maps
- Connects seamlessly to Figma designs
- Templates for standups, user flows, affinity mapping
- Used heavily by product teams during early discovery phases
Dev Mode (2023 Launch)
A developer-focused environment inside Figma.
- Role-based views for design handoff
- Code-ready CSS, iOS, and Android specs
- Comment threads focused on implementation
- Exposes code-friendly properties, spacing, styles
- Reduces back-and-forth in the handoff process
Figma Slides (Launched Early 2025)
A presentation tool built directly into the Figma canvas.
- Design and present slides without leaving your workspace
- Live collaboration, component libraries for decks
- Ideal for pitch decks, design reviews, and stakeholder meetings
Figma Draw (Beta in 2024, Full Launch 2025)
A freehand drawing tool to sketch flows, concepts, or notes directly inside Figma or FigJam.
- Pen-like intuitive drawing
- Ideal for rapid ideation or UX concepts
- Supports Apple Pencil, touch, or mouse input
Figma Sites (Launched June 2025)
Figma’s new no-code site builder that turns Figma designs into live websites.
- Publish straight from design files
- Built-in responsive breakpoints
- Custom domains, SEO controls, accessibility tools
Figma Buzz (Launched Mid-2025)
A built-in team messaging and notifications hub.
- Centralizes Figma comments, design updates, and team pings
- Slack-style channels for teams working in the same files
- AI smart tagging for design-related discussions
Figma Make (AI) (Launched July 2025)
Figma’s latest tool uses generative AI to create wireframes, flows, and UI suggestions based on prompts.
- Type “Design a mobile onboarding screen” → Instant layout
- Refines existing components and suggests UX patterns
- Helps speed up early-stage ideation or A/B testing flows
These tools position Figma not just as a design tool, but as a full-stack platform for UX, UI, Dev, PM, Marketing, and now even No-Code Site Launch and AI-driven prototyping.
Figma vs Adobe XD vs Sketch: The Usability War
Market Share & Usage
- Figma: ~80% of modern tech startups and over 75% of Fortune 500s use Figma in their product design workflows.
- Adobe XD: Less than 10% usage among major startups, primarily legacy users.
- Sketch: Once a pioneer, now under 5% market share due to lack of cloud-first vision and limited collaboration.
Why Figma Wins
- Real-time, multiplayer collaboration
- Browser-first: no downloads or updates required
- Integrated whiteboarding, design, and dev tools
- Robust plugin ecosystem and community support
Financials & IPO: What the S-1 Reveals
Figma filed its S-1 with the SEC in July 2025, providing transparency into its revenue model, profitability, and risks.
Revenue Growth (According to S-1)
- 2021: $140 million
- 2022: $270 million
- 2023: $468 million (Net Profit: $25M)
- 2024: $582 million (Net Loss: -$33M)
Why the Loss in 2024?
The net loss in 2024 was driven by:
- Aggressive R&D expansion for new tools like Dev Mode
- Heavy marketing and user acquisition post-Adobe merger collapse
- Stock-based compensation for employees and executives
Despite the loss, Figma’s gross margin remained high (approx. 82%), and the net loss was strategic rather than due to operational inefficiency.
Who Owns Figma Shares?
Figma’s team has long believed in equity. As part of their compensation structure:
- Over 90% of employees have some form of stock-based equity
- Early engineers and designers are expected to hold millions in pre-IPO equity
- Founders and executives will face lock-up periods post-IPO
What is the Lock-Up Period?
Like many IPOs, Figma’s S-1 states a 180-day lock-up period post-IPO. This means:
- Employees and insiders cannot sell their shares for six months after the public debut
- Expect possible volatility around the end of this period (likely Q2 2026)
Adobe’s Failed Acquisition & Antitrust Crackdown
In 2022, Adobe offered $20 billion to acquire Figma. But regulators stepped in.
Why Was It Blocked?
The U.S. DOJ (Department of Justice) and the EU Competition Commission flagged the deal as anti-competitive:
- Figma and Adobe XD were direct rivals
- Adobe was trying to eliminate competition rather than innovate
- The deal would reduce choice for UX/UI designers
By early 2024, Adobe officially terminated the deal under regulatory pressure. Figma walked away stronger—and kept its independence.
How to Buy Figma Shares (IPO Access)
When Does the Figma IPO Begin?
Figma is expected to go public in September 2025, listing on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “FIGM”.
How to Buy via Robinhood (or Any Brokerage)
- Create an account on Robinhood or any major broker like E*TRADE, Fidelity, or TD Ameritrade.
- Search for “FIGM” once the IPO goes live.
- You can either:
- Buy on opening day at market price (prices may spike)
- Request IPO access in advance (limited availability)
- Track price fluctuations and news using the app or platform dashboard
Who Uses Figma Today?
Figma isn’t just a design tool—it’s a platform used by:
- Google (entire UX team)
- Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, Slack, Spotify
- 87% of top-funded startups
- Over 4 million active users monthly
Figma’s usage spans product designers, researchers, developers, project managers, and even marketing teams for campaign prototyping.
What This IPO Means for Designers
This isn’t just a payday for investors. It’s a milestone for the design industry.
Figma’s IPO marks the first time a design-first company is treated as a tech power player on Wall Street. It raises the visibility, respect, and financial potential of UX/UI professionals worldwide.
Other Insights to Know
- Valuation: Figma may be valued between $15–18 billion post-IPO (down from Adobe’s $20B offer)
- Subscription Model: Figma makes money via monthly and annual paid plans ($12–$75 per user)
- Community-Driven Growth: Plugins, templates, and UI kits have fueled a viral growth engine
Final Thoughts: Should You Invest?
That’s entirely up to you. Every IPO comes with risk, volatility, and the temptation of fast gains. Figma’s fundamentals are strong—but you should evaluate:
- Your investment goals
- Your risk tolerance
- The tech sector’s momentum post-IPO
Always do your own research before investing in any IPO or stock. This article does not provide financial advice.
Let your investment decisions be as intentional as your design work. The world is watching Figma—and for good reason. Whether you’re sketching interfaces or studying financial charts, the future of design is unfolding right now.
Dodefy your limits. Design the future.