Okta CEO: IPO doesn't really help with enterprise software sales

Identity management company Okta on Wednesday released its first quarterly earnings since going public two months ago, beating Wall Street estimates.

Axios spoke briefly with CEO Todd McKinnon, and asked about the conventional wisdom that enterprise software companies gain a sales advantage by going public, because potential customers view vendors as more stable if they have a listed security. His reply:

"We recently had our sales managers here for a meeting and I took a quick poll to ask if the IPO had helped them in the field. A few hands went up, but it wasn't huge. I think it's helpful in terms of awareness, and saves us some time in that customers who want to see numbers no longer need to ask us, but the other reasons for going public – the cash and compensating employees – have been more meaningful for us."