List and Launch: What Happens the Moment Your DESPAC Deal Closes
In this episode of The DESPAC Podcast Go Public Series, host Chaz Churchwell and SPAC attorney Michael Blankenship of Winston & Strawn walk through the sixth step of the Go Public Framework: L – List and Launch.
Listing day is the milestone many founders anticipate. But far from being just a celebration, it is a coordinated, highly visible event that sets the tone for how the market views your company.
Listeners will learn:
• What happens when the DESPAC deal closes and the stock begins trading
• How to coordinate market communications and internal messaging
• Why the first earnings report is one of the most important early milestones
• How to demonstrate alignment with earlier projections
• Why public-company execution starts immediately
• How crypto-involved companies must account for and disclose digital assets
• Why insurance activation and risk readiness matter at launch
• How transparency builds early investor trust
This episode prepares leaders for the operational and communication demands of debuting as a public company.
Connect With the Guest:
Michael Blankenship, Winston & Strawn LLP
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship
Connect With the Host & The DESPAC Podcast:
Chaz Churchwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazchurchwell/
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@thedespacpodcast
THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER
The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization.
Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions.
Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements.
Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only.
Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.
Chaz Churchwell: Welcome back to the D SPAC Podcast, go Public series. I'm Chaz with Churchwell Insurance Agency and I'm your host. I have Michael with me, and he is from Winston Strom. He's one of the top SPAC attorneys in the nation, and we have already gone through a slew of information for you guys. We've covered GOPU, and B.
We're spelling out go public, and now we've made it to the letter l. List and launch. Michael, tell me what happens on the big day.
Mike Blankenship: Well, this is where everything culminates, Chaz. It's an exciting moment. You're secured all your shareable approvals and you close the transaction. It's the moment your private company is officially a public entity and it's stock begins trading.
Chaz Churchwell: It's not all hype man. It's not all celebration. It's also really in a big part, coordination, right?
Mike Blankenship: Absolutely. It's a meticulously choreographed event. Uh, you, you have to coordinate everything from press releases, your public debut, your internal messages to employees. You want the entire market to understand what's happening and why.
Chaz Churchwell: Speaking of what's happening and why, let's talk about the very first. Earnings report and like, that's a huge deal. Why?
Mike Blankenship: Well, really it's because it's your first test in the public markets. So you need to deliver a clear, uh, first earnings report with results aligned to expectations. Uh, this is your chance to show the market that the projections you made, uh, during the D SPAC process were realistic and that your company, uh, can execute on its promises.
Chaz Churchwell: What about our crypto heavy companies?
Mike Blankenship: On the crypto heavy companies, you have to ensure from day one, uh, your digital assets are correctly disclosed and accounted for in public filings. The insurance coverage we helped with has to be active and ready to go. The launch is a new beginning and you need to start on the right foot with full transparency.
Next up, we'll talk about I institutionalizing discipline.
Chaz Churchwell: I love it. Everybody make sure you hit. The subscribe button below. You don't want to miss these and go back and check on other ones that you may not have watched already. This is the Go Public series.