At Figma's blockbuster IPO celebration on Wall Street, free pizza, branded swag, and house music gave the scene more of a block-party swagger than the feel of a stuffy bell-ringing ceremony.
On Thursday, outside the New York Stock Exchange, what seemed like hundreds of attendees came to fete the San Francisco design software maker, which raised $1.2 billion in its rousing IPO. Figma shares opened at more than triple their initial public offering price, which could light the fuse on a comeback in high-growth tech listings.
A couple of hours into the festivities, I walked the five minutes from Business Insider's newsroom to the New York Stock Exchange and chatted with employees and investors, including Kleiner Perkins' Mamoon Hamid. Here's what I saw.
Figma's IPO popped so hard, a corporate-sponsored block party erupted on Wall Street.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
House beats blared on the usually quiet block.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
Figma employees, tourists, and Financial District workers formed a rollicking crowd.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
Revelers lined up at two free merch booths.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
FIG Mart. Get it?
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
Figma's stock trades under the ticker "FIG."
A lavender baseball cap with the word "Maker" was especially popular.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
You had to be an employee to walk away with this checkered tote, though.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
Here's a group of upbeat Figmates.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
When I complimented one employee on her jumpsuit, she confessed it was a rental. "It's giving IPO!" her coworker chirped.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
Figma nourished the crowd.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
A food truck gave away breakfast tacos from King David Tacos and pizza from Bleeker Street Pizza.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
Queens artist Greg Lamarche painted a colorful installation. He said he started at 8:45 a.m.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
This activation lets passersby scribble messages on a digital graffiti wall.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
Someone appeared to pay tribute to American designer and architect David Rockwell.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
People snapped photos with the Fearless Girl statue facing the Figma signage.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
Shares of Figma raced more than 200% over its IPO price of $33 in afternoon trading.
Figma throws a block party outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Melia Russell/Business Insider
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