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This study aims to investigate the relationship between the family generational stage and the intended use of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) proceeds disclosed in the prospectus. With the aim to explore family business (FB) heterogeneity, it also explores the moderating role of the family CEO.

We draw on signalling theory and hand-collected data on Italian family IPOs that occurred in the period 2000–2020, disentangling the intended use of IPO proceeds as distinguished into three categories. We employ logit regression to test our hypotheses.

According to our theoretical predictions, we find that the family generational stage positively affects the disclosure of the investment reason as the intended use of IPO proceeds, while it negatively influences the use for recapitalization and general corporate purposes. The first relationship is moderated by the presence of a family CEO. Our results remain robust with different FBs definitions and a different empirical method.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to address the topic of the intended use of IPO proceeds in FBs. In doing so, it opens avenues for future research by enriching an underdeveloped, albeit growing, area of research, that of preparing for the market scrutiny in family IPOs.

This study investigates the relationship between board gender diversity (BGD) and the time to Initial Public Offering (IPO), which stands as an entrepreneurially risky choice, particularly challenging in family firms. We also investigate the moderating role of family ownership dispersion (FOD).

We draw on an integrated theoretical framework bringing together the upper echelons theory and the socio-emotional wealth (SEW) perspective and on hand-collected data on a sample of Italian family IPOs that occurred in the period 2000–2020. We employ ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and alternative model estimations to test our hypotheses.

BGD positively affects the time to IPO, thus, it increases the time required to go public. FOD negatively moderates this relationship. Our findings remain robust with different measures for BGD, FOD, and family business definition as well as with different econometric models.

The article develops literature on family firms and IPO and it enriches the academic debate about gender and IPOs in family firms. It adds to studies addressing the determinants of the time to IPO by incorporating gender diversity and the FOD into the discussion. Finally, it contributes to research on women and outcomes in family firms.