Archive · 7 Nov 2025
CEO Criticizes IPO Billboards as 'Roadside Absurdity,' Suggests QR Codes
Imagine a company is selling something new, like a special toy.
They put up giant signs on the highway to tell everyone.
But a person who leads a company said these signs are silly because they are too big and fast to read when you are driving by.
He thinks it's dangerous because people might crash trying to read them.
He suggested putting a special code on the sign that you can scan with your phone to get all the details instead.
Some other people online said that even if you can't read the signs fully, just seeing the company's name over and over helps people remember it.
They also said it's like saying 'Hey, we're doing something important!'
to everyone, which makes people interested in the company.
Startup CEO Rajat Sharma criticized IPO billboards on highways as 'roadside absurdity' due to unreadability and safety concerns.
Sharma suggested replacing fine print on IPO advertisements with QR codes for easier and safer access to information.
He claimed to have raised similar concerns about billboard effectiveness over 15 years ago.
Social media users argued that billboards contribute to brand visibility and create IPO buzz, even if not fully read.
Some users noted that billboards serve as a signaling mechanism for market perception and brand recognition, aligning with SEBI regulations.
- Who
- Startup CEO Rajat Sharma, social media users, Groww
- What
- Criticism of IPO advertisement billboards, suggesting they are ineffective, unsafe, and proposing QR codes as an alternative.
- When
- November 6, 2025 (date of X post)
- Where
- Highways and crowded markets in India
- Why
- CEO believes billboards are unreadable, pose safety risks, and are an 'absurdity'; social media users believe they serve brand visibility and market perception.
CEO's View
Social Media Users' Views
Purpose of Billboards
CEO's View
Billboards are 'roadside absurdity' because the text, especially fine print, is unreadable from a distance, making them ineffective for informing potential investors.
Social Media Users' Views
Billboards serve as a form of brand visibility and repeated exposure, aiming to create buzz and signal an upcoming IPO rather than to be read for detailed information. The 'Rule of 7' suggests multiple exposures are needed for a message to register.
Safety Concerns
CEO's View
Attempting to read billboards while driving poses a significant safety risk, potentially causing traffic collisions.
Social Media Users' Views
While not explicitly addressed by users, the underlying implication of their reasoning (visibility and signaling) does not prioritize the legibility or safety aspect for drivers.
Alternative Solution
CEO's View
QR codes should replace fine print for statutory disclosures, allowing interested individuals to scan and read information from a distance, which is more visible, simple, and effective.
Social Media Users' Views
The existence of SEBI regulations for IPO advertising is mentioned, suggesting compliance is a factor. Users focus on brand recognition and market perception rather than alternative information delivery methods.
- CEO
- Rajat Sharma
- Company Mentioned
- Groww
- Platform Used for Complaint
- X (formerly Twitter)
- Proposed Solution
- QR codes for statutory disclosures
- CEO's Past Concern
- Raised issue 15 years ago