So you want to take your company public? In the past, the traditional IPO was the most common way to do this, but recently a few larger, well-known brands, notably Spotify and Slack, have opted for the direct listing. I've had the privilege of working through two IPOs - first as the VP of Finance with Box, and more recently as CFO of Smartsheet.
In my opinion, there are pros and cons of both options; what really matters is how you price the transaction, keeping in mind that the best overall IPOs create a win-win opportunity for both existing and new shareholders.