Website-building company Squarespace confidentially files to go public

• Squarespace announced Wednesday it had confidentially filed for a stock-market listing.
• It didn't say whether it would go public through an IPO or a direct listing.
• The website-building company was last valued at $1.7 billion in December 2017.

New York-based Squarespace $4 Wednesday it had confidentially submitted paperwork for a stock-market listing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The website building and hosting company didn't specify whether it would go public through a direct listing or an initial public offering (IPO).

Squarespace declined Insider's request for comment and pointed to the press release.

Read more: $4

Squarespace was $4 in December 2017, when growth-equity firm General Atlantic invested $200 million in the platform, adding to the $40 million it invested in 2014, according to $4.

$4 makes software for people to build and host websites using pre-made templates and other features. It costs $16 per month, or $12 per month if you buy an annual subscription.

The company, which has a total of 1,143 employees, was founded in 2003 by CEO Anthony Casalena in his dorm room at the University of Maryland, according to the $4.

It says that millions of websites have been created on the platform.