Snapchat has been talking to investment bankers about filing for an IPO towards the end of this year or early in 2017, according to people the company has spoken to. That could put the company on track for a public offering next year, coming out ahead of other hotly anticipated private tech startups.

Snapchat doesn't appear to have hired a banker to handle the IPO yet, suggesting there isn't a firm timeline. In a statement, a Snapchat spokeswoman said: “Whether and when we go public will depend on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control.”