Nasdaq new exchange looks to entice UK firms The LSE's plan is the latest attempt by London to lure technology companies away from New York, which historically has been their first choice for a flotation. Mr Aust said that the Nasdaq is not concerned by the LSE's move, adding that about 20 companies from Europe are currently interested in listing on the New York exchange. "The home of technology is the Nasdaq ," said Mr Aust. We feel very good about our position. Although SharesPost currently runs an exchange that allows private start-ups to have some of their shares traded, Nasdaq expects to increase the number of companies when the new venture begins in the next four to six months. "It will allow them [the companies] to control their destiny," said Mr Aust. We don't think it will replace the public market. However, analysts say that the poor performance of recent high-profile technology flotations such as Facebook is likely to have increased demand for such an exchange as companies become more wary of going public. Facebook shares were hotly traded on the secondary markets in the run-up to its float but then fell sharply - amid technical glitches by Nasdaq . It will allow the companies to control their destiny.