EquityZen

In 1997, Amazon went public at a $500M valuation. Today, we’re seeing companies stay private until they hit $500B+. 💡 The "Amazon Era" allowed everyday investors to ride the wave of hypergrowth in public markets. But as EquityZen Co-Founder and Managing Director Phil Haslett points out, the script has flipped. Unicorn companies are staying private longer, fueled by institutional capital, leaving retail investors on the sidelines. At EquityZen, we’re changing that narrative by opening the doors to private market opportunities that were once out of reach. Ready to bridge the gap? Check out our latest deep dive on the evolution of access: https://hubs.la/Q04hH72y0 #PrivateMarkets #Investing #EquityZen #PreIPO #StockMarketHistory This is not intended to predict or project the performance of any company. Not all pre-IPO companies will go public or be acquired, and not all IPOs or acquisitions are or will become successful investments. There are inherent risks in pre-IPO investments, including the risk of loss of the entire investment, illiquidity, and fluctuations in value and returns.

Prediction markets are transitioning from fringe betting to embedded financial infrastructure, with trading volumes projected to hit $1T by 2030 (CNBC). 🔮 But while retail demand is booming, automated HFT bots are capturing the lion's share of profits, leaving 69% of participants on platforms like Polymarket in the red (Bloomberg). 🤖📉 Instead of trying to out-trade the algorithms, smart capital is betting on the platforms themselves. Read Brianne Lynch’s deep dive into the mega-rounds, regulatory battles, and public incumbents shifting the landscape. Link in bio. Not all pre-IPO companies will go public or be acquired, and not all IPOs or acquisitions are or will become successful investments. There are inherent risks in pre-IPO investments, including the risk of loss of the entire investment, illiquidity, and fluctuations in value and returns. This information is intended for reference only and does not constitute a recommendation or personal financial advice. Use of this information is at the user's discretion and risk.

The results are in, and the poll is tied! 📊 Investors are split between Defense/Energy and IPO Contenders, signaling demand for tangible assets and liquidity. 🛡️💰 Want to learn more? Get the full breakdown of Q1 2026 trends and what this means for the pre-IPO landscape on our blog https://lnkd.in/espck63g Not all pre-IPO companies will go public or be acquired, and not all IPOs or acquisitions are or will become successful investments. There are inherent risks in pre-IPO investments, including the risk of loss of the entire investment, illiquidity, and fluctuations in value and returns.  

Hunger for the heavyweights! 🍔 In Q1 2026, transactions in companies valued at $20B+ surged to 57% of all trades on the EquityZen platform, a major reversal from the recent trend of investing in younger startups. Two reasons why: 1️⃣ Decacorn valuations are the new normal. 2️⃣ Focus on near-term IPO contenders. Check out the full Private Company Investment Trends, Q1 2026 report https://hubs.la/Q04g-1RZ0

A massive congratulations to Cerebras Systems on their successful #IPO! (NASDAQ: CBRS) 🤝 Since EquityZen’s first deal with Cerebras in 2020, we have been proud believers in their mission, helping thousands of early accredited investors gain access to AI hardware innovation while providing liquidity to employees along the way. 💵 Our investors were able to invest in Cerebras pre-IPO at an average net price of $32.94/share (with a low of $11.55/share) with investment sizes as little as $5,000. 🎉 With an IPO price established at $185.00, Cerebras tells the story of the growth happening in the private markets that we give more investors access to every day. #CerebrasSystems #IPO #PreIPO #AI #AIHardware #SecondaryMarket #PrivateMarkets #NASDAQ Source: EquityZen data and S-1 filing. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment in private companies involves significant risk.

Is hardware back? ⚡️ In Q1 2026, Industrials and Hard Tech led private market valuations on the EquityZen platform, while 100% of Enterprise SaaS and FinTech companies traded at a discount. Investors are paying for infrastructure, AI, and energy. See the full breakdown: https://hubs.la/Q04gPRtB0 #Investing #PrivateMarkets #FinTech #SaaS

The hunt is over… and the results are golden. 🐣✨ The April edition of #MonthlyMovers is live, spotlighting the private companies that saw the largest surge in investor demand this past month. From established heavyweights to emerging names finally breaking out of their shells, these were the rising companies added to investor watchlists as spring hit its stride. 🥇 SPAN 🥈 Substack 🥉 Divergent 3D ⭐ Legora ⭐ Altos Labs ⭐ Skyroot Aerospace ⭐ Isomorphic Labs ⭐ Chainalysis ⭐ Fluidstack ⭐ Physical Intelligence There are inherent risks in pre-IPO investments, including the risk of loss of the entire investment, illiquidity, and fluctuations in value and returns. This information is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or personal financial advice. Use of this information is at the user's discretion and risk. All company names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

Private Markets: The "Illiquid Bucket" in Your Portfolio 🪣 Are you looking to foray into private markets but aren't sure where to start? In this clip, EquityZen’s Phil Haslett breaks down the mental framework investors need when choosing between evergreen funds and SPVs. Key takeaways: ✅ Liquidity matters: Treat private investments as the "illiquid bucket" of your investment allocation. This is a long-term play, not a replacement for public equities. ✅ Capture growth early: With companies staying private longer, the "Amazon-level" growth is happening before the IPO. ✅ Due diligence is non-negotiable: If an SPV deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Read the full breakdown on the evolution of private market access here: 🔗 https://hubs.la/Q04g5N_g0 This information is intended for reference only and does not constitute a recommendation or personal financial advice. There are inherent risks in pre-IPO investments, including the risk of loss of the entire investment, illiquidity, and fluctuations in value and returns. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment.

Don’t let the excitement of a private market opportunity cloud your due diligence. 🧠 As EquityZen Head of Market Insight Brianne Lynch explains, when a market grows, new players rush in. But not all structures are created equal. Between GP pedigree and "hidden" layers of fees, your break-even point might be much higher than you realize. If the company last raised at $20/share, but fees push your entry to $30/share, that’s a massive hurdle to clear before you even see a profit. 📊 At EquityZen, we believe transparency is the foundation of a smart investment. Learn how to navigate these structures in our latest guide: 👉 https://hubs.la/Q04fZ3v40 #DueDiligence #PrivateEquity #InvestingTips #EquityZen #AlternativeAssets This information is intended for reference only and does not constitute a recommendation or personal financial advice. Use of this information is at the user's discretion and risk.

Headline: Is the era of deep secondary discounts officially over? 📉 EquityZen’s Q1 2026 data shows a shift in the private markets. Activity on our platform shows that the average trading discounts have decreased from 49% at the start of 2024 to just 8% this past quarter. As investor demand heats up, the window for "deep value" plays is closing, while the return of the premium is here, with 34% of trades now happening above the last primary round. Get the full breakdown of Q1 trends and what this means for the pre-IPO landscape on our blog: 🔗 https://hubs.la/Q04fyGBt0 #PrivateMarkets #SecondaryMarket #PreIPO #InvestingTrends #EquityZen This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to predict or project the performance of any company or industry.