EquityZen

EquityZen is a financial technology company founded in 2013 that operates an online marketplace for investing in private companies before their initial public offerings (IPOs). The company's platform enables accredited investors to gain exposure to pre-IPO opportunities through various investment products. These include single company funds, where investors can acquire ownership interest in a fund that purchases shares of a specific private company, and multi-company funds that provide diversified exposure across multiple private firms. As of June 2021, EquityZen had facilitated over 29,000 investments across more than 400 companies with a combined estimated market capitalization of USD 1.13 trillion.

EquityZen's single company funds, or "Standard Deals," allow investors to purchase an ownership stake in a fund that acquires shares of a targeted private company at a designated price per share. These deals typically have a minimum investment of USD 10,000 and close within 8-12 weeks. EquityZen acts as the managing member of these funds, handling the investment process and any subsequent exit events on behalf of investors.

In addition to single company funds, EquityZen offers "Express Deals," which enable investors to acquire ownership interests in existing single company funds from previous investors seeking liquidity before a company's exit event. These deals can close in as little as three days.

The company's multi-company funds invest in a basket of private firms aligned with specific industry themes or mandates, providing diversified exposure to the pre-IPO market. Examples include the EquityZen Growth Opportunity Fund, a broadly diversified portfolio of 15-25 mid-to-late stage private tech companies, and thematic funds focused on sectors like artificial intelligence, fintech, and food technology.

EquityZen's platform facilitates the acquisition of pre-IPO shares through a curated selection of private company investment opportunities, previously accessible primarily to institutional investors. As of April 2023, the company had enabled over 34,000 investors to invest in more than 400 companies through over 1,300 single-company funds.