Private market access has long been restricted to institutions and high-net-worth individuals, leaving everyday traders unable to participate in some of the most lucrative stages of company growth. Robinhood Markets Inc. (Nasdaq: HOOD) announced on Sept. 15 that it is taking steps to change this dynamic through the launch of Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI). The new fund, managed by Robinhood Ventures DE, LLC, a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, is designed to open early-stage private company investment opportunities to retail investors. The firm explained:

Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI) is a closed-end fund that aims to offer retail investors exposure to companies at the frontiers of their industries, while they are still private.

The shift comes as the landscape of investable assets in the United States has tilted away from public equities. Robinhood pointed to the shrinking number of listed companies alongside the expansion of private valuations: “The number of publicly traded companies in the US has fallen from about 7,000 in the year 2000 to about 4,000 in 2024, shrinking the number of investable opportunities for retail traders. At the same time, private companies are growing in number and value, with the estimated value of these firms in the US now surpassing $10 trillion. Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI) aims to expand access to this important and often closed-off part of the market.”

CEO Vlad Tenev reinforced the message of broadening access, stating:

For decades, wealthy people and institutions have invested in private companies while retail investors have been unfairly locked out. With Robinhood Ventures, everyday people will be able to invest in opportunities once reserved for the elite.

The company’s initiative builds on its introduction of private tokenized stocks in the European Union earlier this year, marking a global strategy to democratize investing. The RVI program will focus on a concentrated portfolio of private companies, with a long-term horizon through IPOs and beyond. The fund’s registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is under review, and shares cannot be sold until approval is granted. Once effective, Robinhood expects the fund to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker RVI, with availability to retail clients through brokerages such as Robinhood Financial LLC.

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