Robinhood Markets filed to launch a new fund giving retail traders exposure to companies before they go public, aimed at opening private markets to everyday investors.
According to the fintech giant, the new platform, dubbed Robinhood Ventures DE, LLC, submitted an initial registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI). Once approved, the closed-end fund would invest in private companies and make its shares available to the public.
Shifting Investment Landscape
“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,” commented Robinhood Chairman and CEO Vlad Tenev.
Discover how neo-banks become wealthtech in London at the fmls25
The filing comes as the pool of U.S. public companies continues to shrink. Listed firms have reportedly dropped from about 7,000 in 2000 to roughly 4,000 in 2024, limiting choices for retail traders. In contrast, private companies have grown in both scale and value, with estimates placing the market above $10 trillion.
RVI will reportedly focus on a concentrated portfolio of firms in high-growth industries, holding stakes through IPO and beyond. The fund intends to diversify across multiple sectors while keeping a long-term view.
SEC Review Still Pending
Shares of RVI cannot be sold until the SEC declares that the registration is effective. Robinhood said it expects the fund to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RVI. Investors would be able to buy and sell shares through brokerages such as Robinhood Financial LLC.
Related: Robinhood CEO Reveals: “I Was Never Really Doing It for the Money”
The planned fund follows Robinhood’s earlier move in Europe to launch private tokenized stocks. With RVI, the company is seeking to extend that model to U.S. markets and widen access to private firms for retail investors.
Most recently, Robinhood has been strengthening its offerings. The company has announced plans for a new social trading platform that will let users share live positions and performance.
The company unveiled Robinhood Social at its annual HOOD Summit in Las Vegas, alongside new AI-powered trading tools and an expansion of its futures offerings. The platform will reportedly roll out by invitation to select U.S. customers early next year, with wider access to follow.
Robinhood Markets filed to launch a new fund giving retail traders exposure to companies before they go public, aimed at opening private markets to everyday investors.
According to the fintech giant, the new platform, dubbed Robinhood Ventures DE, LLC, submitted an initial registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI). Once approved, the closed-end fund would invest in private companies and make its shares available to the public.
Shifting Investment Landscape
“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,” commented Robinhood Chairman and CEO Vlad Tenev.
Discover how neo-banks become wealthtech in London at the fmls25
The filing comes as the pool of U.S. public companies continues to shrink. Listed firms have reportedly dropped from about 7,000 in 2000 to roughly 4,000 in 2024, limiting choices for retail traders. In contrast, private companies have grown in both scale and value, with estimates placing the market above $10 trillion.
RVI will reportedly focus on a concentrated portfolio of firms in high-growth industries, holding stakes through IPO and beyond. The fund intends to diversify across multiple sectors while keeping a long-term view.
SEC Review Still Pending
Shares of RVI cannot be sold until the SEC declares that the registration is effective. Robinhood said it expects the fund to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RVI. Investors would be able to buy and sell shares through brokerages such as Robinhood Financial LLC.
Related: Robinhood CEO Reveals: “I Was Never Really Doing It for the Money”
The planned fund follows Robinhood’s earlier move in Europe to launch private tokenized stocks. With RVI, the company is seeking to extend that model to U.S. markets and widen access to private firms for retail investors.
Most recently, Robinhood has been strengthening its offerings. The company has announced plans for a new social trading platform that will let users share live positions and performance.
The company unveiled Robinhood Social at its annual HOOD Summit in Las Vegas, alongside new AI-powered trading tools and an expansion of its futures offerings. The platform will reportedly roll out by invitation to select U.S. customers early next year, with wider access to follow.
