HACKER Q&A
📣 jacobsimon

How to Invest in Private Companies


Hey everyone,

I'd like to buy stock in late-stage tech companies but am not sure how to get started. I've seen a few second market platforms like EquityZen and Forge but they don't seem to have many opportunities for the companies that I'm interested in. In particular, I'd love to invest in Stripe.

If you have any tips, let me know here or email me at jacob.anthony.simon [at] gmail.com

  👤 giantg2 Accepted Answer ✓
I think it's JP MORGAN that is creating a new and supposedly better private equity platform. I'm not sure when it will be released though.

SPACs could be another option. I think Stripe was rumored as a target for one. I forget which one, maybe PSTH.

👤 baccredited
One way to do so via a public company is to invest in: TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. (TPVG)

They make late stage investments in private companies. Read a few of their quarterly reports to get an idea of their recent deals.

There is no reliable way I know of to cherry-pick individual companies like Stripe unless you are an accredited investor.

👤 marketgod
Why? It's a crap shoot anyways. Put it on real stocks and stop trying to catch start-ups. Your money is better served in stronger stocks.

Edit: Let the big money tell you what the market thinks instead of your knowledge of technology. Also their books aren't going to be open.

👤 trengorilla
Be way richer than you are and have the necessary relationships.
👤 kojeovo
You can't
👤 forgotmysn
work at Sequoia