Research notes, valuation updates and IPO news. Every note is dated, sourced, and linked to the standing analysis on the relevant company or provider page.
In-depth investor guides
Read the full explanations, worked examples, comparison tables, diligence checklists and primary references. These educational guides are separate from event-driven news reports.
What Is an SPV? Structure, Fees, Risks, and What Investors Own
Learn what an SPV is, what investors own, how fees and distributions work, and which documents, transfer restrictions and risks to check.
Read the note →Investor educationHow to Buy Pre-IPO Shares: A Practical Investor Guide
Learn how to buy pre-IPO shares, compare direct deals and funds, verify ownership and fees, and check eligibility, settlement and exit risks.
Read the note →Investor educationAccredited Investor Requirements by Country
Compare private-investor eligibility in the US, UK, Singapore and India, including qualification evidence, local rules and reduced protections.
Read the note →ComparisonSPV vs Direct Investment: Which Structure Fits?
Compare SPV and direct private-share ownership, voting rights, reporting, fees, taxes and exit mechanics using a worked cost example.
Read the note →Private marketsHow Private-Company Secondary Market Pricing Works
Explores the intricacies of private company secondary market pricing, distinguishing key terms and factors influencing valuations and transactions.
Read the note →RiskPre-IPO Investing Risks: Liquidity, Dilution, and Valuation
Explore pre-IPO investing risks: liquidity, dilution, valuation, preferences, fraud, and more, with hypothetical examples and due diligence.
Read the note →SPVSPV Fees Explained: Placement, Management, Carry, and Admin Costs
Understand SPV entry fees, management charges, administration and carry, with a worked cash waterfall and questions for comparing total costs.
Read the note →ComparisonIPO vs Pre-IPO Shares: What Is the Difference?
Explore the critical differences between pre-IPO and IPO shares, covering investment mechanisms, regulatory oversight, liquidity, and risk factors.
Read the note →ValuationHow to Value a Private Company Before an IPO
A detailed guide to valuing private companies pre-IPO, covering methodology, financial analysis, and market considerations for informed investment decisions.
Read the note →ComparisonAIF vs PMS for Private-Market Exposure in India
Detailed comparison of AIFs and PMS in India for private market exposure, covering structures, regulations, investment mandates, fees, and tax implications.
Read the note →What we publish
We publish when something changes that affects what a private company is worth or how you can reach it: a new funding round, a filing to go public, an acquisition, or a shift in which platforms hold inventory. We do not run a content calendar, because private markets do not produce meaningful news on a schedule.
Why freshness matters here
A valuation quoted without a date is close to useless. Private companies reprice on discrete events months apart, and a mark from the last round can be badly stale by the time you read it. Everything we publish is dated, and every claim points back to the primary source that supports it.
Independent perspectives
What Other Experts Say?
A few public conversations that add context to the topic covered on this page. Watch the full discussion on YouTube.
Investing Pre-IPO: What Investors Need to Know to Navigate the Market
EquityZen
Synopsis: EquityZen co-founder Phil Haslett explains how private-market access works, why employees and early investors sell shares, and what investors should understand before considering a pre-IPO opportunity.
Watch on YouTube ↗Private markets explained
Julius Baer
Synopsis: A concise overview of private markets, including how private investments differ from public markets and why access, liquidity, and investor suitability matter.
Watch on YouTube ↗Pre-IPO Investing: A Guide to Investing in Startups and Innovative Tech Companies
Pre-IPO Investing
Synopsis: This guide surveys common pre-IPO routes, including venture funds, equity crowdfunding, secondary marketplaces, syndicates, and special purpose vehicles.
Watch on YouTube ↗How to use these notes
Read a note for the event, then read the company or provider page for the standing analysis. The note tells you what changed; the evergreen page tells you what it means for access, cost and risk.
How we source and verify
Each expanded guide links to the relevant regulator, tax authority or valuation body. Hypothetical calculations are labeled as illustrations, not quotes, predictions or provider terms. A source-check date records when we consulted a reference; it is not a certification that all laws or offering terms are unchanged.
Follow the evidence
For dated company events, visit the private-market news hub. Compare issuer-specific information in the company directory and provider descriptions in the fund and platform directory. A directory entry does not establish live allocation, executable pricing or investor eligibility.
Risk disclosure
Pre-IPO and private securities are illiquid and speculative. You may lose the entire amount invested. There is no guarantee of an IPO or any other exit, valuations are indicative rather than transactable marks, and future rounds can dilute or reprice your stake. This page is general information, not advice about your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Are these guides investment recommendations?
Why do the guides link to dated regulatory sources?
About the author
Ben Sim
Founder and head of research at PreIpoFunds. Writes about private-market access, fund structures, and how retail and accredited investors actually reach pre-IPO companies. Full profile and methodology →
Sources & further reading
Figures marked with a dotted underline are indicative and must be verified against the provider's own disclosures before you act on them.