Why Retail Investors Are Transforming the Secondary Market
Discover how retail investors are reshaping secondaries and why delayed IPOs could become the new startup norm. Find out if it's opportunity—or risk.
Matilda
Why Retail Investors Are Transforming the Secondary Market Why Retail Investors Are Transforming the Secondary Market and Why Delayed IPOs Will Be the New Normal Retail investors in secondaries are reshaping how startups, employees, and early investors approach liquidity. If you’re wondering how retail investors are changing the secondary market or why delayed IPOs might become more common, the answer lies in access, risk tolerance, and evolving market dynamics. Platforms like EquityZen and Forge are democratizing private equity, allowing everyday investors to participate in a market traditionally dominated by venture capitalists and institutional players. In Q4 2024 alone, EquityZen reported that 86% of its transaction volume came from retail participants—an unprecedented shift signaling major transformations ahead in startup finance. Image : Google How Retail Investors Are Driving a Secondary Market Revolution The surge of retail investors into the secondary market is not a fleeting trend; it marks a fundamental shift…