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Robinhood Launches $1B Fund to Let Retail Investors Buy Pre-IPO Shares

Published by
Debashree Patra and Nidhi Kolhapur

Robinhood Markets has announced a new plan aimed at giving everyday investors access to private companies before they go public, an area that has usually been limited to venture capital firms and large institutions.

The company has launched Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI) and started its IPO roadshow for a public offering of about $1 billion in common shares. The shares are expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker RVI.

Retail investors can request IPO shares at an expected price of $25 each. The offering includes 40 million shares 35 million from the fund and 5 million from Robinhood Markets. Goldman Sachs is managing the offering. Underwriters also have the option to purchase up to 6 million additional shares within 30 days.

What the Fund Will Invest In

RVI plans to invest in a group of well-known private companies, including:

  • Databricks
  • Revolut
  • Airwallex
  • Boom Supersonic
  • Mercor
  • Oura
  • Ramp

The fund also has an agreement to buy shares of Stripe after its IPO.

These companies operate in areas like fintech, software, consumer technology, and aerospace. Through this fund, individual investors may gain exposure to businesses that are still private — something that has traditionally required large capital or accredited investor status.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said the goal is to give retail investors earlier access to companies that often see major growth before listing publicly.

Why This Move Now?

Robinhood’s latest earnings report showed mixed performance, with crypto trading revenue declining in Q4 2025. Slower trading activity across both stocks and crypto has pushed the company to look for new revenue sources.

Launching RVI appears to be part of that effort, expanding beyond regular stock and crypto trading into private market investments.

Market Reaction

Robinhood’s stock (HOOD) fell 0.70% in the past 24 hours. Trading volume also declined 27.47% compared to the previous session, reaching $2.37 billion.

The drop in price and volume suggests investors are cautious, especially as Robinhood moves into private market investing while overall retail trading activity remains subdued.

FAQs

What is Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI)?

Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI) is a $1B public fund offering retail investors exposure to private companies before IPOs, trading on NYSE under RVI.

How can retail investors buy RVI IPO shares?

Investors can request RVI IPO shares at an expected $25 price through Robinhood before listing, subject to allocation and availability.

Why is Robinhood launching RVI now?

After slower stock and crypto trading in Q4 2025, Robinhood is expanding into private markets to diversify revenue and growth.

What are the risks of investing in RVI?

Private investments can be volatile, less liquid, and long-term focused, so returns may vary and capital could be at risk.

Debashree Patra and Nidhi Kolhapur

Fun-loving and cheerful, a passionate blockchain and crypto writer who knows no boundary…connect if you share the same passion. With 10+ years of writing experience, I am a Crypto Journalist by chance, exploring, and learning all the dynamics of the sci-fi action-filled crypto world. Currently, focusing on cryptocurrency news and price data. With a passion for research and challenging my capabilities, I am slowly getting into the crypto arena to bring new insights every day.

Published by
Debashree Patra and Nidhi Kolhapur
Tags: IPO

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