TechCrunch Startup News Robinhood plans to launch a startups fund open to all retail investors
Sep 16, 2025
Robinhood is shaking up the investment landscape by unveiling plans for a fund that lets retail investors buy shares in startups before they go public. A new geothermal startup, Rodatherm Energy, has secured $38 million for its innovative projects, aiming to make waves in renewable energy. Meanwhile, Divergent Technologies has pulled in $290 million to ramp up defense manufacturing, focusing on missile parts. The podcast dives into how these developments reflect broader trends in investment and technology.
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Robinhood Seeks To Democratize Startup Investing
- Robinhood filed to launch a publicly traded fund to let retail investors access startup equity before IPOs.
- The filing lacks key details like fees, share count, and specific startup holdings.
Targeting Hot Sectors For Retail Access
- The fund targets sectors like aerospace, defense, AI, fintech, robotics, and consumer and enterprise software.
- Robinhood argues retail investors are excluded from startup gains that VCs capture.
Accreditation Creates A Retail Access Gap
- Accredited investors already use vehicles like OurCrowd to access startup equity.
- Non-accredited retail investors have far fewer options to buy private company stakes.