🗞️ Founderscrowd Sunday Edition: The Private Market Boom

Good morning and happy Sunday!

Hope you're easing into the weekend with good coffee, clear skies, and a little inspiration — because that’s what we’re here for.

Let’s kick things off with a quick snapshot of the markets:

Read Time: 3 min 14

📊 Market Recap

• S&P 500: 5,976.97
  ⬇️ -27.66 (-0.46%) over the last 5 days

• NASDAQ: 19,406.83
  ⬇️ -166.31 (-0.85%) past 5 days

• Bitcoin: $105,164.40
  ⬇️ -5,070.40 (-4.60%) past 5 days

Tough week across the board — even Bitcoin took a breather after a wild run. Stay strapped in.

💥 The Private Market Boom: What's Really Happening?

This week, Fortune dropped a headline that stopped us mid-scroll:
👉 “Private Markets Are Booming — What Investors Need to Know.”

They’re not exaggerating. The walls that used to protect elite startup investing? They’re crumbling.

📉 A Broken System… Until Now

Venture deals used to be locked behind velvet ropes — only the Sequoias and SoftBanks of the world could participate. Everyone else got in when the party was already over.

But today? You can invest in startups before they go public, at the same terms insiders once had all to themselves.

That’s what we do at Founderscrowd.
We’re not just curating startup deals — we’re democratizing access.

 💡 Why This Matters (More Than Ever)

• Private markets are expected to hit $30 trillion by 2030

• Retail investors now make up a growing % of early startup backers

• Regulation has loosened; platforms like Wefunder, StartEngine, and others are opening the doors

But with that comes noise. Not every startup is a gem. That’s why we built Founderscrowd: to bring clarity, analysis, and storytelling to your inbox — so you can invest smarter, earlier, and with conviction.

🧠 Understanding the Risks (and Rewards) of Private Markets

Let’s take a step back.

You’ve heard us talk about the explosive growth of private markets. But what exactly are the upsides and downsides of playing in this sandbox?

Here’s a quick breakdown, inspired by a framework from WJA:

✅ The Benefits:

• Accessibility: It’s never been easier to invest early — platforms like StartEngine, Wefunder, and others are breaking down the barriers.

• Pooled Funds: You don’t need millions to play. Many deals now allow minimums starting as low as $100.

• Diversification: Private markets let you bet on startups, real estate, collectibles, and more — unlocking uncorrelated growth.

• Due Diligence: You get to be selective. The power is in your hands to research and choose winners.

⚠️ The Risks:

• Illiquidity: Most investments are long-term. You won’t be flipping these tomorrow.

• Leverage Risk: Some companies operate with borrowed capital — which can boost returns or increase volatility.

• Higher Risk of Loss: Many startups fail. That’s the game. But the upside? It only takes one winner.

• Lack of Transparency: Not all deals are created equal — and financials can be less clear than in public companies.

The key takeaway?
🔑 Know the rules before you play. The more you learn, the better positioned you are to invest wisely — and potentially get in before the next Revolut or OpenAI hits the headlines.

🚀 See You Wednesday...

We’ll be back midweek with a deeper dive into investing frameworks used by top private market operators. Think: how to evaluate startups like you’re running your own fund.

Until then — share this newsletter with one curious friend, and let’s keep growing this movement together.

To opportunity,
Alberto
Founder @ Founderscrowd