☕ The $11.4 trillion secret just went public

Hey everyone,

Happy Thursday. ☕

I need to tell you about something that happened on Monday that most people completely missed.

Nasdaq—yes, that Nasdaq—just launched something that could fundamentally change how private markets work. And if you've ever felt like private investing was this shadowy, exclusive club where nobody tells you the real numbers? Well, that just changed.

⏱️ Read time: 4 minutes

Let's break it down.

On February 10th, 2026, Nasdaq launched the Nasdaq Private Capital™ Indexes—the first major benchmark suite for private markets built from real institutional data.

Here's what that means in human terms:

14,000+ institutional private market funds
$11.4 trillion in global assets
First standardized, transparent performance benchmarks

For the first time ever, private markets are getting the same kind of measurement and transparency that public markets have had for decades.

Let me paint you a picture.

Imagine if the S&P 500 didn't exist. Nobody knew what "good" stock market performance actually looked like. Mutual fund managers could claim they're crushing it with zero way to verify. You'd just have to... trust them.

That's been private markets for the last 50 years.

![](placeholder for image: two doors - one labeled "public markets" with glass door, one labeled "private markets" completely dark)

Public markets: Crystal clear. You know exactly what the S&P did this year. You can compare your portfolio. You can see who's outperforming and who's BS-ing.

Private markets: A black box. VCs say they're generating 25% returns. Are they? Who knows! There's no standardized way to measure it.

Until now.

Nasdaq's new indexes use something called a "rules-based methodology." That's fancy speak for: "We're measuring everyone the same way so you can actually compare apples to apples."

The suite covers:

And here's the kicker—they're using quarterly performance measurement with a standardized restatement process. Translation: You'll know how your private investments are actually performing, not just what someone tells you they're performing.


This isn't random timing.

Three massive trends are colliding:

1. Private markets are exploding
There are 1,249 unicorns globally worth a combined $4.3 trillion. Companies are staying private for 11+ years now instead of 4. All the growth is happening before IPOs.

2. Everyday investors want in
86% of private wealth funds are planning to increase their private market allocations in 2026, according to Hamilton Lane. The demand is real.

3. The infrastructure is finally ready
Secondary transactions hit $60 billion in 2025. Continuation vehicles are becoming mainstream. The market is maturing fast—and mature markets need benchmarks.

When Nasdaq steps in with institutional-grade infrastructure, it's a signal: Private markets are ready for the big leagues.


$11.4 trillion — Total assets under management in the index
14,000+ — Institutional funds included
$60B — Secondary market transaction volume in 2025
86% — Private wealth funds increasing allocations in 2026
1,249 — Global unicorns worth $1B+

Here's what nobody's saying out loud: This level of transparency doesn't just help investors. It forces fund managers to actually perform.

When your returns are measured against a public benchmark, you can't hide anymore. You either beat the index or you don't. And if you don't? Well, investors will find someone who does.

That's how you get better deals. Better performance. Better access.

Let's be honest about where we are right now.


The best growth years are happening in private markets. SpaceX, Anthropic, Databricks, Stripe—they're all building massive value while staying private. By the time they IPO, the 10x gains are already gone.

But here's the problem: Until recently, private markets felt like this exclusive club where you needed connections, $100K+ minimums, and an "accredited investor" stamp just to get in the door.

That's changing. Fast.

Nasdaq launching these indexes is proof. When one of the world's most trusted exchanges builds infrastructure for private markets, it means:

You're watching the democratization of private markets happen in real-time.

While Nasdaq just gave private markets transparency, we've been giving them access.

Founderscrowd partners with 50+ active venture capital firms to bring you pre-vetted private-market opportunities. Every Thursday, you get one fully analyzed investment opportunity delivered to your inbox—complete with pitch decks, financial data, and investment terms.

We've already provided access to companies like SpaceX, Databricks, Anthropic, Stripe, and Pacaso. The same deals VCs are backing. Starting at just $100-$1,000 per deal.

Here's what you get:

✅ One vetted private market opportunity every week
✅ Full analyst reports and investment memos
✅ Direct access through our VC partnerships
✅ Minimums starting at $100-$1,000 (vs. typical $100K+)
✅ A community of investors who actually get it