Secondary Markets Explained: How EquityZen Provides Liquidity for Pre-IPO Shares | Startup Project Podcast #94

Join Nataraj on Startup Project as he talks to Aatish, CEO and founder of EquityZen, a secondary market for private equities. They discuss the evolution of secondary markets, EquityZen's business model, the value proposition of secondary equity platforms, investor strategies, and the nuances of investing in secondary shares. They'll also delve into various IPO types and their pros and cons for investors, providing a glimpse into the future of secondary markets and IPOs by 2025. About the Episode: This episode explores how EquityZen created a market for secondary shares, connecting founders, employees, and early investors with individuals seeking pre-IPO investment opportunities. Aatish shares his personal journey from quant hedge fund employee to entrepreneur, highlighting how EquityZen helps late-stage private companies provide liquidity to shareholders. The conversation also covers: - Evolution of secondary markets - EquityZen's business model and platform - Investing in secondary shares - Different investor strategies - IPO types and their impact on investors - The future of secondary markets and IPOs in 2025 About the Guest and Host: Aatish: CEO and founder of EquityZen, former co-founder and CTO of Nullsoft, and VP of product at Ampush.  Connect with Aatish: → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atishdavda/ → Website: https://equityzen.com/ Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.  → LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam  → Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam → Email: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ → Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - What is EquityZen and How Did It Start? 04:19 - The Evolution of Secondary Markets 09:00 - Standardization in Secondary Transactions 14:44 - Portfolio vs. Individual Company Investments 20:10 - EquityZen's Business Model: Fees & Carry 22:21 - EquityZen's Stats and User Base 24:34 - EquityZen's Relationship with Companies and Issuers 27:17 - Rights of First Refusal and Blocking Rights 30:36 - Navigating the Secondary Market: Legitimacy and Risk 33:33 - How EquityZen Uses Data 37:14 - Marketing EquityZen in a Regulated Industry 40:19 - IPOs vs. Direct Listings: What's the Difference? 44:04 - Outlook for IPOs and Secondary Markets in 2025 Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs! → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ #StartupProject #EquityZen #PrivateEquity #SecondaryMarket #PreIPO #Investing #IPO #VentureCapital #Stocks #Finance #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation #Entrepreneur"