The Access IPOs Mission
To educate and empower retail IPO investors.
You’re probably not a super-wealthy Wall Street investor. Neither am I.
IPOs have become easier for individuals to invest in over the past decade.
Allocations for the most anticipated deals remain elusive for most retail investors. But a handful of modern online brokers have built platforms to allow investors to participate in IPOs regardless of account balances.
Access IPOs recommends multiple IPO brokers that work with underwriters and late-stage startups to give retail investors a shot at participating in IPOs.
Deals are often exclusive to brokers. For example, SoFi gave exclusive access to Rivian IPO shares, and Robinhood gave its customers exclusive access to Robinhood and Sweetgreen IPOs, among others.
Underwriter relationships and client wealth still determine who gets preferred access IPO to allocations in most high-demand deals. But retail investors are catching up.
SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies) shined in 2021. SPACs are blank-check public companies that look to acquire private startups to bring the companies public.
Also known as a reverse merger, SPAC acquisitions make it easier for companies to go public with less scrutiny by regulators. That may change in the future.
But many SPAC stocks of 2021 fell dramatically in 2022.
Startups will always need to become publicly traded. Whatever route they choose, Access IPOs will be watching.
This website monitors high-demand private companies investors are most excited to own. As startups progress toward their IPOs, we provide investors with the facts they need to determine if a particular deal is worth pursuing.
The best way to learn more is to subscribe to Access IPOs. Subscribe in the form below.
By doing so, you’ll get a free copy of my eBook, How to Invest in IPOs – A Fundamental Guide for Ordinary Investors.
You’ll learn how to position yourself for the best chance to participate in IPOs while keeping an eye on long-term disruptive trends and the companies positioned to profit.
Pre-IPOs
Since the 2020-2021 IPO bonanza, deal volume has slowed. In recent years, access to pre-IPO shares has improved.
Pre-IPO access is a way to own company equity before an IPO, thus participating in future IPOs and acquisitions.
A few platforms empower accredited investors to buy direct equity in pre-IPO unicorns (valuation above $1 billion).
As of late 2022, two platforms have emerged to give pre-IPO access to non-accredited investors through venture capital funds.
Retail investors can now invest in pre-IPO companies for just $10 to $50o.
Check out our list of best pre-IPO platforms.
Background
In the early 2010s, a company called LOYAL3 was offering commission-free ownership and free access to high-demand IPOs.
LOYAL3 was a trailblazing company. Though it ceased operations in 2017, the entire online brokerage industry followed its lead with commission-free investing, and multiple brokers now offer similar IPO access.
LOYAL3 IPO investors participated in at least 19 IPOs and follow-on offerings, including Square (now Block), Hubspot, Globant, and First Data Corp — all up more than 600% since their IPOs.
When LOYAL3 shut down, retail IPO investors moved to Motif Investing, which offered IPO access to ordinary investors for very low minimum investments.
Motif Investing offered its IPO customers shares of more than 150 IPO and secondary offering opportunities.
Motif closed its doors in 2020, selling its customers to Folio Investing and the technology platform to Schwab.
Legacy brokers such as Schwab and Fidelity prioritize IPO access to their wealthiest customers.
Today, multiple platforms have emerged to provide IPO access to retail investors. This website helps curious investors determine if IPOs are the right investment vehicle for their objectives and identifies upcoming deals for investors looking to participate in IPOs.
Access IPOs is maintained by Craig Stephens, a former IT consultant turned full-time writer. He’s also the founder of Retire Before Dad (RBD), a contributor to HumbleDollar, and a former contributor to US News & World Report.
Spun off from RBD in 2016, Access IPOs is about helping investors access pre-IPO startups and traditional IPOs while avoiding the pitfalls.
RBD covers broader topics, including personal finance, retirement, financial independence, travel, and investing in stocks, real estate, and alternative assets.