--- title: EquityZen Blog - Private Market Insights | Investor Basics description: Investor Basics | The EquityZen Blog is the hub for private market insights. Whether you want to buy or sell pre-IPO shares, EquityZen is the marketplace for accessing pre-IPO equity. Learn more at EquityZen.com. --- [![EquityZen](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/equityzen-logo.svg "EquityZen")](https://equityzen.com/) - [Investments](https://equityzen.com/explore/) - [Explore](https://equityzen.com/explore-private-market/) - How it Works - [Investors](https://equityzen.com/investor/) - [Shareholders](https://equityzen.com/shareholder/) - [Institutions](https://equityzen.com/institutions/) - [Issuers](https://equityzen.com/issuers/) - [Financial Advisors](https://equityzen.com/financial-advisors/) - [Insights](https://blog.equityzen.com/) - [Login](https://equityzen.com/accounts/login/) - [Sign Up](https://equityzen.com/accounts/register/) [Back to insights](https://blog.equityzen.com) # Investor Basics [Market Views](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/market-views) [In the News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/in-the-news) [Investor Education](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-education) [Investor Basics](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics) [IPO News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/ipo-news) [From Our Founders](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/from-our-founders) [Shareholder Education](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholder-education) [Company News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/company-news) [Video](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/video) [Podcasts](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/podcasts) [Getting Started](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/getting-started) [Product Updates](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/product-updates) [Investor Advanced](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-advanced) [Financial Advisors](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/financial-advisors) [Awards](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/awards) [Monthly Movers](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/monthly-movers) ![Demystifying the Price Tag: What Premiums and Discounts Mean in Private Markets](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_312479858-3.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_312479858-3.jpg) ##### Demystifying the Price Tag: What Premiums and Discounts Mean in Private Markets Discover how private market secondary pricing works, the significance of premiums and discounts, and... Investor Basics 8 min read ![Beyond the Headlines: How to Research Private Companies](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Thumbnail%20(3).png?width=812&height=446&name=Thumbnail%20(3).png) ##### Beyond the Headlines: How to Research Private Companies Learn the essential tools and due diligence process needed to research late-stage, pre-IPO companies... Investor Basics 1 min read ![Streamlining Private Market Investing: EquityZen’s Multi-Company Funds](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen%20Multi-Company%20Funds.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen%20Multi-Company%20Funds.jpg) ##### Streamlining Private Market Investing: EquityZen’s Multi-Company Funds EquityZen’s Multi-Company Funds provide diversified private market access through a single investmen... Investor Basics 6 min read ![Not So Private Anymore: Top Private Markets Trends with Phil Haslett and Bri Lynch](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Not%20So%20Private%20Anymore%20(12)-1.png?width=812&height=446&name=Not%20So%20Private%20Anymore%20(12)-1.png) ##### Not So Private Anymore: Top Private Markets Trends with Phil Haslett and Bri Lynch EquityZen's Co-Founder + CSO, Phil Haslett, and Head of Market Insight, Brianne Lynch, explore the e... Investor Basics 2 min read ![City building blue sky](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2359048557.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_2359048557.jpg) ##### What do investors in EquityZen Single-Company SPVs own? Discover how EquityZen's SPVs enable accredited investors to own shares in private companies with in... Investor Basics 2 min read ![Chart of EquityZen's key distinctions vs. competitors](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-25%20at%203.43.57%20PM.png?width=812&height=446&name=Screenshot%202026-03-25%20at%203.43.57%20PM.png) ##### The Rise of Pre-IPO Investing: How to Mitigate Risk in a Growing Market Choose your pre-IPO platform wisely. As the market grows, risks increase. Learn how EquityZen's 10+ ... Investor Basics 4 min read ![Understanding Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1951565062%20(1).jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_1951565062%20(1).jpg) ##### Understanding Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) Liquidity for shareholders, pre-IPO access for investors: SPVs make it happen in the private market.... Investor Basics 7 min read ![Primary vs. Secondary Investing in Private Companies](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2190918877.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_2190918877.jpg) ##### Primary vs. Secondary Investing in Private Companies Discover the differences between primary and secondary investing in private companies and explore th... Investor Basics 6 min read ![Understanding Secondary Shares in Equity Markets: A Guide for Investors](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_313287029.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_313287029.jpg) ##### Understanding Secondary Shares in Equity Markets: A Guide for Investors Discover the importance of secondary shares in private and public equity markets, and learn how they... Investor Basics 6 min read [1](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/1) [2](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/2) [3](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/3) [4](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/4) [5](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/5) [Next](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/2) #### The Potential to Shape the Future Join over 700,000 investors and shareholders accessing the private markets with EquityZen [![Get Started](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20754585/b1b6ba1b-ed6d-4097-8816-bcd01b3b9828.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20754585/b1b6ba1b-ed6d-4097-8816-bcd01b3b9828) #### Company - [About](https://equityzen.com/about/) - [Careers](https://equityzen.com/careers/) - [Press](https://equityzen.com/press/) #### Policies & Disclosures - [Disclosures](https://equityzen.com/disclosures/) - [Business Continuity Plan](https://equityzen.com/bcp/) - [Privacy Policy](https://equityzen.com/privacy/) - [Allocation Policy](https://equityzen.com/allocation-policy/) - [Form CRS](https://equityzen.com/form-crs/) #### Help - [Help Center](https://help.equityzen.com/en/) - [Getting Started](https://help.equityzen.com/en/collections/5549447-getting-started) - [Status Page](https://status.equityzen.com/) #### Connect - [![Facebook](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/facebook-1.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/EquityZen) - [![Instagram](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/instagram-1.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/equityzen_/) - [![Vector (8)](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/Vector%20(8).svg)](https://twitter.com/EquityZen) - [![Linked In](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/equityzen) Investment opportunities posted on this website are "private placements" of securities that are not publicly traded, are subject to holding period requirements, and are intended for investors who do not need a liquid investment. Investing in private companies may be considered highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of substantial loss of investment. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment. See [our Risk Factors](https://equityzen.com/risk-factors/) for a more detailed explanation of the risks involved by investing through EquityZen’s platform.   EquityZen Securities LLC (“EquityZen Securities”) is a subsidiary of EquityZen Inc. EquityZen Securities is a broker/dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is a [FINRA](http://www.finra.org/)/[SIPC](https://www.sipc.org/) member firm.   Equity securities are offered through EquityZen Securities. Check the background of this firm on [FINRA’s BrokerCheck](https://brokercheck.finra.org/firm/summary/281820).   EquityZen Inc. was awarded a 2024 Fintech Breakthrough Award by Tech Breakthrough LLC on March 19, 2025, based on the prior year and covering calendar year 2024, and has compensated FinTech Breakthrough LLC for use of its name and logo in connection with the award. FinTech Breakthrough LLC is a third party and has no affiliation with EquityZen.   EquityZen created the ticker symbols referenced on this page for use solely on the EquityZen platform. They do not refer to any publicly traded stock. EquityZen does not have an affiliation with, formal relationship with, or endorsement from any of the companies featured and none of the statements on the site should be attributed to those companies.   “Market Activity” and other transactional data displayed on this website is compiled by EquityZen and is confidential and historical in nature. Unauthorized use, distribution or reproduction is prohibited. Transactional information does not guarantee future investment results. EquityZen cannot guarantee finding or approving a transaction at any displayed price.   EquityZen.com is a website operated by EquityZen Inc. ("EquityZen"). By accessing this site and any pages thereof, you agree to be bound by our [Terms of Use](https://equityzen.com/terms/). EquityZen and logo are trademarks of EquityZen Inc. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2026 EquityZen. All rights reserved. EquityZen 1 New York Plaza 12th floor New York, NY 10004 [Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/equityzen.com) [![Secured via DigiCert Extended Validation certificate](https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/assets/equityzen/img/digicert-site-seal.png)](https://seal.digicert.com/seals/popup/?tag=eoBY_h-N&url=equityzen.com&lang=en_US&cbr=1411486682292) [![FINRA's BrokerCheck](https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/assets/equityzen/img/broker-check.png)](https://brokercheck.finra.org/firm/summary/281820) [![SIPC](https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/assets/equityzen/image/common/sipc.png)![FinTech Breakthrough Award](https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/assets/equityzen/img/fintech-award.png)](https://www.sipc.org/)