--- title: EquityZen Blog - Private Market Insights | Investor Basics (3) 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. (3) --- [![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) ![close up image of ceiling design](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_647929924.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_647929924.jpg) ##### What Does it Mean to Have Equity in a Private Company? Learn about owning equity in a private company, including the benefits, risks, and key consideration... Investor Basics 5 min read ![aerial view of green fields](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1037138716%20(1).jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_1037138716%20(1).jpg) ##### Exploring Private Placements for Accredited Investors: 506(b) & 506(c) Explore the world of private placements for accredited investors with insights on 506(b) & 506(c) of... Investor Basics 5 min read ![building close views in Gae Aulenti district, Milano](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2174502317.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_2174502317.jpg) ##### What is Strategic Asset Allocation? Learn about strategic asset allocation and the role of private company investments in a diversified ... Investor Basics 5 min read ![What is the Difference Between a Qualified Purchaser + an Accredited Investor?](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1047886.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_1047886.jpg) ##### What is the Difference Between a Qualified Purchaser + an Accredited Investor? Discover the differences between qualified purchasers and accredited investors in the world of alter... Investor Basics 5 min read ![How to Invest in Private Companies ](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_312479858-2.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_312479858-2.jpg) ##### How to Invest in Private Companies Learn how to invest in private companies. Understand the types, stages, and benefits of private comp... Investor Basics 10 min read ##### History of the Pre-IPO Market Discover how EquityZen revolutionized access to private market investments over the past decade with... Investor Basics 2 min read ![Pre-IPO Investing | EquityZen's Guiding Principles](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen_VideoThumbnail_01%5B99%5D-1.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen_VideoThumbnail_01%5B99%5D-1.jpg) ##### Pre-IPO Investing | EquityZen's Guiding Principles Learn about the complexities of the private market and EquityZen's guiding principles in pre-IPO inv... Investor Basics 1 min read ![What to look for in a pre-IPO investment platform](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_185763980.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_185763980.jpg) ##### What to look for in a pre-IPO investment platform Discover the key factors to consider when choosing a pre-IPO investment platform, from fees to compa... Investor Basics 12 min read ![Pre-IPO Investing | The State Of The Secondary Market](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen_VideoThumbnail_01%5B99%5D-1.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen_VideoThumbnail_01%5B99%5D-1.jpg) ##### Pre-IPO Investing | The State Of The Secondary Market Discover the latest trends in the secondary market equity with insights on valuation, sectors, and i... Investor Basics 1 min read [Prev](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/2) [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/4) #### 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. 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