Robinhood Ventures is the new venture capital arm of Robinhood Markets, created to expand the company’s mission of democratizing finance into private markets. The initiative provides retail investors with access to private company equity, an asset class traditionally reserved for institutional and accredited investors.
The firm’s first fund targets private companies across industries that are positioned at the frontiers of innovation. Investments are intended to be held through IPO and beyond, giving investors exposure to growth cycles that historically occurred only in closed venture and private equity structures.
Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI) was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in September 2025 as a closed-end fund. Pending approval, the fund’s shares will be listed and tradable on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker RVI, offering liquidity and retail access within a regulated structure. Unlike tokenized equity pilots Robinhood tested in Europe, RVI takes a more traditional route under SEC oversight, making it one of the first large-scale vehicles to open pre-IPO opportunities to everyday investors.
The fund is managed by Robinhood Ventures DE, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary that will operate independently within Robinhood’s structure. RVI is designed to invest in a basket of private companies, holding positions beyond IPO to capture both private and public market value creation.
Leadership
Robinhood Ventures operates under the broader leadership of Robinhood Markets, co-founded by Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt. The venture subsidiary is led by a newly formed team within Robinhood Ventures DE, LLC, tasked with executing the firm’s private markets strategy while maintaining operational independence.
Investment Strategy
The strategy centers on democratizing access to private equity by building a diversified portfolio of companies at the frontier of their sectors.
By offering exchange-traded access to this basket, the fund lowers barriers for non-accredited investors while retaining the long-term horizon typical of venture and private equity. Unlike traditional funds, RVI emphasizes retail accessibility and liquidity through its NYSE listing, although investors should be aware of the inherent risks of private equity, including illiquidity, volatility, and potential underperformance of portfolio companies.
Notable Investments
As RVI is a newly launched vehicle, specific portfolio investments have not yet been disclosed. The fund will target companies positioned for long-term growth and innovation, with potential overlap in industries Robinhood has previously tested via tokenized offerings such as artificial intelligence, fintech, and frontier technology firms.
Notable Exits
There are currently no exits, as the fund is still awaiting approval and has not yet deployed capital.
Other
RVI represents a significant milestone in the convergence of public and private capital markets, potentially setting a precedent for retail-oriented private equity products. The SEC has not yet approved the filing, and the final structure may change before the fund is declared effective. For retail investors, RVI offers an unprecedented opportunity to access private market growth, though risks around transparency, valuation, and performance remain high. available.
