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            <title>Crowdability</title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com</link>
            <description>Crowdability provides individual investors with education, information and insight into opportunities in the crowdfunding market.  Our free website and email newsletter aggregate and organize deals from an ever-expanding universe of crowdfunding platforms.</description>
            <lastBuildDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:30:01 EST</lastBuildDate>
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            <title><![CDATA[“Hi Mom! I’m Scamming You!”]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/hi-mom-im-scamming-you</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/hi-mom-im-scamming-you#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/hi-mom-im-scamming-you</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:52:49 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Soccer&#8217;s Dancing Robot Did you miss some of the World Cup&#8217;s goal celebrations? Don&#8217;t worry. This robot has you covered &#187; This Will Break Your Fitness Tracker Fitness tracker on the fritz? It might be due to another device you&#8217;re wearing. Get the scoop &#187; How People in the 1300s Beat the Heat Air conditioning [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Soccer’s Dancing Robot
Did you miss some of the World Cup’s goal celebrations? Don’t worry. This robot has you covered »
This Will Break Your Fitness Tracker
Fitness tracker on the fritz? It might be due to another device you’re wearing. Get the scoop »
How People in the 1300s Beat the Heat
Air conditioning didn’t exist in the 14th century. But people were still able to beat the heat — with these »
America Just Buried a Time Capsule
Last week, America's Time Capsule was sealed and buried, ready to be reopened in the year 2276. Take a look at what's inside »
“Hi Mom! I’m Scamming You!”
We all enjoy receiving texts from our loved ones. But this message isn’t one of them »
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            <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Peter Turned $2k into $5 Billion — Now You Can Copy His Strategy]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/peter-turned-2k-into-5-billion-now-you-can-copy-his-strategy</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/peter-turned-2k-into-5-billion-now-you-can-copy-his-strategy#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/peter-turned-2k-into-5-billion-now-you-can-copy-his-strategy</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:11:31 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Imagine turning a tiny sum into life-changing wealth. That&#8217;s exactly what the investor Peter Thiel did. In the early 2000s, with less than $2,000, he positioned himself to capture explosive growth from private startups like Facebook. The result? His $2,000 ballooned into more than $5 billion. At first blush, this sounds like something only Silicon [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Imagine turning a tiny sum into life-changing wealth.
That’s exactly what the investor Peter Thiel did.
In the early 2000s, with less than $2,000, he positioned himself to capture explosive growth from private startups like Facebook. The result? His $2,000 ballooned into more than $5 billion.
At first blush, this sounds like something only Silicon Valley insiders can pull off.
But as it turns out, this strategy is available to everyday investors — including you.
Let me explain.
The Self-Directed IRA
Most investors use their IRA retirement account to invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
But if you use a special type of IRA — it’s called a Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) — you can also invest in “alternative” investments including real estate, precious metals, and private startups.
It’s still an IRA, so it follows the same rules around things like contribution limits and taxes. But with a SDIRA, you can invest in a far wider range of assets.
Think of it as a way to unlock the full potential of your retirement savings.
Why SDIRAs Shine for Startup Investing
This is where things get exciting for readers who follow Crowdability’s recommendations.
Private startup investing has always offered asymmetric upside. One big winner can more than offset a handful of misses.
And when you invest from a SDIRA, there are many benefits:

A Source of Capital — You might not have extra cash in your bank account you can use for investing. But many people have balances in their IRA.

Tax-Advantaged Growth (Tax-Free in a Roth): Gains from a successful exit compound without capital gains taxes dragging them down. And in a Roth SDIRA, qualified withdrawals can be entirely tax-free.

True Diversification: Traditional retirement portfolios are heavily tied to the stock market. Startups often march to their own drum, giving you exposure to high-growth innovation in areas like AI, biotech, and climate tech.

High-Conviction Opportunities: At Crowdability, we focus on vetted deals with strong teams and clear paths to scale. A SDIRA lets you allocate retirement capital directly into these kinds of private placements — the same universe professional VCs play in.

Control and Flexibility: You can choose the deals that align with your interests or thesis. No more hoping a mutual fund manager gets it right.

Keep in mind: putting an investment inside a SDIRA doesn’t reduce its risk. Startups are illiquid and many fail. That’s why we always emphasize doing thorough due diligence, and sizing positions appropriately.
But for investors who already understand the risks, and the potentially outsized rewards, a SDIRA can supercharge the strategy.
Getting Started: A Few Solid Options
If you’re intrigued and want to explore further, here are three SDIRA providers to check out. (Please note: Crowdability has no relationship with any of them.)

The Entrust Group — Long-established player with a focus on alternative assets.
Equity Trust — Known for broad capabilities and services for self-directed accounts.
IRA Financial — Offers flexible options tailored for private investments.

Just remember to do your own homework and ask plenty of questions about fees and processes.
Wrapping It Up
Peter Thiel’s story isn’t just about one legendary bet — it’s a reminder of what’s possible when you combine smart early-stage investing with powerful tax-advantaged vehicles.
Self-directed IRAs won’t turn every investor into a billionaire. But they can give your retirement portfolio a real shot at participating in the next wave of innovation.
If you’ve been on the sidelines, this could be the tool that changes the game.
Happy Investing
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            <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Bezos To Sell the Cheapest Pickup Truck in America]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/bezos-to-sell-the-cheapest-pickup-truck-in-america</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/bezos-to-sell-the-cheapest-pickup-truck-in-america#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/bezos-to-sell-the-cheapest-pickup-truck-in-america</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:56:29 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Outer Space Is the Wild West SpaceX may be the biggest game in town for now. But an $8 billion mega deal is getting a different aerospace company ready for a showdown &#187; The Fastest Way to Board a Plane Boarding a plane currently takes about an hour. But it could be done in just [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Outer Space Is the Wild West
SpaceX may be the biggest game in town for now. But an $8 billion mega deal is getting a different aerospace company ready for a showdown »
The Fastest Way to Board a Plane 
Boarding a plane currently takes about an hour. But it could be done in just fifteen minutes. Here’s how to do it faster »
Let AI Handle Your Morning Routine
An influencer named Grace Lemire decided to let AI handle her morning routine. Check it out — and see if you should try it, too »
Stunning Photos of Jupiter — Taken with a Game Boy
Professional astronomers have captured incredible photos of our solar system. But you don’t need to be a professional to do it — you just need this toy »
Bezos To Sell the Cheapest Pickup Truck in America
Pickup trucks today can cost $70,000 or more. But this one sells for less than $25,000 — courtesy of Jeff Bezos »
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            <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Pros Are “Bar-Belling” — You Should, Too]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/the-pros-are-bar-belling-you-should-too</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/the-pros-are-bar-belling-you-should-too#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/the-pros-are-bar-belling-you-should-too</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:31:21 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This year has been nuts. The venture-capital world has been throwing around numbers that sound like typos: OpenAI landed a funding round worth $122 billion. Anthropic followed with billions more. SpaceX went public at a $1.75 trillion valuation, generating more exit value in one IPO than the past decade of VC-backed public debuts combined. But [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Crowdfunding News]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[This year has been nuts.
The venture-capital world has been throwing around numbers that sound like typos:

OpenAI landed a funding round worth $122 billion.
Anthropic followed with billions more.
SpaceX went public at a $1.75 trillion valuation, generating more exit value in one IPO than the past decade of VC-backed public debuts combined.

But if you look closer, something surprising is happening behind the scenes.
Let me show you what I’m seeing — it’s a barbell — and explain how to take advantage of it.
Two Distinct Paths, One Goal
As it turns out, the pros aren’t spraying money everywhere.
Instead, to meet their goal of making profits, they’re pursuing two distinct paths:
First, they’re pouring capital into early-stage startups. In these deals, valuations are still reasonable, and the upside is massive.
And second, they’re investing in later-stage deals that are just steps away from an IPO.
This strategy has a name. It’s called the barbell strategy.
And for ordinary investors like us, it’s a roadmap worth following.
Here’s how.
The Record-Breaking First Half — With a Twist
The first half of 2026 has been historic for venture capital.
OpenAI’s massive round dwarfed overall fundraising figures from most past quarters, and Anthropic was close behind. Both have now filed confidentially for IPOs, joining SpaceX in what could become a string of trillion-dollar public debuts.
Fundraising tells a similar story. $62.4 billion has already closed year-to-date, putting 2026 on pace for one of the strongest years ever. Megafunds are roaring back, with big institutions and sovereign wealth funds writing enormous checks.
But there’s a contradiction: outside a handful of AI giants, the IPO pipeline is thin. Many solid companies are stuck in private limbo. The market isn’t broadly frothy — it’s polarized.
Avoiding the Messy Middle
Smart venture investors have adapted to this reality by taking a barbell approach.
On one end of the barbell: Early-stage deals.
Valuations here remain grounded compared to the mega-round frenzy. AI has slashed the cost of building a company, letting tiny teams launch credible products faster than ever. That’s why first-financing activity is on track for a record year, with thousands of new companies getting their first checks.
Big multistage funds like Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, and Sequoia have leaned in hard — not just for returns, but as a sourcing engine. A modest seed investment can open doors to bigger follow-ons later. The power law rewards this: One big winner from the early barbell end can move the needle enormously for a large fund.
On the other end: Later-stage and pre-IPO opportunities.
These deals are closer to liquidity events. With mega-IPOs like SpaceX proving public markets will reward strong AI stories, crossover investors are showing up with serious capital. And secondaries — where early employees and investors sell some of their shares, and investors like us buy them — are gaining traction as a way to create liquidity without waiting for an IPO.
This barbell approach minimizes risk in the “messy middle” while maximizing exposure to asymmetric upside.
What This Means for Ordinary Investors
Surprisingly, you don’t need to be a billionaire to play the same game.
The private markets have opened up. Various platforms and opportunities now let everyday investors access carefully vetted early-stage deals and later-stage opportunities that were once gated behind closed doors.
The pros’ barbell strategy highlights exactly where the smart money is flowing — and Crowdability exists to help you follow it.
Whether it’s a promising AI-enabled startup at the seed stage, or a growth-stage company nearing exit, the key is discipline: Focus on quality, diversify across the barbell, and avoid the overcrowded middle where capital is chasing yesterday’s hype.
Looking Ahead to H2 and Beyond
The second half of 2026 should continue these trends. Mega-IPOs will dominate headlines. Early-stage activity will stay elevated thanks to low barriers and big funds’ appetite. Later-stage deals will remain strong, especially in AI, as long as public markets reward the leaders.
Secondaries will likely grow even more important.
Of course, risks remain. If the flagship AI IPOs underwhelm, sentiment could cool. But the structural shifts — cheaper company-building, concentrated capital at the extremes, and a maturing secondary market — suggest the barbell approach is here to stay.
The venture market has never been more dynamic. The pros are adapting with precision. As ordinary investors, our edge comes from recognizing that pattern and positioning ourselves alongside it.
That’s what we do at Crowdability — cut through the noise and spotlight the opportunities that matter. The barbell is loaded. The question is: Which end will you grab first?
Happy Investing
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            <title><![CDATA[Facebook Is Launching a Casino]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/facebook-is-launching-a-casino</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/facebook-is-launching-a-casino#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/facebook-is-launching-a-casino</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:30:01 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[LSD is Back, Baby! LSD was popular in the 1960s. Now it&#8217;s making a comeback. The reason why will surprise you &#187; Soccer Fans &#8212; Scientists Need You Enjoying the World Cup? If so, scientists need your data &#8212; your health data &#187; This Startup is Building Noah&#8217;s Ark A biotech startup is creating &#8220;vaults&#8221; [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[LSD is Back, Baby!
LSD was popular in the 1960s. Now it’s making a comeback. The reason why will surprise you »
Soccer Fans — Scientists Need You
Enjoying the World Cup? If so, scientists need your data — your health data »
This Startup is Building Noah’s Ark
A biotech startup is creating “vaults” for a conservation project. Strangely, this project is drawing comparisons to a similar — although more biblical — endeavor »
Brides Are Hiring Witches
Brides today spare no expense to pull off the perfect wedding — including hiring a witch. Wait, what? »
Facebook Is Launching a Casino
Polymarket and Kalshi have gotten millions of people hooked on the prediction markets. But a new competitor is aiming to get billions of people involved »
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            <title><![CDATA[To Be a Better Startup Investor, Join the Mafia]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/to-be-a-better-startup-investor-join-the-mafia</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/to-be-a-better-startup-investor-join-the-mafia#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/to-be-a-better-startup-investor-join-the-mafia</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:12 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Imagine sitting around a table with some of Silicon Valley&#8217;s most powerful players&#160;&#8212; the CEO of OpenAI, a billionaire venture capitalist, the founder of a defense-tech giant. Someone at the table is lying. Your job is to figure out who. That&#8217;s the premise behind the party game that&#8217;s become a favorite pastime among the tech [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Eller]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Imagine sitting around a table with some of Silicon Valley’s most powerful players — the CEO of OpenAI, a billionaire venture capitalist, the founder of a defense-tech giant.
Someone at the table is lying. Your job is to figure out who.
That’s the premise behind the party game that’s become a favorite pastime among the tech elite. In fact, a venture firm recently turned the game into a filmed competition.
Funny enough, it reminds me of startup investing. Because whether you’re playing a game or evaluating early-stage companies, success often comes down to the same thing…
Knowing how to spot what others miss.
Silicon Valley Goes Undercover
The game is called “Mafia.” Here’s what it looks like:

And here’s how you play:
A handful of players are secretly assigned to be in the mafia. Everyone else is an ordinary citizen.
The citizens need to identify the mafia members before these members are eliminated from the game. The mafia, meanwhile, tries to blend in and avoid detection.
Players study one another’s behavior, look for inconsistencies, and try to separate truth from fiction.

Recently, Founders Fund — the venture-capital firm founded by billionaire investor Peter Thiel — decided to bring the game to a wider audience.
The firm launched “Mafia the Game,” a video series featuring some of tech’s most recognizable names. Participants have included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, and other Silicon Valley heavyweights.
Episodes are filmed at San Francisco’s historic Tosca Cafe, where players spend hours bluffing, making accusations, and trying to uncover the hidden mafia members.
On the surface, it looks like a bunch of wealthy tech executives having fun.
But the game’s popularity may reveal something deeper…
More Than Just a Game
Mafia is ultimately a game about identifying outliers.
At first glance, everyone appears to be similar. They all make convincing arguments and claim to be innocent.
But hidden among the crowd are a few people who are fundamentally different from everyone else. The challenge is figuring out who they are.
That’s a skill many of these tech leaders rely on in their professional lives.
After all, VCs don’t get handed a list of future winners. And founders don’t wear signs announcing they’ll build billion-dollar companies.
The fact is, the next breakthrough startup often looks surprisingly ordinary at first.
Here’s what I mean…
From Ordinary to Extraordinary
Take a look:

These slides are from a pitch deck of an early-stage hospitality startup. Pretty ordinary, right?
But as it turns out, the company that created this deck was Airbnb (Nasdaq: ABNB).
Today, it’s worth $82 billion.
How about these slides?

Again, nothing fancy. These are from an early pitch deck by Dropbox (Nasdaq: DBX), the file-sharing service founded in 2007 — and worth nearly six billion dollars today.
The point is, when it comes to playing a parlor game, or searching for the next great investment opportunity, investors need to learn to spot subtle clues that others overlook.
Let me explain…
The Investor’s Version of the Mafia
Thousands of startups raise capital every year. Many have compelling stories, target large markets, and have charismatic founders.
But only a small percentage will generate exceptional returns for investors. The trick is figuring out which ones.
That’s why professional investors spend so much time studying management teams, market opportunities, notable traction, competitive advantages, and customer demand.
They’re searching for evidence, and trying to determine which companies stand apart from the crowd.
In other words, they’re playing their own version of Mafia — not to identify hidden criminals, but to identify hidden winners.
It’s What We Do
This is why Crowdability exists.
Every year, thousands of startups seek capital. Most won’t succeed.
Some are targeting markets that are too small. Others have weak business models. Some simply aren’t ready.
Our job is to sort through these opportunities and identify the companies we believe deserve a closer look. It’s a process that involves research, analysis, and a healthy amount of skepticism. Because just like in the game Mafia, appearances can be deceiving.
The most promising opportunity isn’t always the one that’s loudest. And the company with the greatest potential isn’t always the one attracting the most attention.
Your Seat at the Table
The tech leaders gathered around Founders Fund’s Mafia table are all searching for the same thing: the person hiding in plain sight.
That’s what makes the game so compelling.
And that’s what makes startup investing so rewarding.
Every once in a while, if you know what to look for, you can discover something extraordinary that’s hiding in plain sight. We simply help you find it before everyone else does.
Happy investing.
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            <title><![CDATA[AI Isn’t the Only Game in Town]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/ai-isnt-the-only-game-in-town</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/ai-isnt-the-only-game-in-town#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/ai-isnt-the-only-game-in-town</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:11:53 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[For the last couple years, being an early-stage investor has felt like attending a dinner party where only one guest is allowed to talk. AI says this.AI builds that.An AI company just raised $1 billion&#8230; $10 billion&#8230; $100 billion. And it&#8217;s true &#8212; artificial intelligence is changing industries, creating enormous companies, and attracting oceans of [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[For the last couple years, being an early-stage investor has felt like attending a dinner party where only one guest is allowed to talk.
AI says this.AI builds that.An AI company just raised $1 billion… $10 billion… $100 billion.
And it’s true — artificial intelligence is changing industries, creating enormous companies, and attracting oceans of capital.
But there’s a side effect to all this excitement. It’s become surprisingly easy to forget that there are other sectors worth pursuing.
Because while everyone’s attention has drifted toward AI algorithms and infrastructure, another category has quietly continued doing what it’s always done:
Selling products people actually buy.
I’m talking about Consumer Goods.
And if you’re looking for opportunities beyond the AI frenzy, this corner of the startup world might deserve another look.
Consumer Goods: One of the Original Startup Categories
Consumer-goods companies create products and services aimed directly at everyday consumers.
That can mean physical products — food, beverages, furniture, electronics, apparel — or consumer brands and experiences.
Unlike many software startups, these businesses often have a straightforward proposition. Make something people want, distribute it effectively, and grow.
That simplicity can be surprisingly attractive. After all, consumers vote with their wallets every day. Revenue can sometimes be easier to understand. And when a consumer company succeeds, the upside can be substantial.
Of course, these businesses come with their own risks — competition, manufacturing, inventory, changing tastes. But they also offer something many investors appreciate:
You don’t always need to imagine a future market.
Sometimes you can see customers buying today.
Recent Wins Show the Opportunity
Need proof that consumer businesses still have momentum?
Consider a couple recent public market debuts.
Once Upon a Farm (ticker: OFRM), the organic children’s nutrition company, recently had its public offering — and shares quickly jumped roughly 40%.
Meanwhile, Bob’s Discount Furniture (ticker: BOBS) entered the public markets and rapidly reached a valuation of approximately $2 billion.
Different products. Different audiences. But the same reminder:
Consumer demand still creates enormous value.
And importantly, neither of these stories depended on building the next foundational AI model. They built products, found customers, and scaled.
And that opportunity still exists today.
Three Consumer Companies Raising Capital Right Now
If you’re curious what consumer investing looks like today, here are three companies currently raising capital from investors like you.
1. Gryphon — Making Home Internet Safer
Gryphon operates in consumer cybersecurity. It offers “connected-home” hardware designed to help families manage and secure internet access.
Globally, cybersecurity spending is projected to exceed $500 billion by the end of the decade, with home and small-network protection representing a large, under-penetrated segment.
With over 1.5 billion broadband households worldwide, even modest adoption represents a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.

A few highlights:

Nearly 100,000 units are currently active in homes, protecting over 1.2 million connected devices from cyber threats.
Subscriptions and licensing now account for 63% of the company’s total revenue.
Nokia, Motorola, and others have signed agreements to embed Gryphon’s software in their router platforms.

The broader idea here is compelling: consumers are increasingly willing to pay for products that simplify and protect their digital life.
2. p!ng — Reinventing Coffee Convenience
p!ng is building automated specialty coffee stations designed to combine convenience, technology, and premium beverages.
Essentially, this is fast drive-thru coffee, powered by robots. The company’s high-throughput robotics and AI make p!ng the easiest way to pick up your pick-me-up. Every step of the experience is intentionally designed from easy ordering to effortless customization, predictive preparation and delivery, and memorable personal touches like custom AI-generated labels.

A few highlights:

Recognized as one of the top 100 robotics start-ups to watch by The Robot Report.
Seeks to create a scalable network model instead of a traditional café footprint.
VC-backed plus $100K grant from MassRobotics Accelerator.

Consumer winners often emerge by changing habits — and p!ng is betting that convenience can reshape how people buy coffee.
3. The Sports Bra — A Brand Built Around Community
The Sports Bra isn’t selling software.
It’s creating the world's first sports bar fully dedicated to women’s sports.

A few highlights:

Generated $1 million+ in revenue in the first 8 months. Projected to reach 40 locations and $75 million+ in annual revenue by 2030.
Backed by Alexis Ohanian’s 776 Foundation. Alexis is one of the founders of Reddit, and is married to Serena Williams.
Partnered with Nike, adidas, ESPN, the WNBA, Buick, and Strava.

Women’s sports are rising. The Sports Bra is built to meet the moment.
Just Remember…
AI may be dominating the headlines right now. But investing has always rewarded those who look where others aren’t looking.
Consumer businesses don’t always generate the loudest narratives. But the best ones generate customers, revenues and profits.
Keep in mind — I’m not recommending that you go and blindly invest in these startups.
These are early-stage ventures, so you need to do substantial research before making an investment decision.
But if you’re looking to invest in a sector beyond AI, these could be a great place to start your search!
Happy Investing!
Please note: Crowdability has no relationship with any of the startups we write about. We’re an independent provider of education and research on startups and alternative investments.
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            <title><![CDATA[Money Can Buy Happiness — Here’s How Much It Costs]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/money-can-buy-happiness-heres-how-much-it-costs</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/money-can-buy-happiness-heres-how-much-it-costs#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/money-can-buy-happiness-heres-how-much-it-costs</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:00:28 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The Retirement Concern That So Many People Overlook Once you&#8217;re retired, or getting close to it, you make sure not to overspend. But there&#8217;s a related problem that hardly anyone talks about. Can you guess what it is? &#187; How to Live Like a Billionaire You may never have a billion dollars in the bank. [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Retirement Concern That So Many People Overlook
Once you’re retired, or getting close to it, you make sure not to overspend. But there’s a related problem that hardly anyone talks about. Can you guess what it is? »
How to Live Like a Billionaire
You may never have a billion dollars in the bank. But now you can live like a billionaire every night. Here’s how »
Apple Can Change Your Password Without Your Knowledge
A new feature lets Apple’s software change your most sensitive information. It doesn’t need your permission. It doesn’t even need to let you know »
Now Amazon Delivers Pizza
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            <title><![CDATA[SpaceX Just IPO’d — Don’t Buy the Stock (Yet)]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/spacex-just-ipod-dont-buy-the-stock-yet</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/spacex-just-ipod-dont-buy-the-stock-yet#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/spacex-just-ipod-dont-buy-the-stock-yet</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:34:33 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[There you were, scrolling through stock tickers this week, and boom &#8212; you saw SpaceX (SPCX) exploding higher. After the biggest IPO in history, Elon&#8217;s rocket company is now valued at about $2.6 trillion. Friends are texting you: &#8220;You in?&#8221; FOMO punches you in the gut. It feels like we&#8217;re watching history. But after decades [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[There you were, scrolling through stock tickers this week, and boom — you saw SpaceX (SPCX) exploding higher.
After the biggest IPO in history, Elon’s rocket company is now valued at about $2.6 trillion.
Friends are texting you: “You in?” FOMO punches you in the gut.
It feels like we’re watching history. But after decades of experiencing these moments first-hand, here’s what I’ve learned:
Peak hype is rarely the best entry point. Today, I’ll walk you through why I’d hold off on buying SpaceX right now — and what the smarter play looks like instead.
The Hype Is Real
Let’s start with the sizzle, because SpaceX has plenty of it.
Revenue from Starlink jumped from basically nothing in 2021 to $11.4 billion in 2025, with millions of subscribers across 160 countries. It’s powering remote internet, airlines, and governments. The edge from owning its own launches gives it real synergy that competitors like Amazon’s Project Kuiper will struggle to match.
Then there’s Starship, its bet on fully reusable heavy-lift rockets that could slash launch costs and open entirely new markets — from point-to-point Earth travel to Mars ambitions. And the xAI/Grok/X integration adds an AI angle with massive projections.
Elon remains the ultimate showman, and investors love betting on his vision. As venture capitalist Packy McCormick put it, SpaceX is a true “Scarce Asset” in a world drowning in commoditized public tech stocks. You can’t easily replicate it, and that scarcity feeds into a premium valuation.
No one is saying the company lacks long-term potential. “Never bet against Elon” has been solid advice for a long time.
But here’s the rub…
But This Is Peak Hype, Peak Demand
You’re not buying the private company anymore. You’re buying the ticker at what looks like maximum enthusiasm.
SpaceX priced at $135, popped to close around $161 on debut day, and kept climbing — pushing the market cap well over $2 trillion despite 2025 revenue of just $18.7 billion, a $4.9 billion net loss, and negative free cash flow of $13.8 billion. That’s roughly 112x sales for a company still burning cash in two of its three segments.
Underwriters like Goldman Sachs painted rosy pictures — $474 billion in revenue by 2030, with AI somehow driving most of it. But top independent analysts like Morningstar and Aswath Damodaran see it differently. Morningstar says it’s worth about $780 billion. Damodaran says $1.3 trillion. This isn’t subtle.
As a student of history, I’m screaming caution here:
Across 30 major IPOs, the average maximum drawdown within the first year was about 55%. Think Twitter (-60%), Robinhood (-80%), or even strong names like Cisco and Snowflake that eventually delivered as businesses, but killed early public investors with 70% to 90% drops from peak.
We’re also in a monster supply wave. 2026 could see more than $400 billion in IPO issuance. That’s triple the record year of 2021. This is Econ 101. When supply floods in, prices eventually adjust.
Recent venture-backed IPOs since 2025 have mostly underperformed the Nasdaq. Once private scarcity turns into a public ticker, the narrative gets “compressed” into spreadsheets and peer multiples. SpaceX may stay scarcer longer thanks to its moat and Elon’s platform, but the dynamic still applies.
The Smarter Play: Wait for the Hype to Fade
To be clear, this doesn’t mean SpaceX is a bad company or a bad long-term investment.
Many of those 55%-drawdown IPOs recovered and thrived. Longer-term outcomes like Amazon or Nvidia are certainly possible here.
But buying at peak greed, when every fund manager on Earth is fighting for shares, is usually a loser’s game. The IPO pop is often the show.
Wait for the lock-up expirations, the reality check, and — if it comes — a period where fear outweighs greed. That’s when you can reassess with clearer eyes and stake your ground with a better margin of safety.
In the meantime, the real asymmetry in innovation investing still lives in the private market. At Crowdability, that’s where we focus: finding vetted private opportunities where the upside hasn’t been fully discovered yet.
SpaceX has already delivered life-changing returns for those who got in early. For the rest of us, patience isn’t just a virtue here — it’s the edge.
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Get a Job at Meta — Guaranteed]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/get-a-job-at-meta-guaranteed</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/get-a-job-at-meta-guaranteed#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/get-a-job-at-meta-guaranteed</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:15 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Diver Finds Smartwatch that Doesn&#8217;t Exist A scuba diver claims he found a smart wearable under the sea &#8212; one that isn&#8217;t even supposed to exist &#187; Leave Your Underwear in an Uber From dentures to fish tanks, and wedding gowns to live butterflies, Uber riders leave some strange things behind. See the weirdest items [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Diver Finds Smartwatch that Doesn’t Exist
A scuba diver claims he found a smart wearable under the sea — one that isn’t even supposed to exist »
Leave Your Underwear in an Uber
From dentures to fish tanks, and wedding gowns to live butterflies, Uber riders leave some strange things behind. See the weirdest items in this Lost &amp; Found report »
The Secret to Winning "Jeopardy"
You don’t need to be a genius to win on the game-show "Jeopardy." You just need to do this »
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Robots have been a part of Disney’s theme parks for decades. But its newest one isn’t meant for entertainment purposes. In fact, if you get too close to it, you could put yourself in danger. Watch out! »
Get a Job at Meta — Guaranteed
In today’s tough job market, a guarantee of employment seems like a dream. But now Meta is making it a reality. Get the scoop »
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            <title><![CDATA[The Pros Are Moving into a New Sector — You Should Follow Them]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/the-pros-are-moving-into-a-new-sector-you-should-follow-them</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/the-pros-are-moving-into-a-new-sector-you-should-follow-them#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/the-pros-are-moving-into-a-new-sector-you-should-follow-them</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:45:05 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s advice we share with every Crowdability member. In fact, it&#8217;s one of our &#8220;10 Commandments.&#8221; Thou shalt be a follower. In other words, to reduce your risk and increase your odds of choosing a winning startup investment, follow the professionals &#8212; in other words, venture capitalists (VCs) who live and breathe startup investing. So [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Eller]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[It’s advice we share with every Crowdability member. In fact, it’s one of our “10 Commandments.”
Thou shalt be a follower.
In other words, to reduce your risk and increase your odds of choosing a winning startup investment, follow the professionals — in other words, venture capitalists (VCs) who live and breathe startup investing.
So when these pros start venturing into new territory, we should we follow them!
Let me explain…
Software Companies Were Once Very Appealing
For years, many VCs focused heavily on software companies.
Makes sense. Software is cheap to build. Margins are high. And once the product is created, it can be sold over and over again with little additional cost.
These advantages can quickly turn software startups into valuable businesses.
But now, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here. Features that once took months to develop can now be created in a flash.
Said Darian Shirazi, a general partner at AI-focused VC-firm Gradient, “You have someone like Anthropic able to create software within seconds.”
As a result, software companies could become disrupted, making the entire sector riskier for investors.
But now, in addition to disrupting an existing sector, AI is creating a new sector…
Let’s Get Physical
You see, AI has started moving into the physical world by incorporating intelligence into robots, autonomous vehicles, medical devices, drones, and other machines.
This is an exciting emerging sector known as Physical AI.
Unlike software, physical AI often relies on patents, manufacturing expertise, and intense engineering development. As such, it’s much harder to replicate.
This explains why so many VCs are backing away from software investments…
And opening their checkbooks for physical AI investments…
Physical AI Funding Soars
According to private-market research company PitchBook, venture investment into physical AI is surging:

As you can see above, global investment went from around a billion dollars in 2016 to $26 billion in 2025. And through the first five months of 2026 alone, funding had already reached $23 billion.
This is a big shift for VCs.
And that means it should be a big shift for us, too…
Why It Pays to Follow the Pros
It makes sense to follow the pros.
For starters, through their access to industry experts, technical advisors, and proprietary research, they can identify emerging trends before others.
Furthermore, startups backed by a venture fund are nearly 64% more likely to raise more money down the road than ones that aren’t. In other words, a startup that’s VC-backed is more likely to survive and thrive.
Even the pros follow the pros! Analysis from PitchBook revealed that the top 20 venture firms in the U.S. collaborate with at least one peer — i.e., another venture firm — nearly 50% of the time. 
What’s all this mean for us?
Simple. It’s time, once again, to follow the pros!
The First Opportunity to Address a $50 Trillion Industry
Earlier this year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called physical AI the technology industry’s “first opportunity to address a $50 trillion industry that has largely been void of technology until now.”
That declaration came shortly after Huang — leader of the world’s most valuable company — said that the ChatGPT moment for physical AI is “nearly here.”
That’s why VCs are diving head-first into physical AI.
And that’s why we should follow.
3 Ways to Follow the Pros
Here are three physical-AI startups raising capital right now — along with brief information about the “pros” that are backing them:
1. RISE Robotics
RISE is electrifying heavy machinery with its patented Beltdraulic technology — fluid-free electric actuators that are faster, more efficient, and lighter than traditional hydraulics.

This technology is applicable for construction, defense, and materials industries. It’s an example of physical-AI infrastructure, hardware that makes machines smart and AI-ready for industrial tasks.
RISE is backed by Techstars, MIT’s Engine Ventures, and Fortistar Capital. It’s been granted multiple patents and has brought in lifetime revenues of nearly $10 million.
2. SURGE
 
SURGE builds real-time sensor infrastructure that’s mounted on city light poles and feeds physical-AI systems with anonymous movement, traffic, and condition data. This hardware provides real-world data that makes AI useful for logistics, urban planning, and autonomous systems.
SURGE was selected to be part of Nvidia's Inception program, a top accelerator for tech-focused startups. It’s received an investment from VC Next Wave Partners.
3. LiquidPiston
LiquidPiston develops compact, high-efficiency engines for drones, military systems, and robotics.

One of the biggest bottlenecks for physical AI isn’t intelligence — it’s power. Robots, drones, and autonomous systems all need lightweight, efficiency energy sources. LiquidPiston offers a solution.
LiquidPiston is heavily backed by the U.S. government, along with VCs Adams Capital Management and Northwater Capital. It’s already earned $65 million in contracts with the U.S. Army and Air Force.
Before You Invest
Keep in mind — like all startups, physical-AI startups come with risks.
Building hardware is expensive. And manufacturing delays can cause timelines to get extended.
That’s why I’m not advising that you rush out and blindly invest in these startups. Startup investing requires substantial research and due diligence.
But if you believe in the potential of physical AI — and are excited to follow the pros — these startups are a great place to begin your search.
Happy investing.
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            <title><![CDATA[The Strange Phenomenon Secretly Supercharging the S&P 500 — Startups]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/the-strange-phenomenon-secretly-supercharging-the-sp-500-startups</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/the-strange-phenomenon-secretly-supercharging-the-sp-500-startups#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/the-strange-phenomenon-secretly-supercharging-the-sp-500-startups</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:15:39 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Imagine checking your brokerage account and seeing your S&amp;P 500 index fund pop nicely this quarter. Solid earnings growth, right? The economy&#8217;s humming along. Not so fast. A big chunk of those &#8220;earnings&#8221; didn&#8217;t come from selling more ads, chips, or cloud services. As it turns out, they came from something stranger: startups! For example, [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Crowdfunding News]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Imagine checking your brokerage account and seeing your S&amp;P 500 index fund pop nicely this quarter.
Solid earnings growth, right? The economy’s humming along.
Not so fast.
A big chunk of those “earnings” didn’t come from selling more ads, chips, or cloud services. As it turns out, they came from something stranger: startups!
For example, in Q1 2026, the startup investments of Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia helped these giants book paper profits of $69.2 billion. Overall, this phenomenon inflated the quarterly earnings of the entire S&amp;P 500 by double digits.
It’s like the market got a surprise bonus from the private startup world, without most investors realizing it.
Today we’ll look at the pros and cons of this phenomenon — and reveal a better way to profit from startups.
The Accounting Trick That’s Supercharging Public Earnings
The accounting rules for public companies are clear:
If a startup they backed raises money at a higher valuation, they get to book that “paper profit” on their income statement.
No cash changes hands. This isn’t revenue from core operations. It’s just the magic of “mark-to-market” accounting in a frothy AI investment boom.
These three giants alone saw massive windfalls from these paper profits. They represented 60% of Alphabet’s reported net income this quarter, 51% of Amazon’s, and 27% of Nvidia’s. Across the S&amp;P 500, this juiced overall growth numbers dramatically, pushing up reported earnings growth well above the historical average.
Botton line: we’re in an era of intense capital flowing into private AI infrastructure and late-stage tech. Valuations have gone parabolic. And now, Big Tech’s portfolios are riding that wave, and the accounting rules turn those gains into instant earnings boosts.
Indirect Exposure: Better Than Nothing, But…
Here’s the silver lining for regular investors:
You can get some exposure to hot private startups by owning shares in these public giants or a broad index fund. Roughly 12% of Q1 S&amp;P profits came from this phenomenon. It’s like owning a slice of the private market’s upside before those companies even go public or join the index.
In a world where many of the best opportunities stay private longer than ever, that’s worth something.
But the fact is, it pales in comparison to getting direct exposure.
With an index fund, you’re getting diluted ownership across hundreds of companies. Your share of those startup markups is tiny, indirect, and fully exposed to the terrifying daily volatility of the public stock market.
If private valuations cool off or a down-round hits, those paper gains can evaporate just as quickly, dragging reported earnings and stock prices with them.
Here’s a better option…
The Power of Going Direct
Go direct!
Direct investment in carefully selected startups lets you get in on the ground floor — often at valuations far below where the public markets eventually price them.
You own actual equity. So when a company grows, exits, or IPOs, the upside flows straight to you, without the noise of public market swings dictating your daily emotions. No waiting for quarterly markups or worrying about how Wall Street interprets them.
Yes, startups are risky. Most don’t succeed. But the winners can deliver asymmetric returns that crush public-market averages. Early backers of companies like those in the AI boom have seen life-changing multiples — well before any IPO pop or post-IPO reality check.
At Crowdability, that’s exactly what we help everyday investors do. For over a decade, we’ve curated access to high-potential private companies that were once reserved for venture capitalists and the ultra-wealthy.
We dig into emerging sectors, vet deals, and highlight opportunities in areas like AI, health tech, consumer innovation, and more. Our members get transparent details on the companies, the teams, the traction, and the risks — so you can invest with eyes wide open.
The result is real ownership in companies that could become the next big thing — without relying on Big Tech’s accounting footnotes for your exposure.
Happy investing.
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            <title><![CDATA[Getting a Tattoo Could Save Your Life]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/getting-a-tattoo-could-save-your-life</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/getting-a-tattoo-could-save-your-life#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/getting-a-tattoo-could-save-your-life</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:32:21 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[AI Can Fix Your Golf Swing Looking to shave a few strokes off your golf game? AI can help with that. Here&#8217;s how &#187; Premium Fuel is Pointless On average, we spend nearly an hour a day behind the wheel. And all that time might make us believe things about our cars that just aren&#8217;t [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
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Looking to shave a few strokes off your golf game? AI can help with that. Here’s how »
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On average, we spend nearly an hour a day behind the wheel. And all that time might make us believe things about our cars that just aren’t true. Here are three driving myths that too many people believe »
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            <title><![CDATA[Bet on the Next Unicorn? Polymarket Just Made It Possible — Sort Of]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/bet-on-the-next-unicorn-polymarket-just-made-it-possible-sort-of</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/bet-on-the-next-unicorn-polymarket-just-made-it-possible-sort-of#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/bet-on-the-next-unicorn-polymarket-just-made-it-possible-sort-of</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:45:32 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Imagine this: You wake up, check your phone, and decide to bet that the next SpaceX or Anthropic will explode in value this year. Not in some vague way, but with real money on the line. If you&#8217;re right, you could make a killing. If you&#8217;re wrong, well&#8230; you lose. That&#8217;s exactly what prediction market [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Imagine this:
You wake up, check your phone, and decide to bet that the next SpaceX or Anthropic will explode in value this year. Not in some vague way, but with real money on the line.
If you’re right, you could make a killing. If you’re wrong, well… you lose.
That’s exactly what prediction market Polymarket is now offering.
Last week, Polymarket launched bets that are tied to private-company milestones — things like future valuations, IPO timing, and secondary-share activity. It’s like wagering on the “hockey stick” phase of startup growth, without needing to own a single share.
Sounds exciting, right? But as usual, there’s a catch — especially for ordinary American investors.
The Allure of Betting on Private Giants
Polymarket has quickly built a name for itself letting people trade on everything from election outcomes to sports results.

Now, after partnering with Nasdaq Private Market to get reliable data, it’s bringing that same model to the private markets.
Now you can find contracts on whether Anthropic hits a $1 trillion valuation, if SpaceX reaches one of its mind-boggling milestones, or when Stripe might finally go public. These markets let anyone (well, almost anyone) put their money where their mouth is.
Why does this matter? Because startups today are staying private longer than ever. A handful of unicorns now represent trillions of dollars in combined value. Being able to “bet” on their success gives people indirect exposure to their explosive growth phase — the part where valuations can multiply many times over.
This is thrilling in concept. Get it right, and the payouts could be substantial.
The Regulatory Reality Check
But here’s the part Polymarket isn’t shouting from the rooftops:
These new private-company markets aren’t available in the U.S. right now. They’re only offered offshore.
Why the restriction? Because the U.S. treats contracts based on equity prices as securities. That puts them under SEC oversight, not just the lighter-touch CFTC that governs most prediction markets. And that means only “eligible contract participants” can bet — in other words, wealthy accredited investors.
So while Polymarket is testing the waters (and possibly prepping for future U.S. approval under a more business-friendly regulatory mood), it’s currently off-limits for ordinary folks.
The Real Way Non-Accredited Investors Can Win Big
This story highlights a familiar frustration:
The biggest startup opportunities have traditionally been reserved for the wealthy.
But here’s what’s exciting:
You don’t need offshore prediction markets or special accreditation to get real skin in the game anymore.
At Crowdability, we’ve spent more than a decade helping everyday investors access early-stage private companies. These aren’t bets on paper probabilities. These are actual ownership stakes in startups that could 10x, 50x, or more if they succeed.
When a company you invest in gets acquired or goes public, the upside flows directly to you — often dramatically. We’ve seen members land life-changing wins by getting in early on innovative businesses in AI, health tech, consumer products, and more.
Unlike a prediction market that expires when the event resolves, these are long-term investments in real companies with real products, teams, and customers.
You own a piece of something that could become the next big thing.
Why This Moment Matters More Than Ever
The private markets are where real wealth creation is happening nowadays. With companies staying private longer, the biggest gains often occur well before any IPO.
Polymarket’s move shows that there’s growing demand for exposure to these opportunities. But for most people, the smarter, more direct path isn’t placing yes/no bets — it’s owning equity in carefully selected startups.
We do the heavy lifting here at Crowdability: identifying emerging sectors, vetting deals, and highlighting the ones with genuine potential. Our readers get access to opportunities once reserved for venture capitalists and the ultra-wealthy.
So, if you’re tired of watching from the sidelines while others bet (or invest) in the future, this is your invitation to participate in the right way.
Happy investing
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            <title><![CDATA[This Website Will Alert You to the Apocalypse]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/this-website-will-alert-you-to-the-apocalypse</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/this-website-will-alert-you-to-the-apocalypse#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/this-website-will-alert-you-to-the-apocalypse</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 09:21:26 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Affordable Mortgages, With a Catch Looking for a deal? Wells Fargo is offering major incentives on mortgages. Here&#8217;s the catch &#187; Book a Table at This NYC Hotspot &#8212; For 2046 A New York restaurant with an historic past is taking reservations &#8212; for way, way into the future &#187; A Keyboard Built for Cat [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Affordable Mortgages, With a Catch
Looking for a deal? Wells Fargo is offering major incentives on mortgages. Here’s the catch »
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A New York restaurant with an historic past is taking reservations — for way, way into the future »
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Cats love walking across computer keyboards. This will help limit the damage »
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A Georgia man is driving around town in a life-sized Barbie Dream Camper. Yes, it’s bright pink. And no, he’s not crazy. He might actually be a genius »
This Website Will Alert You to the Apocalypse
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            <title><![CDATA[Cerebras Just IPO’d — Don’t Buy the Stock]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/cerebras-just-ipod-dont-buy-the-stock</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/cerebras-just-ipod-dont-buy-the-stock#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/cerebras-just-ipod-dont-buy-the-stock</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 09:14:12 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Cerebras is an AI chipmaker with processors as big as dinner plates. It just went public in one of the hottest IPOs of the year. Shares priced at $185, opened at $350, and hit $385 intraday. Wall Street cheered as the AI hype machine spun at full throttle. On the surface, Cerebras (Nasdaq: CBRS) looks [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Cerebras is an AI chipmaker with processors as big as dinner plates.
It just went public in one of the hottest IPOs of the year. Shares priced at $185, opened at $350, and hit $385 intraday. Wall Street cheered as the AI hype machine spun at full throttle.
On the surface, Cerebras (Nasdaq: CBRS) looks like the next big thing.
But behind the scenes, the picture doesn’t look so rosy.
Today, I’ll explain why you should avoid the stock — and what to buy instead.
The Sizzle
Cerebras isn’t just another GPU wannabe.
Its Wafer-Scale Engine chips are massive — the size of dinner plates — and pack the power of dozens of Nvidia H100s onto a single piece of silicon. That means no shuffling data between separate memory and processing chips.
The result? Reports of up to 15x faster performance.
That edge helped fuel a blockbuster debut. In fact, it was the biggest IPO of the year, with shares popping nearly 100% on opening day.
Furthermore, the semiconductor sector is on fire. It now makes up over 15% of the S&amp;P 500.
Nvidia still dominates with ~85% market share. But Cerebras is carving out a differentiated niche. In the AI arms race of today, this is exciting stuff.
But here’s where the picture gets cloudy…
The Risky Reality 
Last year, a whopping 85% of Cerebras’ revenues came from a single customer: G42, a UAE state-backed AI firm.
That’s why investors (as well as CFIUS, the US agency that ensures foreign investments don’t pose a risk to our national security) flagged the geopolitical risk.
Cerebras said it would fix the issue, and soon dropped G42 exposure to 24%. But if you dig in, you’ll see that 62% of its revenue now comes from Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI — another UAE-linked entity.
That means 86% of its revenues are still tied to a single sovereign wealth-fund customer!
Furthermore, the company’s finances aren’t screaming “inevitable winner.” Its revenue doubled to ~$510 million in 2025, but in today’s AI world, that’s table stakes to earn a sky-high valuation. At its current level, it’s trading at a massive price-to-sales multiple — well above its peers on modest (and concentrated) revenue.
Then there’s the company’s OpenAI deal — the big hope. Up to 750 megawatts of compute, which could potentially add up to $7 billion to $10+ billion in annual revenue at full capacity.
That could be transformative… if it fully materializes. The thing is, this deal has an exclusivity clause that limits sales to competitors. And meanwhile, it all hinges on trusting OpenAI (and Sam Altman’s track record) to pay up.
That’s not a bet I’d make with public shares at these levels.
$10k into $4.5 Million
But now let’s look at the investors who got in early — when the company was still a private startup.
For example, venture-capital firms Benchmark and Foundation Capital got in at around 85 cents per share. At the IPO price of $185, that’s already an enormous profit. And if they sold anywhere near the $385 peak, they could be pocketing 450x their money.
At that level, a $10k investment turns into $4.5 million.
Here’s a chart, courtesy of The Information and PitchBook, that show the investors who got in early, and the share price they paid:

These investors earned life-changing wealth by getting in before the stock ever traded publicly.
Meanwhile, by the time the rest of us could buy shares on the Nasdaq, they were trading at $385. Now they’re trading for closer to $240.
So if you’d bought at the open, you’d now have lost around 38% of your money. 
The Smarter Path Forward
Cerebras highlights a timeless truth in tech investing:
The biggest wins come from backing innovative companies before Wall Street discovers them. IPOs are often the exit party for early believers, not the entry point for new ones.
We’re not saying avoid AI chips or high-growth tech. Just be strategic about when and how you get in. Public markets right now are pricing in perfection for these names — despite the fact that the sector appears to be in a bubble.
At Crowdability, we’re currently digging into several private companies that could be the “next Cerebras” — AI-related startups with strong tech differentiation, a wide range of customers, and ample room to deliver big returns. We’ll share more as our research progresses. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, if you’re excited by the AI chip story but wary of chasing CBRS at today’s levels, consider the private markets.
That’s where the real asymmetry lives — before the hype sets the price.
Happy investing.
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            <title><![CDATA[How to “Oil-Proof” Your Life]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/how-to-oil-proof-your-life</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/how-to-oil-proof-your-life#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/how-to-oil-proof-your-life</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 09:57:14 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Smoke Weed, Earn Bitcoin Wanna get high? If this company has its way, there&#8217;s money in it for you. Details here &#187; DNA Tests Reveal You&#8217;re Probably from Maryland You may have been born in a state like New York, Texas, or California. But an extensive DNA study reveals a shocking truth &#8212; you&#8217;re probably [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Smoke Weed, Earn Bitcoin
Wanna get high? If this company has its way, there’s money in it for you. Details here »
DNA Tests Reveal You’re Probably from Maryland
You may have been born in a state like New York, Texas, or California. But an extensive DNA study reveals a shocking truth — you’re probably from somewhere else »
Floating Ocean Balls Could Save the Economy
The U.S. economy seems to be in trouble. But don’t worry: America’s wealthiest investors have a plan to save it. Here’s the big idea »
People Want to Look Like AI
Plastic surgeons are being slammed by patients begging for a change. The thing is, they’re not aiming to look younger, or like their favorite celebrity. Their goal is far more surreal »
How to “Oil-Proof” Your Life
The cost of oil continues to soar. Is there any way to eliminate your dependance on it? Here are some ideas »
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            <title><![CDATA[70% of Investors Fail — We Won’t Let That Happen to You]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/70-of-investors-fail-we-wont-let-that-happen-to-you</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/70-of-investors-fail-we-wont-let-that-happen-to-you#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/70-of-investors-fail-we-wont-let-that-happen-to-you</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 09:00:36 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Everyone is talking about Kalshi and Polymarket, the &#8220;prediction market&#8221; platforms. But I recently came across a sobering statistic: More than 70% of users on these platforms are losing money. And meanwhile, a tiny group of users is capturing almost all the profits. The thing is, this imbalance isn&#8217;t due to luck. Today, I want [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Eller]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Everyone is talking about Kalshi and Polymarket, the “prediction market” platforms.
But I recently came across a sobering statistic:
More than 70% of users on these platforms are losing money. And meanwhile, a tiny group of users is capturing almost all the profits.
The thing is, this imbalance isn’t due to luck.
Today, I want to explain what’s separating the winners from the losers — because it can happen in the startup world, too. And I want to make sure you end up on the winning side.
The Rise of Prediction Betting
The prediction markets are advertised as a groundbreaking way to make money:
Bet on anything — from election outcomes to snowfall totals to celebrity divorces.

Welcome to the world of prediction markets, a form of investing that involves buying or selling contracts tied to the outcome of future events.
According to a recent survey, close to 10% of U.S. adults — about 20 million people — have traded on the prediction market. That’s up from close to zero activity just four years ago.
As this market has gained traction, two venture-backed platforms have emerged: Polymarket and Kalshi. Polymarket is in talks to raise funds at a $15 billion valuation, while Kalshi just raised a billion dollars at a $22 billion valuation. Trading volume on these platforms jumped from $1.8 billion in April 2025 to $24.2 billion in April 2026.
Both platforms market themselves as a life-changing tool for regular people, implying that everyone has a fair chance to strike it rich.
Gushed one woman on TikTok in an ad for Kalshi, “I was about to be unable to pay my rent, but I got two years of rent through Kalshi’s predictions.”
But for most prediction-market investors, the reality isn’t quite so rosy…
Sobering Statistics in the Prediction Markets
A recent investigation by The Wall Street Journal found that only a handful of prediction-market bettors are making money. Most are losing it all.
On Polymarket, more than 70% of users lose money. And meanwhile, more than two-thirds of the profits go to just 0.1% of accounts. The chart below illustrates the disparity:

Each figure represents 1,000 Polymarket accounts.

The accounts in orange lost money.
The accounts in dark blue (a tiny number!) captured two-thirds of the profits.
The accounts in light blue earned one-third of the profits.

On Kalshi, too, losers vastly outnumber winners. Spokesperson Elisabeth Diana said there are nearly three unprofitable users for each profitable one.
What’s going on here? Is the system rigged? Are the 0.1% simply smarter than everyone else?
Not quite. They’re just using the right strategy...
Amateurs vs. the Pros
For the most part, the prediction-market “pros” are just that — investment professionals. They’re trading firms, options traders, and seasoned investors. They invest for a living. And they don’t go into any bet without extensive data and research.
That’s how they’re able to achieve such a high level of success. And it’s why they’re part of the 0.1% dominating the prediction markets.
On the other side are the amateurs. These are mostly casual traders and investors who think they can hit financial home runs like the big boys. But here’s the problem:
Many of these investors bet on emotions — not data. They bet on what feels right, or on what’s trending on social media.
Many simply click “yes” on an event they hope will happen. Often, the thrilling part becomes placing the bet, not actually winning it.
Betting on emotion is a trap. And that trap can be hard to get out of. As former poker player and statistician Michael Boss said about the prediction markets, “Casual traders have no chance.”
These two investment strategies (Data-driven vs. Emotion-driven) are why we’re seeing these results unfold in the prediction markets.
But be careful. Because the same divide can happen in startup investing…
Don’t Get Too Excited!
Much like the prediction markets, startup investing offers opportunities to earn life-changing returns from a single investment.
This can lead some startup investors to fall into the same trap as their prediction-market counterparts. They invest based on emotion, telling themselves things like “Wow, that startup looks cool — it’s gonna be huge!” Or “Hey, this product is really popular right now!”
The pros, meanwhile, aim to take emotion out of the equation. They invest by treating the startup world like a data-driven business.
They scour thousands of deals, dig into financials, assess markets, identify competitors, and review a team’s credentials. Essentially, they analyze hundreds and hundreds of data points to make sure that any startup they invest in has legitimate profit potential.
Of course, analyzing all this data is easier said than done.
But that’s where we come in…
Invest Like the Pros
At Crowdability, we do the research for you.
We review deals with the same rigor that top investors use. We identify promising startups, then comb through the data to ensure these are opportunities worth investing in. In short, we help you invest in startups like the pros.
As Matt shared recently, our data-focused strategy has been very successful.
In our Private Market Profits research service, we’ve introduced members to nearly 120 startups since 2016. 41 of them are in the black — either through realized exits or unrealized "up" rounds. Our loss rate is just 11.7%. And meanwhile, our list of 10-baggers (1,000%+ winners) continues to grow and grow.
The prediction markets show us what happens when amateurs go up against data-driven pros without the right tools. Most lose money.
Startup investing doesn’t have to be the same story. With the right approach — the kind we’ve been using for a decade — you can have success just like the professionals.
Happy investing.
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            <title><![CDATA[“Thanks Dad” — How to Make $1.3 Million Per Year from Nvidia]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/thanks-dad-how-to-make-1-3-million-per-year-from-nvidia</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/thanks-dad-how-to-make-1-3-million-per-year-from-nvidia#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/thanks-dad-how-to-make-1-3-million-per-year-from-nvidia</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 09:36:36 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Imagine landing a senior role at the world&#8217;s most valuable company straight out of culinary school, or after running a cocktail bar. Your paycheck? Over a million dollars a year. That&#8217;s the reality for Spencer and Madison Huang, the son and daughter of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. According to Nvidia&#8217;s latest annual report, Spencer, a [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Imagine landing a senior role at the world’s most valuable company straight out of culinary school, or after running a cocktail bar.
Your paycheck? Over a million dollars a year.
That’s the reality for Spencer and Madison Huang, the son and daughter of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. According to Nvidia’s latest annual report, Spencer, a director of product management, pulled in $1.3 million last year. His sister Madison, a senior director of product marketing, earned $1.2 million.
Nvidia says the compensation was set without Dad’s involvement, based on their qualifications and responsibilities. Interesting…
Madison’s qualifications include studying pastry-making in Paris, and earning a Diploma in Wine and Gastronomy at Le Cordon Bleu. Spencer, meanwhile, previously spent eight years running a cocktail bar in Taiwan.
Nice work if you can get it. But if you can’t get it, here’s your backup plan.
Your Backup Plan
Most of us don’t have billionaire family connections. Instead, we’re grinding it out in the real world, looking for ways to build our wealth.
That’s where startup investing comes in.
If you’re a regular reader of Crowdability, you already know the score: historically, early-stage startups have crushed the public markets.
According to Cambridge Associates — the financial advisor with heavyweight clients like the Rockefeller family and the Bill Gates Foundation — early-stage startups have delivered average annual returns of 58% over the last 25 years. That includes the winners and the losers.
With 58% returns, your money would double roughly every 14 months. In just ten years, that’s enough to turn $5,000 into nearly $500,000.
Compare that to the stock market’s ~8% historical average, or its projected 4% to 5% annual returns over the next decade, and it’s not even close.
From $1,000 to $5 Million
Of course, not every startup is a winner. Many fail. But the home runs can be life-changing.
Early investors in Facebook, Uber, and Airbnb saw returns of 400x, 2,000x, even 5,000x.
A 5,000x gain turns $1,000 into $5 million.
Those are the headline-makers. But what about real results for ordinary investors like you? Here’s a quick look at some of Crowdability’s recent winners:
Striking Gold at Crowdability

Beta Bionics (BBNX): This med-tech company created a “bionic pancreas” for diabetes patients. Our readers have already seen peak gains of 10x.

OurBond: A personal-security innovator that recently went public (OBAI). In just over a year, readers are up 6.5x at peak.

Cruise Automation: Self-driving car software acquired by GM for $1 billion. Investors who got in early scored a 10-bagger in about a year.

And that’s just scratching the surface. Our readers have also landed multi-baggers from companies including LiquidPiston, 20/20 BioLabs, CNS Pharmaceuticals, InnaMed, Oracle Health, Atom Limbs, Smart Tire, Rentberry, Avadain, RAD AI, and many more.
And every single one of them was featured right here at Crowdability.
Let’s Find You the Next One
Our mission at Crowdability is simple: cut through the noise and introduce you to high-potential startup opportunities that everyday investors can actually get into.
Startup investing isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. It requires patience, diversification, and a tolerance for risk. But for those willing to dive in, the potential is enormous.
You don’t need to be rich already, and you don’t need to be related to a tech billionaire. You just need access to the right deals at the right time.
So if you’re ready to explore a different path toward building wealth — one that doesn’t depend on who your parents are — head over to Crowdability and start reviewing opportunities today.
Happy investing.
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            <title><![CDATA[Human Meat for Sale]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/human-meat-for-sale</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/human-meat-for-sale#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/human-meat-for-sale</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 09:10:17 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Data Centers Are Coming to Your Living Room Giant data centers are starting to pop up in towns all across America. If you hate this trend, perhaps you&#8217;d prefer a mini data center &#8212; much closer to home &#187; The Hamsters Will Charge Your Phone Now Left your charger behind? No problem. Just head to [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Data Centers Are Coming to Your Living Room
Giant data centers are starting to pop up in towns all across America. If you hate this trend, perhaps you’d prefer a mini data center — much closer to home »
The Hamsters Will Charge Your Phone Now
Left your charger behind? No problem. Just head to your local pet store. Here’s why »
The World Cup Champion Will Be…
France is a fan favorite to win the upcoming World Cup. But Artificial Intelligence is pointing to a different contender to win it all. Can you guess who it is? »
The Vacuum Guy Now Sells Demons
The man behind the Roomba robot vacuum is back with a new creation. It’s part pet, part demon. Care to meet it? »
Human Meat for Sale
The cost of ground beef is soaring. Ready for a more affordable alternative? »
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            <title><![CDATA[This is How a Banker and a VC Put Money in Your Pocket]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/this-is-how-a-banker-and-a-vc-put-money-in-your-pocket</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/this-is-how-a-banker-and-a-vc-put-money-in-your-pocket#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/this-is-how-a-banker-and-a-vc-put-money-in-your-pocket</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 09:28:09 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Picture this: A venture capitalist (VC) sits down with a big-time Wall Street banker who handles IPOs. The VC wants to know what the public markets are looking for. With that information, he&#8217;ll be able to invest &#8212; early, cheaply &#8212;&#160;in private startups that could become blockbuster IPOs. The banker is happy to oblige. He [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Picture this:
A venture capitalist (VC) sits down with a big-time Wall Street banker who handles IPOs.
The VC wants to know what the public markets are looking for. With that information, he’ll be able to invest — early, cheaply — in private startups that could become blockbuster IPOs.
The banker is happy to oblige. He lays out exactly what the public markets are hungry for. It’s not a long list. Just three buckets:

Large Language Models (AI systems from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic).
Defense Tech.
Physical AI (robots, humanoids, and autonomous drones).

This exact scenario happened a few weeks ago.
Today, I’ll give you the details. Then I’ll show you how to use these insights to get positioned for blockbuster profits.
Who Is Jason Shuman and Why Should You Care?
Jason Shuman is a Partner at Primary Venture Partners, a New York City-based venture fund.
He’s been recognized on lists like “Forbes 30 Under 30,” and as a founder-turned-investor, he brings invaluable operational experience to the table.
Here’s what he posted on X a few weeks ago:

His post, and the conversations it inspired, cut through the noise because he’s so deep in the ecosystem. He spends ten, twelve, fourteen hours a day talking to founders, bankers, and limited partners who are focused on growing businesses and creating wealth.
The perspective of the head of investment banking he met with is gold, too.
Such bankers live at the intersection of private startups and public markets. They see which deals get the green light for IPO roadshows and which ones get shrugged off.
When they say the public markets have a specific appetite, it’s not a guess — it’s a signal about where the big money sees the next wave of profits coming from.
So let’s look at the three buckets these insiders talked about, and dig into the names they discussed.
The Three Buckets, Explained
First, here are the three buckets:
Large Language Models (LLMs): These are the foundational AI systems you keep hearing about. They power everything from consumer chatbots to enterprise-level code generation. Two private startups currently lead the pack: OpenAI (creator of ChatGPT) and Anthropic (creator of Claude). These companies aren’t just building clever apps — they’re creating the “picks and shovels” for an AI-powered economy. These companies are scaling exponentially right now, so the market potential and financial upside feel virtually unlimited.
Defense Tech: Geopolitics is back, budgets are soaring, and the Pentagon is increasingly open to the innovative, software-first approach of defense startups. Anduril and Saronic exemplify this new wave: autonomous systems, AI-driven platforms, and rapid iteration that the traditional defense giants struggle to match.
Physical AI (Robotics and Vertical Integrators): This AI doesn’t just live in the cloud — it moves atoms in the real world. Think humanoids that work alongside humans in factories, or autonomous drones, or robotic delivery-systems.
Quick Takes on the Names Mentioned
Now let’s look at some of the specific names mentioned in Jason’s post on X:

OpenAI: The poster child for AI. Massive valuation (approaching $1 trillion), customer traction, and constant innovation. Still private, but a bellwether for the sector.

Anthropic: Focused on safe, reliable AI as well as enterprise adoption. Positioned as a thoughtful leader in a fast-moving space. Scaling revenues exponentially.

Anduril: Founded by Palmer Luckey, Anduril is rebuilding American defense with AI, autonomy, and border-to-battlefield systems. Already valued in the tens of billions and winning major U.S. defense contracts.

Saronic: Building autonomous surface vessels (maritime drones) for the Navy. Recently raised big money and landed major contracts as the U.S. looks to counter military threats with cheaper tech.

SpaceX: Elon Musk’s rocket and Starlink powerhouse, plus an AI contender (xAI), plus a first-mover in the race towards data centers in space. This is vertical integration at planetary scale. It blends space, AI, comms, and autonomy.

Figure: A humanoid robotics company building general-purpose robots for factories, warehouses, and beyond. Making rapid progress toward commercial deployment.

Zipline: Pioneer in autonomous drone-delivery. Started with medical supplies in Africa, now expanding to U.S. retail and more. Proven at scale.

Dandy: Using robotics, AI, and digital manufacturing to revolutionize dental labs. This is mass customization via modern technology.

Flock: AI-powered cameras and systems helping law enforcement and communities fight crime through massive data networks and autonomy.

These startups are building their businesses in sectors where technology meets vast real-world needs — and where public markets are signaling they’ll pay up for winners.
Why Getting In Before the IPO Matters
Here’s the reality that most retail investors miss:
By the time game-changing companies like these hit the public markets, the biggest gains have already been made. Early backers in private rounds can pocket 10x, 50x, 100x or more as a young company scales. Post-IPO, you’re buying at a premium, while early backers are selling.
The banker’s three-bucket short list is no guarantee, of course. Markets shift, companies fail to execute, valuations can get frothy. But it’s a good place to start.
Bottom line: when the smart money converges on certain themes, investors like us should take notice.
So, if you’re looking for exposure to the companies that will define the future — before they become household names — now’s the time to explore the private markets.
Happy Investing.
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            <title><![CDATA[This Hat Can Read Your Mind]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/this-hat-can-read-your-mind</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/this-hat-can-read-your-mind#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/this-hat-can-read-your-mind</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 09:00:40 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Who Pays the Ticket for a Self-Driving Car? New regulations in California allow the police to give tickets for cars that aren&#8217;t following the rules &#8212; even if there&#8217;s nobody behind the wheel &#187; How Domino&#8217;s Secretly Became a Tech Company In 2009, Domino&#8217;s was failing. Three years later, the pizza chain was outperforming Google, [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Who Pays the Ticket for a Self-Driving Car?
New regulations in California allow the police to give tickets for cars that aren’t following the rules — even if there’s nobody behind the wheel »
How Domino’s Secretly Became a Tech Company
In 2009, Domino’s was failing. Three years later, the pizza chain was outperforming Google, Amazon, even Apple. How did it happen? »
This Candy Bar is for Smartphone Addicts
Chocolate brand KitKat has long encouraged consumers to take a break while enjoying its sweet treat. This time, it’s not taking no for an answer »
Why You’re More Likely to Buy Something for $4.99 Than $5
Ever scoffed at buying a product listed at $5, only to reconsider a similar one priced at $4.99? It doesn’t happen by accident. In fact, you’re simply being charmed. Penny for your purchase? »
This Hat Can Read Your Mind
Bad news for psychics: A startup has developed a beanie that can read your mind. Check it out » 
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            <title><![CDATA[The 90% Startup Failure Myth — And How We Beat It]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/the-90-startup-failure-myth-and-how-we-beat-it</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/the-90-startup-failure-myth-and-how-we-beat-it#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/the-90-startup-failure-myth-and-how-we-beat-it</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 09:12:38 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[You&#8217;ve probably heard the statistic a thousand times: 90% of startups fail. It&#8217;s repeated like gospel in boardrooms and podcasts. The message is clear: Most startups will flame out, taking your capital with them. But for smart investors, what if this &#8220;common wisdom&#8221; is more myth than reality? Last week, we looked at Abundance &#8212; [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[You’ve probably heard the statistic a thousand times:
90% of startups fail.
It’s repeated like gospel in boardrooms and podcasts. The message is clear: Most startups will flame out, taking your capital with them.
But for smart investors, what if this “common wisdom” is more myth than reality?
Last week, we looked at Abundance — a hedge fund using AI to pick winning stocks. So here’s the natural follow-up question: Could AI also be used to pick winning startups?
In today’s article, I’ll tackle this question head-on. Then I’ll share the investment approach we take at Private Market Profits.
As you’re about to learn, our results smash the 90% failure narrative into bits.
The Brutal Math of Startup Survival
Let’s start with the numbers everyone quotes.
According to sources including CB Insights and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 90% of startups ultimately fail. 10% don’t even make it through the first year.
It’s sobering. No wonder so many investors stick to public markets and index funds.
But here’s what the headlines rarely mention: Those aggregate failure rates don’t tell the full story — at least, not for disciplined investors who apply a rigorous system.
Our Blue-Ribbon Track Record
At Private Market Profits, we’ve been recommending startup investments to individual investors like you since June 2016. Here are the results:
We’ve made 119 picks over that period — one per month.

41 are already in the black — through realized exits (M&amp;A or IPO), or through unrealized gains from “up” rounds.
Another 50 are operating as usual, with many showing significant traction.
And just 14 have shut down, for an approximate 11.7% loss rate.

This is a dramatically different picture than the 90% failure rate the industry throws around. And meanwhile, look at the gains from some of the winners:
Our hits include a 40-bagger, a 15-bagger, an 11.8-bagger, as well as several other big winners that would make most public-market investors jealous.
If you’re a paid-up member of Private Market Profits, you can see the full list on our Portfolio page. And in case you’re not a member yet, this screen-shot shows the top ten gainers:

How We Do It: AI + Human Judgment
How have we been able to beat the odds so consistently?
It’s not pure AI magic. And it’s not gut instinct alone. Instead, it’s a hybrid.
For starters, we built proprietary software and AI tools. Our systems can scan thousands of deals, flag patterns, crunch traction metrics, monitor competitive landscapes, and surface opportunities that fit our criteria. This helps us process information faster and deeper than any team of analysts ever could — much like the AI agents at Abundance are doing for stocks.
But here’s the thing: We don’t hand the final decisions over to the machines.
Every recommendation that goes out to Private Market Profits members also gets a full layer of human-powered fundamental analysis.
This is where our team takes the time to dig into the founders and their track records, unit economics, the defensibility of the technology, market timing, and — critically — the Risk of Ruin. (If you missed my article on our Risk of Ruin indicator, it’s worth a read — this is one of the tools that keeps us from chasing shiny objects with fatal flaws.)
AI gives us breadth and speed. Human judgment provides the nuance, pattern recognition, and skepticism that comes from decades of experience in the private markets. Together, they create a system that’s more robust than either approach on its own.
In short, we use AI to augment human insight, not replace it. And our results show it works.
Why This Matters for You Right Now
The AI wave is accelerating.
Tools that once seemed futuristic are now helping investment teams cut through the noise.
But in the opaque world of startups — where data is messy, information is asymmetric, and narratives can be misleading — pure AI has limitations. The winners will be those who know how to combine machine-scale analysis with seasoned human oversight.
That’s the edge we’ve been honing for nearly a decade at Private Market Profits.
So, if you’re tired of watching from the sidelines — or if the misleading “90% fail” message has stopped you from dipping your toes in — here’s your invitation to see what a disciplined, hybrid approach can deliver.
If you’re not a member, click here to learn about Private Market Profits and get our latest recommendations. Or give us a call at 1-844-311-3191.
Stay tuned — more opportunities are on the way.
Happy Investing
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            <title><![CDATA[Elon’s Cybercab is Here]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/elons-cybercab-is-here</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/elons-cybercab-is-here#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/elons-cybercab-is-here</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:12:35 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This Car Can Change Colors A new BMW can change its appearance on command. See it in action here &#187; Death Is Optional The yearning to cheat death has infused pop culture for ages. Now, Boyang Wang is aiming to turn this yearning into reality. Learn more &#187; The Man with a Knack for Creating [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[This Car Can Change Colors
A new BMW can change its appearance on command. See it in action here »
Death Is Optional
The yearning to cheat death has infused pop culture for ages. Now, Boyang Wang is aiming to turn this yearning into reality. Learn more »
The Man with a Knack for Creating Billion-Dollar Brands
BlackBerry, Sonos, Swiffer — David Placek named them all. And all of them became billion-dollar brands. Here’s his secret »
This April Fool’s Joke Turned into a Serious Hit
On April 1, Yahoo unveiled a new tech gadget as a joke. But as it turns out, people wanted one — lots of people »
Elon’s Cybercab is Here
The Cybertruck has been one of the most polarizing vehicles in history. Now Elon is starting production on his next creation. Meet the Cybercab »
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            <title><![CDATA[How To Check Your Blood on Mars]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/how-to-check-your-blood-on-mars</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/how-to-check-your-blood-on-mars#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/how-to-check-your-blood-on-mars</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:00:31 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Chances are, you&#8217;re not an astronaut. But I&#8217;d bet that NASA still plays a big role in your life. Since 1976, America&#8217;s space agency has been responsible for more than 2,000 blockbuster innovations. For example: Smartphone cameras use a tiny sensor developed at NASA in the 1990s. The material used for memory-foam mattresses was originally [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Eller]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Chances are, you’re not an astronaut.
But I’d bet that NASA still plays a big role in your life.
Since 1976, America’s space agency has been responsible for more than 2,000 blockbuster innovations. For example:

Smartphone cameras use a tiny sensor developed at NASA in the 1990s.
The material used for memory-foam mattresses was originally created to protect astronauts during re-entry.
Handheld vacuums, baby formula, invisible braces, scratch-resistant lenses, artificial limbs — they all owe their existence to NASA.

The thing is, these innovations haven’t just become essential parts of our lives. They’ve also become extraordinarily valuable. For example, the market for memory-foam mattresses is worth more than $6 billion. So is the market for handheld vacuums.
Now we’ve found the next technology that’s making the leap from NASA to everyday life. And today, I’ll show you how you can invest in it — while it’s still on the ground floor.
How to Check Your Blood on Mars
In 2013, NASA set its sights on a lofty goal: landing humans on Mars. As NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said at the time, “A human mission to Mars is today the ultimate destination in our solar system for humanity, and it is a priority for NASA.”
NASA estimated it would take ten months to reach the Red Planet. Once you added in the time spent on the surface and the return-trip home, it would take years.
NASA wanted to ensure that its astronauts could survive that long in space. That’s why health-monitoring technology was needed. For example, the astronauts needed a way to analyze their blood to check for deficiencies or disease — in a place far, far away from any hospital or lab.
The problem was that nothing like that existed. So NASA made a phone call…
A Collaboration Begins
A company in Massachusetts, DNA Medicine Institute, answered the call.
Founded in 2004, this company was developing innovative medical devices. It was quickly awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant by NASA and asked to create health-monitoring technology astronauts could use on long missions.
What it ultimately created was a way to run medical tests from a single drop of blood, using a portable device that could operate in zero gravity. It called the device a Reusable Handheld Electrolyte and Laboratory Technology for Humans — rHEALTH, for short.
Fast forward to 2022, and this device was sent to the International Space Station, where it was tested in a variety of microgravity conditions and used to analyze biological samples.
Today, NASA continues to work toward sending humans to Mars; its Moon to Mars plan aims to send crewed missions there in the next decade. And rHEALTH’s device could play a starring role.
In the meantime, this device could also have a major impact here on Earth.
And this is where a new startup called — fittingly — rHEALTH enters the picture…
Introducing rHEALTH
rHEALTH is taking NASA’s portable device and adapting it for everyday use.

Its device, called the rHEALTH Awesome, enables you to run lab-quality tests anywhere, without needing a lab or even a doctor. The tests can analyze a single drop of blood to measure dozens of health markers in just minutes. And results are delivered via an app.
You can see the device on the left (the one that looks like a computer mouse), along with an accompanying test cartridge, and a wearable sensor that continuously tracks vitals:

Originally built for astronauts in orbit, rHEALTH now aims to bring this space-based technology to pharmacies, urgent-care centers, and homes.
This is a big opportunity. More than four billion people have limited access to healthcare and diagnostic testing. Nearly 200 million adults in the U.S. alone have a chronic condition that needs some form of diagnostic testing.
Access to this testing currently requires clinical labs and specialized equipment. And results typically aren’t available for days.
rHEALTH addresses these challenges through its device, its vitals sensor, and its AI-powered app. The result is a platform that provides fully-autonomous health-diagnostic information — anywhere, anytime — with results in just minutes.
This NASA Spin-Off Is Open for Investment
To continue developing its device, rHEALTH is currently raising funds from investors like you.
The valuation is about $100 million, and the minimum investment is $500.
Should you consider investing?
First, let’s look at a few of the “pros”:
Massive Market — The global market for Diagnostics &amp; Monitoring is projected to surpass $400 billion by 2030.
Protected Tech — rHEALTH holds 17 key patents.
Key Partnerships — rHEALTH is already working with the Mayo Clinic, a top hospital, to clinically-validate its device.
On the “con” side, rHEALTH’s device needs FDA clearance before it can be marketed. Getting clearance can be expensive, and it can take a long time.
That’s why companies at rHEALTH’s stage sometime stall. And that’s one of the main reasons I’m not suggesting that you rush out and invest in this startup. Like any early-stage investment, this one requires substantial research.
But if you’re intrigued by rHEALTH’s device — and if you believe it could be NASA’s next great innovation — you can learn more here »
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Can AI Pick Stocks Better Than Humans? Instacart’s Founder Thinks So]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/can-ai-pick-stocks-better-than-humans-instacarts-founder-thinks-so</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/can-ai-pick-stocks-better-than-humans-instacarts-founder-thinks-so#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/can-ai-pick-stocks-better-than-humans-instacarts-founder-thinks-so</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:15:30 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[It was inevitable. After watching how AI tackled tasks that once seemed reserved for brilliant humans, Instacart co-founder Apoorva Mehta decided to take things a step further. Last year, he launched Abundance &#8212; a hedge fund designed to let artificial intelligence call the shots. Picture this: Thousands of AI bots scour the internet for trade [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[It was inevitable.
After watching how AI tackled tasks that once seemed reserved for brilliant humans, Instacart co-founder Apoorva Mehta decided to take things a step further. Last year, he launched Abundance — a hedge fund designed to let artificial intelligence call the shots.
Picture this: Thousands of AI bots scour the internet for trade ideas. They conduct the research, pick stocks to buy or short, size the bets, and even execute the trades.
Sure, a small team of humans builds and maintains the models, but the goal is clear: let AI run the fund. Mehta, who helped build Instacart into a household name, is betting that AI can overcome the natural limits of human investors.
As he put it, even exceptional investors “can only track so many opportunities at once, process them only so deeply, make only so many high-quality decisions.”
In theory, AI changes everything. It’s a bold experiment. Will it work?
The Promise of an AI-Driven Hedge Fund
On paper, the upside is obvious. Humans get tired, emotional, distracted. We have limited bandwidth. AI agents don’t. They can analyze thousands of data points simultaneously, spot patterns across vast datasets, and execute with cold consistency.
Quant funds have already proven that heavy automation can create enormous value — think Renaissance Technologies and others that turned systematic trading into multi-billion-dollar powerhouses. Generative AI adds a new layer: the ability to reason through complex, unstructured information like earnings calls, social sentiment, and research reports in ways that feel closer to fundamental analysis than pure number-crunching.
Mehta’s fund has reportedly outperformed multiple indexes so far, although details on the exact benchmarks he’s using remain limited. And with $100 million in seed financing and plans to eventually take outside capital, Abundance is positioning itself as an early leader in what could become a wave of AI-native hedge funds.
For public stocks, where markets are highly efficient, and oceans of data are available, this approach has real appeal. Speed, scale, and emotion-free discipline could be powerful edges.
But it’s not all smooth sailing…
The Downside
Critics, including Citadel founder Ken Griffin, have argued that generative AI isn’t yet moving the needle for hedge funds trying to beat the market. Markets are noisy, narratives shift quickly, and truly novel insights (like Griffin’s?) are rare. An AI system might excel at processing information, but it can also hallucinate, amplify biases in its training data, or struggle with black-swan events that don’t resemble past patterns.
There’s also the question of “edge.” If thousands of bots are reading the same public internet sources, how differentiated can any insights really be? And while AI can remove human whim, it can also lack the intuition, contextual judgment, and moral reasoning that seasoned investors can bring to the table during periods of extreme uncertainty.
Some strategies at Abundance already run fully on AI, while others still incorporate human involvement. That hybrid reality hints at the practical limits: full autonomy sounds exciting, but the most successful systems may still need experienced humans in the loop — at least for the foreseeable future.
Could AI Do This for Startups?
But for those of us who are focused on private markets, here’s where things get interesting...
Public stocks trade on exchanges with constant pricing, mountains of filings, analyst coverage, and real-time news. Startups? Not so much. Information tends to be fragmented and asymmetric. Often it seems almost deliberately opaque. Valuations can be subjective. Team quality, market timing, competitive moats, execution risks — all these indicators are harder to quantify.
So the natural question arises:
Could a similar army of AI agents be deployed to scour opportunities in the world of private startups? Could AI help identify the rare winners amid all the noise?
Art Versus Science
The idea is tempting. After all, AI could process far more data — deal flow, founder backgrounds, early traction signals, etc. — than any team of humans. It could run simulations, stress-test assumptions, and flag patterns from thousands of past startups.
But here’s the thing:
Private investing has always been as much art as science. The best calls often come from deep, human-led fundamental analysis — understanding a founder’s vision, assessing product-market fit in messy real-world conditions, and gauging the intangibles that spreadsheets miss.
So, next week in Part 2 of this article, that’s the tension we’ll explore.
We’ll start with the “common wisdom” you’ve probably heard: that roughly 90% of startups ultimately fail. We’ll look at what the numbers actually say, and then contrast that harsh reality with the track record we’ve built at Private Market Profits since 2016.
(Spoiler alert: Using a proven system that combines our proprietary AI-powered software with disciplined, human-powered fundamental analysis, we’ve delivered results that look very different from the grim industry averages!)
I’ll walk you through the numbers — including our actual loss rate, our number of winners, and some of the standout returns we’ve delivered — and explain how we actually pick deals.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you believe AI will eventually run entire investment processes, end-to-end? Or will the best outcomes always come from smart humans using powerful tools?
Stay tuned for Part 2!
Happy Investing
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            <title><![CDATA[Apple is Getting Ready to Fold]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/apple-is-getting-ready-to-fold</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/apple-is-getting-ready-to-fold#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/apple-is-getting-ready-to-fold</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:50:01 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A Nasal Spray for Alzheimer's Scientists have developed a nasal spray that improves the memory of aging mice. Will it work on people, too? &#187; Your Doctor is Using AI Millions of Americans use AI chatbots to get answers about their health. Doctors are using AI, too &#8212; but not for the reason you might [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[A Nasal Spray for Alzheimer's
Scientists have developed a nasal spray that improves the memory of aging mice. Will it work on people, too? »
Your Doctor is Using AI
Millions of Americans use AI chatbots to get answers about their health. Doctors are using AI, too — but not for the reason you might think »
No More Pit Stops
Gotta go while you’re behind the wheel? This carmaker just introduced a feature that’ll bring you some relief. Uh, thanks? »
Your Pasta Sauce is Listening to You
You might expect listening devices from tech giants like Apple and Amazon. But why did one of the big pasta-sauce brands release one? Penne for your thoughts »
Apple is Getting Ready to Fold
Leaked images suggest Apple is getting ready to fold. The company doesn't hate the idea. Here’s why »
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            <title><![CDATA[Should You Invest Early or Late? Yes]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/should-you-invest-early-or-late-yes</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/should-you-invest-early-or-late-yes#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/should-you-invest-early-or-late-yes</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:00 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The numbers look like they&#8217;re straight out of a fantasy. In the first quarter of 2026, deal value for venture capital hit an all-time high. Exit value smashed records. Headlines cheered the &#8220;biggest quarter ever.&#8221; But headlines can be misleading. As it turns out, these figures are being carried by a handful of monster deals. [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[The numbers look like they’re straight out of a fantasy.
In the first quarter of 2026, deal value for venture capital hit an all-time high. Exit value smashed records. Headlines cheered the “biggest quarter ever.”
But headlines can be misleading. As it turns out, these figures are being carried by a handful of monster deals. Strip them out, and the picture looks a lot less rosy.
Today I’ll walk you through what’s really happening — and explain why the smartest move right now might be the one that almost nobody is talking about.
Megadeals Are Doing All the Heavy Lifting
Q1’s $267 billion in deal value set a new all-time high. But $200 billion of that figure came from just five deals. OpenAI alone was responsible for almost half of it.
Meanwhile, most of the $347 billion in exit value was driven by SpaceX’s $250 billion acquisition of xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company.
In other words, this “boom” we’re experiencing isn’t broad. It’s narrow, deep, and hyper-concentrated in a tiny group of already-giant winners.
A Sharp Departure from the Old Playbook
It wasn’t always like this. Just a few years ago, the strategy for most venture capitalists looked very different:
Spread lots of small bets across dozens or even hundreds of early-stage companies.
The logic was simple: many startups fail, but the winners can return 10x, 100x, even 1,000x. Volume was your friend.
But now, driven by massive new venture funds, the industry has flipped. Huge amounts of capital are pouring into a few select companies that are already proven, already huge, and in many cases, already on the doorstep of going public.
It’s fewer bets, far bigger checks, and the companies are at a far later stage of their life.
So What Should You Invest In?
That’s the question investors like you should be asking yourselves right now.
Do you chase the handful of megadeals — the OpenAIs, Anthropics, and SpaceXs of the world — that are about to go public, and could deliver massive (but more “reasonable”) returns?
Or do you follow the proven venture-capital playbook of placing smaller bets on lots of early-stage startups, where valuations are low, the risk is higher — and the upside is absurdly higher?
My answer is simple. Yes.
You Should Invest in Both
The fastest-growing, highest-potential companies in the market right now — SpaceX, Anthropic, OpenAI, and a short list of others — are still private. Massive IPOs for several of them are widely expected in the next 12 months and could smash records.
These aren’t speculative bets anymore. They’re proven growth engines. And getting exposure to them while they’re still private could be a smart financial move.
At the same time, you should be getting exposure to the early-stage world. This is where valuations are lower, risk is higher, and the potential payoff is far higher — 10x, 100x, 1,000x.
Just look at a few of the real-world examples that Brian wrote about last week:

In 2010, Uber was just an idea: tap your phone, get a ride. One of its earliest investors put in $500,000. When Uber went public in 2019, that $500k turned into $2.5 billion.

In 2009, Sequoia Capital invested in Airbnb when its shares were roughly a penny each. When it went public in 2020, those penny shares were valued at $145 apiece.

Peter Thiel invested $500,000 into Facebook in 2004. When the company IPO’d in 2012, his stake turned into more than $1 billion. That’s a 2,000x return.

Outcomes like these don’t come from betting on companies that are already worth tens or hundreds of billions. They come from getting in when the company is just an idea.
That’s why the smart strategy isn’t either/or. It’s both:
Invest in a handful of late-stage unicorns for ballast. And then, over time, invest in a diversified portfolio of two or three dozen early-stage startups for the moonshot upside.
This Is What We Help You Do
At Crowdability, this is precisely what we do:
We help ordinary people invest in today’s highest-potential companies — early-stage startups and also late-stage startups — while they’re still private.
You can browse companies raising money right now on our Deals page. And when you’re ready to dive deeper, check out our premium-research service, Private Market Profits — where we show you how to invest in specific early-stage startups and late-stage startups like SpaceX.
The venture world is changing fast. The Q1 data proves it. But the real opportunities? They’re still hiding in plain sight — if you know where to look.
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Jeff Bezos Made Just $81,400 Last Year]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/jeff-bezos-made-just-81400-last-year</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/jeff-bezos-made-just-81400-last-year#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/jeff-bezos-made-just-81400-last-year</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:31:02 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Jesus Is Ready for a Video Chat Many talk to Jesus through prayer. Now you can just call him up for a chat. Get the scoop &#187; Bomb Discovered Inside a Patient A hospital in France was evacuated after a patient walked in with a bomb. The crazy thing is, he didn&#8217;t even know he [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus Is Ready for a Video Chat
Many talk to Jesus through prayer. Now you can just call him up for a chat. Get the scoop »
Bomb Discovered Inside a Patient
A hospital in France was evacuated after a patient walked in with a bomb. The crazy thing is, he didn’t even know he had it. Wait, what? »
No More Crying Because of an Onion 
It looks like an onion and smells like an onion. But slicing and dicing it won’t bring you to tears. How is this possible? »
The Bird Soars for 700% Gains 
A few days ago, Allbirds (BIRD) shares were trading for $2.50. Then, overnight, shares reached $20. What’s going on here? »
Jeff Bezos Made Just $81,400 Last Year
How does Bezos afford his yacht and luxury lifestyle on $80k a year? Here’s the answer »
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            <title><![CDATA[Larry Fink Is Asking You: “How Much Do You Own?”]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/larry-fink-is-asking-you-how-much-do-you-own</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/larry-fink-is-asking-you-how-much-do-you-own#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/larry-fink-is-asking-you-how-much-do-you-own</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:13:13 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A few weeks ago, Larry Fink released his annual letter to investors. As the CEO of asset-management firm BlackRock, Fink oversees more money than anyone on the planet &#8212; $14 trillion. So when he talks about the future of investing, it pays to listen. His letter this year wasn&#8217;t just about markets and interest rates. [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Eller]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Crowdfunding News]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[A few weeks ago, Larry Fink released his annual letter to investors.
As the CEO of asset-management firm BlackRock, Fink oversees more money than anyone on the planet — $14 trillion. So when he talks about the future of investing, it pays to listen.
His letter this year wasn’t just about markets and interest rates. It carried a deeper message, one that investors like you can’t afford to ignore.
Today, I’ll show you what Fink said, and reveal how to take advantage of it.
“How Much Do You Own?”
First, let’s cut to the chase with the big takeaway from Fink’s letter:
Building wealth in the future won’t just be about earning a paycheck. It will be tied to owning assets such as stocks, real estate, even infrastructure.
As Fink explained, since 1989, a dollar invested in the U.S. stock market has grown more than 15x more than the value of a dollar tied to wages. Now he believes the rise of AI will accelerate this trend. Simply put, most of our future economic growth will be captured by asset holders.
This new reality shifts how we need to think about money. The defining financial question of the future may not be, “How much do you make?” It could soon be, “How much do you own?”
The problem is, millions of Americans don’t own much at all. According to a Gallup survey from September 2025, nearly 40% of Americans don’t own stocks. And according to Wikipedia, the rate of U.S. homeownership since 2000 is going down, not up.
Fink’s Solution
Fink would like to see more people sharing in economic growth.
His strategy to do so is simple. Tap into the private markets.
In his 2025 letter, Fink argued that the traditional 60/40 portfolio of stocks/bonds is dead. “The future standard portfolio,” he said, “may look more like 50/30/20 — stocks, bonds, and private assets.”
As Fink noted, the assets that will define the future — data centers, ports, power grids, the world’s fastest-growing companies — all live in the private markets.
Bottom line: to build wealth, Fink is advising investors to turn to the private markets.
Here are three reasons we believe this is good advice…
Reason No. 1: Staying Private Longer
For starters, the private markets are where you’ll find most of today’s biggest companies.
According to market-intelligence platform CapIQ, 87% of U.S. companies with revenues greater than $100 million are privately held. In other words, the vast majority of sizable companies aren’t even on the stock market!
Furthermore, these companies are staying private for longer.
Take a look:

This chart shows the average number of years before a company IPOs. As you can see, in the 1980s, companies went public after about four years. By the early 2000s, that number had doubled to around eight years. Today, companies are staying private for twelve to sixteen years.
If companies are staying private longer, that means more of their growth is happening in the private market. It also means that more of their profits are going to private investors…
Reason No. 2: Returns are Going to Private Investors
To see what I mean, take a look at this chart:

This chart, compliments of venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, shows a major shift in the type of investor that’s capturing the biggest returns.
For each company (Apple, Amazon, etc.), the grey part of each bar chart reflects profits captured by stock-market investors. The orange shows profits captured by private investors.
For years, public investors (in grey) reaped the bulk of a company’s returns. For example, look at Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). When it went public in 1986, its early private investors could have cashed out for about 200x at the IPO. Not bad.
But after it went public, stock-market investors could have made far more than that. As of April 1, 2025, they could have made about 5,000x their money. That’s enough to turn $1,000 into $5 million.
Furthermore, prior to 2004, stock-market investors also did well in companies like Apple, Oracle, and Amazon. But look what’s been happening more recently:
Time and again, from Google to LinkedIn to Twitter, private-market investors made hundreds of times their money. Meanwhile, public-market investors made peanuts.
The takeaway here is simple: for a shot at the biggest returns today — the returns that can actually be life-changing — you need to invest while these companies are still private.
And if you happen to invest when these companies are at their very earliest stages, that’s even better. Let me show you…
Reason No. 3: Ground-floor Opportunities
One of the biggest and most exciting benefits to private-market investing is getting in on the ground floor. This is how you maximize your profit potential.
For example:

In 2010, Uber was just an idea: tap your phone, get a ride. One of its earliest investors, First Round Capital, invested about half a million dollars at a valuation of around $5 million. When Uber went public in 2019, its stake turned into more than $2.5 billion.
In 2009, Sequoia Capital invested in Airbnb at a valuation of around $20 million. Shares were roughly a penny each. When the company went public in 2020, it was worth around $47 billion. Those penny shares were now valued at $145 apiece.
Then there’s investor Peter Thiel. Thiel invested $500,000 into Facebook in 2004. When the company IPO’d in 2012, his stake turned into more than $1 billion. That’s a 2,000x return.

Look to the Private Markets
Fink’s latest letter makes one thing clear: the key to building wealth today is to own assets.
Unfortunately, too few people currently have exposure to such assets.
That’s what we’re trying to change at Crowdability. We help ordinary people get ownership stakes in today’s highest-potential companies — while they’re still private.
You can browse private startups raising money right now on our Deals page. And when you’re ready to dive deeper, check out our premium-research service, Private Market Profits.
In the meantime, happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Beware “Fast-Entry” — Don’t Buy SpaceX at the IPO]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/beware-fast-entry-dont-buy-spacex-at-the-ipo</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/beware-fast-entry-dont-buy-spacex-at-the-ipo#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/beware-fast-entry-dont-buy-spacex-at-the-ipo</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:28:07 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Picture this: SpaceX goes public this summer in the biggest IPO in history. It prices at a monster valuation of $1.5 trillion and opens for trading on the Nasdaq. But then, just 15 trading days later, something wild happens: it gets &#8220;fast-entry.&#8221; Today I&#8217;ll explain what this means for you &#8212; yes, you. Consider this [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Picture this: SpaceX goes public this summer in the biggest IPO in history.
It prices at a monster valuation of $1.5 trillion and opens for trading on the Nasdaq.
But then, just 15 trading days later, something wild happens: it gets “fast-entry.”
Today I’ll explain what this means for you — yes, you.
Consider this a warning.
“Fast-Entry” Is Changing the Rules
Thanks to a quiet rule change Nasdaq announced last month, SpaceX won’t have to wait the usual three months (or longer) to join the Nasdaq-100 index.
If its market cap ranks in the top 40 — which it certainly will — it gets “fast-entry.”
That means passive funds that track the Nasdaq-100 (think Invesco QQQ and the trillions of dollars that follow it) will be forced to start buying shares almost immediately.
On paper, that might sound like a rocket ship for anyone who owns SpaceX right after it lists.
But this rule change is actually a flashing red light for investors like you who are thinking about buying at the IPO. Let me explain.
Why Nasdaq Is Changing the Rules
Nasdaq wants to stay competitive and attract blockbuster listings like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Makes sense. So, effective May 1, it’s introducing a “Fast-Entry” provision for its flagship Nasdaq-100 index.
Historically, new public companies had to “season” for several months before index consideration. They had to prove they could handle public-market volatility, show trading volume, and meet float requirements. That delay let the market discover a realistic price.
Not anymore. With this new rule, big new listings can join the index after just 15 trading days if their full market cap ranks in the top 40 current constituents. They’re even exempt from the old 10% minimum float rule and liquidity seasoning.
To be clear, this is a smart business move for the exchange. And it’s excellent news for SpaceX’s early shareholders and employees who’ve waited years to cash out.
But how about for potential IPO investors like you?
The “Forced Buying” Machine Kicks In
Here’s what most retail investors miss:
Passive funds tracking the Nasdaq-100 hold over a trillion dollars in assets. When a stock like SpaceX gets added, those managers don’t have a choice — they’re forced to buy shares to match the index.
With fast-entry, that buying pressure hits just weeks after the IPO instead of months later. It creates an almost automatic short-term bid under the stock. Momentum traders and flippers jump in. The price can pop fast on all that forced demand.
It feels exciting. It feels like you’re getting in on something big, right at the start.
But remember: At the IPO itself, the shares being sold are mostly coming from insiders, venture investors, and employees. The big institutions often get their allocations at the offering price.
When investors like you buy on the open market on Day One (or Day 15), you’re stepping in after the pros have already secured their positions — and right as the index-buying wave begins.
What This Really Means for Investors Like You
History shows a clear pattern with these high-profile IPOs.
The initial surge from hype and index inclusion can deliver quick gains. But once the forced buying fades and the lock-up periods start expiring, reality sets in. Many stocks give back those early pops — sometimes dramatically.
The real fortunes in companies like SpaceX aren’t made by buying on listing day. They’re made by people who invest much earlier, when the company is still private. Those early backers earn their 10x, 50x, 100x, or even higher returns long before Wall Street gets involved.
The Nasdaq’s new rule doesn’t change that fundamental truth. It just accelerates the moment when early investors can ring the bell and start selling into all that passive demand.
The Smarter Way to Play Companies Like SpaceX
If you’re excited about investing in companies like SpaceX (and who isn’t?), the move isn’t to chase them once they start trading…
The move is to get positioned before the IPO — while the company is still private.
That’s the core advantage we focus on at Crowdability. We help everyday investors access carefully vetted private startups, at stages where meaningful upside remains. This is the next generation of companies like SpaceX coming down the pike.
The IPO isn’t the beginning of the wealth-creation story for new investors. It’s often the celebration where the earliest believers get to exit!
If you’d like help finding the next private opportunity before Wall Street prices it to perfection, we’re here.
Our Private Market Profits service highlights one hand-picked startup each month — deals that ordinary investors like you can participate in, often starting with small checks of just $100 or so.
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Robots are Coming for Grandma]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/robots-are-coming-for-grandma</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/robots-are-coming-for-grandma#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/robots-are-coming-for-grandma</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:19:36 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Now You Can Live at the Mall &#8212; For Real As kids, many of us dreamed about living at the mall. That dream is now a reality &#187; Exposed: Bitcoin&#8217;s Inventor It&#8217;s cryptocurrency&#8217;s most puzzling question: Who actually invented Bitcoin? An investigative reporter believes he&#8217;s found the answer &#187; Your Chance to Be Inside a [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Now You Can Live at the Mall — For Real
As kids, many of us dreamed about living at the mall. That dream is now a reality »
Exposed: Bitcoin’s Inventor
It’s cryptocurrency’s most puzzling question: Who actually invented Bitcoin? An investigative reporter believes he’s found the answer »
Your Chance to Be Inside a Video Game
Gaming-company PlayStation wants to thank its loyal fans. So it’s putting a few of them inside an upcoming game. Interested? »
Alexa’s Ready to Take Your Food Order
Alexa can already act as your personal shopper. Now she’s ready for a new role — your very own waiter. Get the scoop »
Robots are Coming for Grandma
Have you called your grandmother lately? Now might be a good time to pick up the phone — because the robots are coming for her. Story here »
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            <title><![CDATA[My #1 Investment Rule for 2026]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/my-1-investment-rule-for-2026</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/my-1-investment-rule-for-2026#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/my-1-investment-rule-for-2026</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:00:53 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A &#8220;must see&#8221; report about the current state of the startup world was just released. But the report is long and detailed. So today, I&#8217;ll share the one thing I learned from the report that can help you make a lot of money. This is my #1 Investment Rule for 2026. Introducing Mike Maples, Jr. [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[A “must see” report about the current state of the startup world was just released.
But the report is long and detailed.
So today, I’ll share the one thing I learned from the report that can help you make a lot of money.
This is my #1 Investment Rule for 2026.
Introducing Mike Maples, Jr.
To set the stage here, let me introduce you to Mike Maples, Jr.

Maples is the co-founder of a wildly successful venture-capital firm called Floodgate.
Mike has been on Forbes’ “Midas List” a whopping eight times because of his golden touch with startup investments. His deals include mega-hits like Twitter, Clover Health, Okta, Bazaarvoice, and Demandforce.
Furthermore, before becoming an investor, Mike was founder of two startups that went public: Tivoli Systems (IPO TIVS, acquired by IBM) and Motive (IPO MOTV, acquired by Alcatel-Lucent).
In other words, Maples knows a thing or two about startups and startup investing.
In one of his most important social-media posts, he chimed in about something that’s near and dear to my heart:
Not overpaying for seed-stage startup investments.
As he wrote:

To explain what he means in this post, let me start at the beginning — with the “10x rule.”
The “10x Your Money” Rule
When I first launched Crowdability, I did a deep research project.
My goal was to identify a proven process for picking successful startup investments.
Over the course of a year or so, I sat down with more than three dozen of the most successful startup investors in the country. At the time, these investors had collectively backed more than 1,080 startups, and generated several billion dollars in profits.
Gradually, these professionals revealed dozens of tools and “tricks” to identify winning investments.
But of all their strategies, one has been the most valuable by far:
How to identify the investments that can return 10x your money.
Go with the Odds
In case you didn’t know, startup investors earn their profits in two main ways:

The startup goes public in an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
The startup gets acquired.

IPOs can lead to massive profits for startup investors, but they happen infrequently.
The most common way for startup investors to earn their profits is through an acquisition — in other words, when a startup is taken over by another company.
To put the numbers in perspective: in 2025, there were about 200 U.S. IPOs. But during the same time frame, there were about 10,000 significant takeovers.
Given this data, how can we stack the odds in our favor? Let’s take a look.
“Every Battle is Won Before It’s Ever Fought”
To answer this question, let me tell you about one of the investors I met during my startup-research project.
Before this gentleman became a venture capitalist, he was a high-ranking military officer.
As he peppered our conversations with references to “storming the beaches of Normandy” and “the Battle of Little Round Top,” he often mentioned a particular expression:
“Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.”
As these words relate to investing, here’s what he meant:
Certain actions you take before you make an investment can determine your ultimate success. And one of the most important of these actions is this:
Filtering out investments based on their valuation!
The Importance of Valuation
Valuation is another way of saying “market cap.” It’s the total value of a company. For public companies, we say market cap. For startups, we say valuation.
And here’s the thing:
Despite what you read in the press about big-ticket takeovers — like Facebook buying WhatsApp for $19 billion — the sales price for most startups is less than $100 million.
In fact, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers and Thomson Reuters, the majority of acquisitions take place under $50 million.
So, if your goal is to earn 10x your money on a startup that might get acquired for $50 million, how do you “win this battle”?
Simple: invest at valuations of $5 million or less!
If you invest at valuations that are higher than $5 million, you might very well be overpaying for your investment.
Why is this rule so important today?
Well, now we can revisit the “must see” report I mentioned earlier…
New Research Report from Carta
Carta is a tech company that serves startups, investors, and law firms. Essentially, it serves as a “source of truth” for startup ownership, helping startups manage their journey from early-stage startup all the way through a sale or IPO.
As keeper of the “truth,” it has access to a treasure chest of information about what’s happening in the startup world.
And as it just revealed in its “State of Seed 2025” report, the median valuation for a seed round in 2025 was $20 million.

$20 million!
As you just learned, if you invest at valuations higher than $5 million, you might very well be overpaying for your investment.
This $20 million valuation came about partly because of the popularity (and potential profitability) of AI startups. So in some ways, it makes sense. But unless there’s a corresponding increase in “exit” valuations, paying a high price when you make your investment is a losing strategy.
You need to be “picky” about your investments!
Exceptions To Every Rule
Obviously, there are exceptions.
For example, if you have an expert to guide you, you can always consider investing in startups — like SpaceX or Anthropic — that are more highly valued.
After all, many investors considered companies like Facebook or Airbnb “wildly overvalued” when they were worth $10 million, $100 million, even $1 billion. Now they’re worth hundreds of billions, even trillions.
But when you’re just getting started as an early-stage investor — especially if you’re doing so on your own, without guidance — limiting your investments to startups that are valued at $5 million or so is smart. It gives you the greatest chances of potentially earning 10x your money.
That’s what Mike Maples’ tweet is all about:
Don’t overpay for your startup investments!
And now, with valuations rising, that’s my #1 Investment Rule for 2026.
Happy Investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[The Best Sleep Position, According to Science]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/the-best-sleep-position-according-to-science</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/the-best-sleep-position-according-to-science#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/the-best-sleep-position-according-to-science</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:00:18 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Put Your Brain into a New Body Tired of your aging body? Here&#8217;s a way to get a new one. Oh, don&#8217;t worry &#8212; you can keep your brain &#187; Data Centers in Space! Data centers are killing our planet. But now there&#8217;s a new place to put them. Space will save us! &#187; Thieves [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Put Your Brain into a New Body
Tired of your aging body? Here’s a way to get a new one. Oh, don’t worry — you can keep your brain »
Data Centers in Space!
Data centers are killing our planet. But now there’s a new place to put them. Space will save us! »
Thieves Steal 12 Tons of KitKats
How much are twelve tons of stolen KitKat bars worth? A lot of promotional gold »
Cornell Students Using Typewriters Instead of Computers
A Cornell professor didn’t like her students “cheating” by using AI. So she took them back to the 1950s. Get the scoop »
The Best Sleep Position, According to Science
A back-sleeper, side-sleeper, and stomach-sleeper all settle in for the night. Which one will get the best sleep? Science has the answer »
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            <title><![CDATA[Private Startups vs. Private Credit vs. Private Equity — A Cheat Sheet]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/private-startups-vs-private-credit-vs-private-equity-a-cheat-sheet</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/private-startups-vs-private-credit-vs-private-equity-a-cheat-sheet#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/private-startups-vs-private-credit-vs-private-equity-a-cheat-sheet</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:11:07 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Lately, it seems like all the headlines are about the &#8220;private markets&#8221; &#8212; Private startups like SpaceX and Anthropic are about to IPO! Oh no &#8211; private credit is having a meltdown! Private equity is coming to your 401(k)! But most people don&#8217;t understand what these terms mean. They don&#8217;t realize that not all &#8220;private&#8221; [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Crowdfunding News]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Lately, it seems like all the headlines are about the “private markets” —
Private startups like SpaceX and Anthropic are about to IPO!
Oh no – private credit is having a meltdown!
Private equity is coming to your 401(k)!
But most people don’t understand what these terms mean. They don’t realize that not all “private” investments are created equal.
So today, I’ll break it down for you in plain English. Because once you understand the differences, you’ll see where the real opportunity lies.
What We Focus on (And Why It Matters)
At Crowdability, we focus on two main areas:

Early-stage private startups.
Pre-IPO opportunities like SpaceX, Anthropic, and Anduril.

We focus on early-stage private startups because they can deliver extraordinary returns. According to Cambridge Associates, a top financial advisor with clients including The Rockefeller Foundation and Harvard University, over 25 years, early-stage private investments have generated average annual returns of about 58%.
Historically, these investments were off-limits unless you were wealthy. Not anymore. That’s the gap we’re working to close at Crowdability.
And we focus on pre-IPO opportunities because, simply put, companies today are staying private longer. If they’re staying private longer, that means more of their growth is happening in the private markets, and more of their gains are going to private investors.
Then There’s “Private Credit”
Private credit is generating a lot of headlines right now — bad headlines.
Private credit simply means non-bank lending (where financing is provided by investors other than banks) to private companies. Generally, these are mid-size companies with relatively stable revenues.
Instead of going to a bank, these companies borrow from a private fund, or from a publicly traded BDC (Business Development Company). Some well-known BDCs include Ares Capital Corp (ARCC) and Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (BXSL).
These funds make loans that are designed to generate high current income. For many years, this worked extremely well, with investors earning annual yields of about 10%.
But recently, cracks have started to appear. You see, many of these loans were made to private software companies — the same companies that AI is threatening to disrupt.
If these companies struggle, their revenues will fall, their cash flow will tighten — and suddenly, those “safe” loans won’t look so safe anymore. It’s possible that default rates will soar.
That’s why you’re seeing so many scary headlines about private credit right now.
Now Let’s Talk About “Private Equity”
The term “Private Equity” doesn’t usually refer to startups.
Instead, it refers to an strategy used by investment firms like KKR, Apollo, or the Carlyle Group. In this world, private equity means buying an established company, improving its operations, and then aiming to sell it for a profit.
For example, these investment firms might buy a mature business, load it up with debt, cut costs, grow cash flow — and then, after five to seven years, they’ll try to sell or take the company public.
The reason Private Equity is in the news right now is that there’s a push to bring such investments to everyday investors. Specifically, President Trump wants to allow you to invest in private equity funds in your 401(k).
On the surface, that might sound exciting. But the reality is that private equity is generally designed for institutional investors, pension funds, or ultra-wealthy individuals. That’s because the fees are high, liquidity is low, and the benefits are really around diversification and solid returns (rather than spectacular returns).
This isn’t where you’ll find 10x or 100x opportunities. It’s more about the opportunity for steady returns, financial optimization, and lower but more predictable upside.
We’ll share more of our thoughts on this trend in a future article. But for now, just know that “private equity” is a far different animal than “private startups.”
What Does This Mean for You?
In summary, today we looked at:
Private Startups — This is where you can find massive upside, and where the greatest wealth is created. Private startups include early-stage companies that are just getting off the ground, as well as later-stage private companies planning to IPO. These are the areas where we focus.
Private Credit — Private credit means making loans to mid-sized companies. Because of AI disruption, there’s growing concern that these loans will increasingly come under pressure.
Private credit funds, especially the publicly-traded BDCs, have offered attractive yields in recent history. But with their loans potentially under pressure, the risk is higher now than it has been.
Private Equity — Private equity investments offer lower relative risk and moderate returns. This isn’t where outsized gains typically happen.
Historically, private equity was built for institutions. As it might land in your 401(k) before long, we’ll spend time this year explaining the pros and cons of it for investors like you.
The Bottom Line
“Private markets” is a broad term. It includes many types of opportunities.
Some private-market opportunities are designed for income. Others are designed for stable returns for large institutions.
And still others — including private startups and pre-IPO companies — are designed to offer extraordinary returns. These are the opportunities we focus on at Crowdability.
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Birds Are Getting Hooked on Cigarettes]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/birds-are-getting-hooked-on-cigarettes</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/birds-are-getting-hooked-on-cigarettes#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/birds-are-getting-hooked-on-cigarettes</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:12:21 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[DoorDash Will Give You Gas Money Prices at the pump continue to climb. They&#8217;ve gotten so steep, DoorDash is stepping in to help. Here&#8217;s the catch &#187; &#8220;Surveillance Pricing&#8221; is Coming &#8212; Here&#8217;s What it Means You just paid $5 for a box of pasta. But the guy in line behind you will pay just [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[DoorDash Will Give You Gas Money
Prices at the pump continue to climb. They’ve gotten so steep, DoorDash is stepping in to help. Here’s the catch »
“Surveillance Pricing” is Coming — Here’s What it Means
You just paid $5 for a box of pasta. But the guy in line behind you will pay just $3 for the same box. Are you being scammed? Welcome to the future of shopping »
Exercising Sailor Accidentally Reveals Location of His Warship
While out on a jog, a naval officer accidentally revealed the location of his nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Who knew running could be so dangerous? »
Mark Zuckerberg Getting Laid Off?
Mark Zuckerberg may soon be out as head of Meta. As for a potential replacement, the question isn’t necessarily “Who?” — but “What?” »
Birds Are Getting Hooked on Cigarettes
Cigarettes are addictive — even for birds. But not for the reason you might think »
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            <title><![CDATA[Beware — IPOs May Soon Be Great Again]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/beware-ipos-may-soon-be-great-again</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/beware-ipos-may-soon-be-great-again#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/beware-ipos-may-soon-be-great-again</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:55:40 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Last November, Matt shared one of Donald Trump&#8217;s new plans for greatness. Not to make America great again. But to make IPOs great again. Recent news out of Washington suggests he&#8217;s pushing harder than ever &#8212; and getting closer. But if he wins, beware: investors like you could fall into a trap! That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Eller]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Last November, Matt shared one of Donald Trump’s new plans for greatness.
Not to make America great again. But to make IPOs great again.
Recent news out of Washington suggests he’s pushing harder than ever — and getting closer.
But if he wins, beware: investors like you could fall into a trap!
That’s why it’s so important to read what I’m about to tell you.
A Shift — From Wall Street to the Private Markets
For years, America’s public markets have been shrinking.
According to the World Bank, the number of U.S. public companies has fallen by half since the 1990s — from more than 8,000 listings to barely 4,000 today.
It’s not that innovation has slowed. It’s that companies are choosing to stay private.
As reported by CNBC, in 1980, companies would go public after about six years. By 2010, that number had gone up to 11 years. And by 2024, it reached 14 years. Meanwhile, private markets have exploded: in the last decade alone, they’ve more than doubled in size, to $22 trillion.
Simply put, the action has shifted — from Wall Street to the private markets.
Why Wait to Go Public?
Many entrepreneurs are reluctant to go public. For example:

“Being public is definitely an invitation to pain.” — Elon Musk in 2022.
“You want to stay private as long as possible.” — Edwin Chen, Founder of Surge AI.
“Going public is no longer something a company really looks forward to.” ­— Ben Miller, CEO of real-estate platform Fundrise.

There are two main reasons companies are waiting to go public.
First, there’s no need to go public just to raise funding. Startups today can raise billions from private-market investors. That just wasn’t the case 20 years ago.
Second, being public comes with significant headaches. Quarterly reporting, shareholder lawsuits, endless disclosure requirements — it’s easy to see why an IPO doesn’t feel like a golden ticket anymore.
Many companies are content with the status quo. But Trump sure isn’t…
Make IPOs Great Again!
President Trump would like to see more companies go public. From his perspective, a healthy IPO market isn’t just good for companies, it’s essential for the economy.
More IPOs mean more opportunities for everyday investors, and more competition for capital.
That’s why Trump aims to make IPOs great again. And it’s why he’s turning to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins to make it happen.
The New Atkins Plan
Chairman Atkins’ strategy focuses on three main ideas:

Reduce reporting and disclosure requirements. The SEC is exploring ending quarterly reporting, arguing that fewer filings could reduce cost and stress for public companies.
Limit shareholder proposals. Companies would be legally permitted to ignore proposals that touch on “environmental or social issues.”
Reduce shareholder lawsuits. The SEC would allow companies to force shareholder disputes into arbitration. That means many cases would stay behind closed doors.

In short, Atkins aims to make it less onerous and expensive to be a public company.
What Happens Next?
Just last week, the SEC began preparing a proposal to eliminate quarterly reporting. Atkins says it would remove the “torture” and expense of filing required reports and disclosure.
Would removing it actually lead to more IPOs?
Many experts believe it might. And at first blush, this might look like a boon to investors like you. After all, a surge in IPOs looks like a way to join the “profit party.”
But don’t RSVP just yet. You see, investing in IPOs sure doesn’t guarantee you profits. In fact, IPO investors often end up losing money. Let me show you a few well-known examples:

Blue Apron (APRN) IPO’d in 2017. Over the next year, shares fell more than 70%.
Six months after Snap (SNAP) went public, its shares were down 40%.
Shares of Lyft (LYFT) and Uber (UBER) fell ~30% in the months following their IPOs.

Examples like these are almost endless: Facebook, Groupon, Zynga, Peloton, Casper — all these companies handed their IPO investors big losses.
And these losses continue today. Last September, for example, Stubhub (STUB) IPO’d at $23.50 per share. Today, its shares trade for less than $8. That’s a loss of ~66% in six months. A $1,000 investment in its IPO would be worth just $340 today.
Furthermore, drops like these are becoming the norm. According to data from financial-website StockAnalysis, there were 347 IPOs on U.S. stock exchanges in 2025. As of March of this year, a whopping 60% of those companies were trading below their IPO prices. So if you’d invested in all those companies at their IPO, you’d be sitting on a big fat loss on over half your investments.
I get it — investing right at the IPO can be tempting. It’s a chance to finally grab shares in exciting companies that are poised to grow and deliver profits.
But as we’ve written about many times (here and here, for example), the biggest gains get delivered by investing before the IPO, while the company is still private.
The good news is that more IPOs could mean more liquidity events — in other words, more opportunities for private investors to cash out.
If IPOs become great again, we could see more exits, and more opportunities to pocket gains.
The Bottom Line
Trump may succeed in “making IPOs great again.” If he does, it could unlock a wave of new public offerings.
But for investors, the takeaway is clear:
IPOs aren’t the starting line. They’re the finish line.
The real opportunity is getting in early — identifying promising private companies before they go public, before valuations spike, and before the crowd arrives.
That’s exactly where the biggest potential returns are created. And it’s exactly what Crowdability was built to help you do.
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Ignore at Your Own Peril: The #1 Reason Startups Fail]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/ignore-at-your-own-peril-the-1-reason-startups-fail</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/ignore-at-your-own-peril-the-1-reason-startups-fail#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/ignore-at-your-own-peril-the-1-reason-startups-fail</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:32:34 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A few years ago, a startup raised nearly $400 million in funding. It had a big vision, customers, momentum. And then, seemingly overnight, it shut down for good. What happened? Simple. It ran out of money. If you study enough startups, you&#8217;ll see a pattern with the ones that don&#8217;t make it. It&#8217;s not that [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[A few years ago, a startup raised nearly $400 million in funding.
It had a big vision, customers, momentum.
And then, seemingly overnight, it shut down for good.
What happened? Simple. It ran out of money.
If you study enough startups, you’ll see a pattern with the ones that don’t make it. It’s not that the founders weren’t smart, the idea was bad, or the market was too small.
It’s that the company ran out of runway.
This Is the #1 Reason Startups Fail
According to CB Insights, a research company that focuses on the private markets, here’s the #1 reason that startups fail:
They run out of cash.
Here’s the chart from CB Insights:

As you can see, it’s not about competition, bad timing, or lack of “product-market” fit.
It’s about the bank account running dry.
And once you know this fact, you’ll see it everywhere.
Case Study #1: Olive — Raised Billions… Still Ran Dry
Take Olive, a healthcare AI company.
After it raised billions of dollars, it expanded aggressively. It looked like a winner.
But beneath the surface, it was bleeding cash. Then, after the pandemic, funding dried up. The company couldn’t raise more capital.
It started selling off assets just to survive. But eventually, it had no choice. It shut down.
The official reason: “Ran out of capital.”
Case Study #2: Convoy — Great Idea, But Losses Mounted
Convoy was one of the most promising logistics startups in the world.
Its technology aimed to fix inefficiencies in the trucking industry, which is a massive opportunity.
It raised billions of dollars. But when the economy turned in 2022–2023, things changed fast. Demand weakened, capital markets tightened, and the company’s losses mounted.
Convoy couldn’t raise more money, and it couldn’t find a buyer. It was forced to shut down.
Again, the root cause was simple. It ran out of capital.
Case Study #3: Bowery — The Cost Trap
Bowery was building the future of agriculture: high-tech vertical farms.
It had partnerships with major retailers, strong branding, and massive investor backing.
Unfortunately, it also had huge upfront costs, high energy expenses, and labor-intensive operations. The business simply required too much capital to reach scale.
When funding slowed, Bowery couldn’t keep up. It shut down in 2024.
The root cause once again? It ran out of capital.
The Hidden Truth About Startup Failure
On the surface, these companies had three different problems:

Olive expanded too aggressively.
Convoy got hit by macro conditions.
Bowery had flawed unit economics.

But they all ended the same way. Because ultimately, every startup is playing the same game:
Can it stay alive long enough to turn the corner and win?
If it runs out of money before it can figure things out, it’s game over.
How To Avoid the Losers
This is where most investors get it wrong.
They focus on a flashy product, or a big, fast-growing market, or charismatic founders.
Sure, factors like that can help create success. But they don’t prevent failure.
In the end, here’s what actually matters:
Which companies are least likely to run out of money?
Introducing “The Risk of Ruin”
At Crowdability, we built a software-based tool to answer that specific question.
It’s called “The Risk of Ruin,” and it’s part of our proprietary software, CrowdabilityIQ.
Here’s what it looks like:
And here’s how it works:

The Risk of Ruin is a metric designed to estimate a startup’s probability of running out of capital — and therefore failing.
It analyzes each company across nine key factors that have been statistically linked to survival:

Domain Experience — Experienced founders are less likely to burn through capital
Capital Efficiency — Some business models simply require less cash to operate
Multiple Founders — Teams move faster than solo founders
Balanced Team — Technical + business founders outperform lopsided teams
Founder Education — Correlates with better decision-making and execution
VC Backing — Increases the odds of raising follow-on capital
Revenue — Self-funding reduces dependence on investors
Growing Revenue — Signals traction and sustainability
Predictable Revenue — Recurring revenue adds stability

After analyzing these factors, CrowdabilityIQ ranks each startup relative to all other active deals, and assigns it to one of five risk categories.
In other words:
It can help you identify, in advance, which startups are most likely to survive.
The Bottom Line
Startups don’t tend to fail due to a dramatic mistake they’ve made.
They fail because the clock runs out.
And once the money’s gone, nothing else matters.
The good news?
By focusing on companies that are built to last, you can stack the odds in your favor.
If you’d like to see how CrowdabilityIQ can help you do exactly that, you can learn more here »
Because in startup investing, survival isn’t everything… but it’s the first thing.
Without it, there can be no winners.
Happy Investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Jeff Bezos is Preparing to Save the Earth]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/jeff-bezos-is-preparing-to-save-the-earth</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/jeff-bezos-is-preparing-to-save-the-earth#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/jeff-bezos-is-preparing-to-save-the-earth</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:19:02 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Amazon &#8211;&#160;Now Delivering in Just Minutes Amazon already ships items to you in a day. But if you thought that was fast, you ain&#8217;t seen nothin&#8217; yet &#187; "Hey ChatGPT, Help Me Save My Dog" When chemotherapy and surgery didn&#8217;t stop his dog&#8217;s cancer, this pet owner turned elsewhere to find a cure &#187; How [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Amazon – Now Delivering in Just Minutes
Amazon already ships items to you in a day. But if you thought that was fast, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet »
"Hey ChatGPT, Help Me Save My Dog"
When chemotherapy and surgery didn’t stop his dog’s cancer, this pet owner turned elsewhere to find a cure »
How to Outsmart a Smarty-Pants
A witness on the stand successfully withstood an attorney’s intense cross-examination. His secret? He was wearing these »
Hollywood is Resurrecting this Dead A-Lister
Val Kilmer passed away in 2025. But now he’ll be starring in an upcoming action-adventure movie. How is this happening? »
Jeff Bezos is Preparing to Save the Earth
Who needs Superman? We’ve got Jeff Bezos. And he’s ready to save the planet — with this »
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            <title><![CDATA[95x Returns in Three Years — Inside the Startup That Could Join the “Mag 7”]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/95x-returns-in-three-years-inside-the-startup-that-could-join-the-mag-7</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/95x-returns-in-three-years-inside-the-startup-that-could-join-the-mag-7#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/95x-returns-in-three-years-inside-the-startup-that-could-join-the-mag-7</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:31 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Three years ago, a tiny private startup raised its first big round of funding. Fast-forward to today, and its early investors are already sitting on gains of 95x. I believe even more gains are ahead. But to tap into them, you need to know how to get in now, before the IPO. So today, that&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Three years ago, a tiny private startup raised its first big round of funding.
Fast-forward to today, and its early investors are already sitting on gains of 95x.
I believe even more gains are ahead.
But to tap into them, you need to know how to get in now, before the IPO.
So today, that’s what I’ll show you how to do.
The AI Powerhouse You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
The company I’m writing about today is called Anthropic.
Here’s its CEO, Dario Amodei:

Anthropic is one of the leaders in artificial intelligence. It was founded by former researchers from OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT. Its mission is to build safer, more reliable AI systems. Its flagship product is Claude, an AI model designed to compete with ChatGPT.
Many developers and businesses prefer Claude to ChatGPT because of its emphasis on safety, reliability, and reasoning. And Anthropic has already attracted some very powerful allies…
For starters, a top venture-capital firm called Spark Capital led an investment in Anthropic in early 2023, when the company was valued at roughly $4 billion.
Today, Anthropic is valued at $380 billion. In other words, Spark’s investment has already increased by nearly 100x — enough to turn every $10k it invested into $1 million.
Giants like Amazon and Google have invested billions into Anthropic, too. Why? Because AI is the most important technological race of our era, and Anthropic is one of the frontrunners.
A Future Member of the “Mag 7”?
You’re probably familiar with the Magnificent 7 — the seven giant tech companies that dominate today’s stock market:
Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla.
These companies have created trillions of dollars in wealth for their investors. But here’s the thing: every generation produces a new wave of giants. And many analysts believe Anthropic is poised to become one of these new giants.
After all, artificial intelligence is expected to transform nearly every industry on earth — from healthcare and finance to logistics and manufacturing. That’s why, if Anthropic continues to lead this revolution, its valuation could climb far beyond today’s levels.
How Investors Are Getting Access Today
Most investors assume they can’t get exposure to private startups like Anthropic. But several potential paths exist to get in. Here are two you should know about.
1. Private Market Profits
If you’re a member of our premium research service, Private Market Profits, check out our special report: “The Private Mag 7.”
In that report, you’ll learn how certain investors can get access to the seven private companies, including Anthropic, that are poised to become the new Mag 7 stocks.
(If you’re not already a member of Private Market Profits, you can learn more about it here.)
For investors seeking early exposure to the next generation of tech giants, Private Market Profits can show you the way.
2. A New Fund Is Launching Soon
There’s also a second way you might be able to get exposure to Anthropic.
Powerlaw Capital Group is about to launch a new, publicly-traded fund that includes stakes in several private startups including Anthropic, Anduril, and SpaceX.
But in my opinion, there’s an important catch here: it will be structured as a closed-end fund.
Such funds can offer low minimum investments — perhaps as low as $25. But as I’ve written many times before (most recently, here), closed-end funds carry certain risks…
For example, their share price often has little to do with the value — the “net asset value,” or NAV — of the companies inside the fund. Such funds can trade at big premiums or discounts, or swing violently between the two extremes. And those distortions can persist for years.
In other words, even if the startups inside the portfolio succeed wildly, the fund’s share price might not follow. Instead, the price will likely be driven largely by investor sentiment.
That’s a recipe for distortion.
The Big Picture
All investments, including Powerlaw’s new fund, have pros and cons. But the bigger takeaway here is hard to ignore:
Three years ago, Anthropic was a tiny startup. Today, its early investors are already sitting on gains of ~100x.
It’s rare to see that kind of wealth creation in the public markets. Nowadays, the main place to find gains like that is in the private markets. That’s why we spend so much time at Crowdability helping you get exposure to these opportunities.
Because if the next generation of tech giants is being built right now, you’ll want to make sure you’re not hearing about them for the first time after they’ve already gone public.
You’ll want to get exposure before their IPOs — when the potential gains are still the biggest.
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[Dating Is Officially Getting Weird]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/dating-is-officially-getting-weird</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/dating-is-officially-getting-weird#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/dating-is-officially-getting-weird</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:00:19 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[LEGOs Aren&#8217;t Supposed to Do This In the 1400s, Johannes Gutenberg changed the world when he invented the printing press. That moment was just re-created &#8212; with Legos &#187; Drones &#8212; Older than Sliced Bread In 1914, a World War I pilot let go of his controls mid-flight. Little did he know he&#8217;d spark one [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[LEGOs Aren’t Supposed to Do This
In the 1400s, Johannes Gutenberg changed the world when he invented the printing press. That moment was just re-created — with Legos »
Drones — Older than Sliced Bread
In 1914, a World War I pilot let go of his controls mid-flight. Little did he know he’d spark one of today's most important technologies. Story here »
Can This $100 Sweatshirt Keep You Calm?
This hoodie is meant to calm your nervous system. Curious how (or if) it works? Check it out here »
Elon Wants to Hire You
Does “protecting a commercial spaceport environment” sound like a dream job? If so, Elon Musk would like to hear from you »
Dating Is Officially Getting Weird
At this restaurant, everyone’s dinner date is an AI chatbot. Well, at least they don’t eat much »
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            <title><![CDATA[500% Returns from Baseball’s Next Superstar]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/500-returns-from-baseballs-next-superstar</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/500-returns-from-baseballs-next-superstar#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/500-returns-from-baseballs-next-superstar</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:46:59 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The 2026 World Baseball Classic is underway! The tournament, which kicked off last week, features top players from around the world representing their home country. On display are stars like Japan&#8217;s Shohei Ohtani, Venezuela&#8217;s Ronald Acu&#241;a Jr., and America&#8217;s Aaron Judge. But I&#8217;ve got my eye another player. You might want to keep an eye [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Eller]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[The 2026 World Baseball Classic is underway!
The tournament, which kicked off last week, features top players from around the world representing their home country.
On display are stars like Japan’s Shohei Ohtani, Venezuela’s Ronald Acuña Jr., and America’s Aaron Judge.
But I’ve got my eye another player. You might want to keep an eye on him, too — because his success on the diamond could potentially lead you to returns of more than 500%.
Introducing Luinder Avila
This is Luinder Avila:

The 24-year-old is currently representing Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). And just a few weeks from now, he’ll take the field as a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
Avila made his major-league debut last season. He pitched in five games, tallied eight strikeouts, and recorded his first-ever win in the big leagues.
Though he’s not a household name yet, he’s got the talent to become one. Here’s what Alex Duvall, the sports journalist who covers the Royals’ minor-league clubs, said about Avila in 2024:
“Luinder Avila is gonna be a big-league starter someday. My goodness this kid is put together. 6’ 3’’ 22-year-old is one of the best pitchers in all of [Minor League Baseball] the last few seasons… reminds me of Mike Mussina.”
(Mussina, by the way, was a five-time All-Star who pitched for eighteen seasons and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.)
Avila is brimming with potential — and for investors like us, that includes profit potential.
Let me explain.
The Wealth-Building Strategy of the Rich
As we write about often (for example, here and here), many wealthy investors don’t have traditional 60/40 portfolios. Instead, according to the Motley Fool, they mainly invest in “alternative assets.”
These alternatives include private startups and private real-estate deals, like we focus on at Crowdability. But they also include fine art, wine, vintage sports cars — and now, pro athletes.
Recently, a new type of investment platform has emerged that enables any investor — not just the rich — to invest in the world’s most promising athletes.
One such platform is called Finlete.
On this Comcast-NBC-backed website, you can invest in promising young athletes, and hit a financial homerun if they become successful.

Here’s How it Works
Finlete identifies players with star potential who are just beginning their professional careers. Finlete offers them a lump-sum (say, $1 million) in exchange for a percentage of their future earnings.
This arrangement is beneficial for players. Early on, they don’t make much money. Giving them an upfront payment not only enables them to invest in training, coaching, and nutrition, but also creates financial stability so they can provide for themselves and their families.
The goal is to help them launch a successful big-league career — and hopefully, a wealth of future earnings.
As an investor on Finlete, you can browse available athletes and purchase “shares” in the ones you like. As a shareholder, you’re entitled to annual dividends from the player’s future earnings.
As an example, let’s say you invest in an up-and-coming baseball player. If he signs an average three-year MLB contract, a $100 investment would turn into about $270 — good for a 270% return.
But depending on who you invest in, the returns can potentially be far higher.
Which brings us back to Avila…
Your Chance to Invest in Avila
You can currently invest in Avila through Finlete.
The minimum investment is around $300, and this offering is open to all investors. As mentioned earlier, investors will earn a share of Avila’s future earnings.
What kind of returns could you potentially earn here?
To get a sense, Finlete offers a simulator so you can play around with the numbers. But keep in mind that the average annual salary for major-league starting pitchers last year was $15 million. And twenty-five pitchers made at least $20 million.
If Avila earns an average of just $10 million a year, and pitches in the big leagues for ten years, that would equal $100 million in career earnings. That would turn a $1,000 investment today into more than $6,100 — for returns of more than 500%.
This is an exciting opportunity. But hold on a moment…
Exciting But Risky
Investing in pro athletes can be exciting, and it can potentially be lucrative, too.
But it’s risky.
Most pro athletes don’t have significant success. For example, only 6% of the players who sign a pro baseball contract reach the majors. And fewer than 10% ever make an All-Star team.
Most athletes on Finlete are still in the minors. So while they have potential, they may never reach the big leagues. In fact, Avila is the only active investment on Finlete who’s already in the majors.
But if you’re tuning in to see the world’s best players battle it out in the World Baseball Classic — and you’re looking for the chance to take home a piece of their potential success on the diamond — Finlete could be a great place to explore.
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[HALO Stocks Are Hot — HALO Startups Could Be Smarter]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/halo-stocks-are-hot-halo-startups-could-be-smarter</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/halo-stocks-are-hot-halo-startups-could-be-smarter#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/halo-stocks-are-hot-halo-startups-could-be-smarter</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:18:37 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A new acronym is making the rounds in investment circles: HALO. HALO doesn&#8217;t refer to a video game, or to the ring over an angel&#8217;s head. It stands for Heavy Asset, Low Obsolescence. The idea is simple but powerful: invest in companies with essential assets that won&#8217;t go out of style. Pipelines. Transmission lines. Rail [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Crowdfunding News]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[A new acronym is making the rounds in investment circles:
HALO.
HALO doesn’t refer to a video game, or to the ring over an angel’s head.
It stands for Heavy Asset, Low Obsolescence. The idea is simple but powerful: invest in companies with essential assets that won’t go out of style.
Pipelines. Transmission lines. Rail networks. Power infrastructure. In other words, physical systems that are expensive to build, nearly impossible to replicate, and essential to modern life.
You can’t disrupt a railroad with an app. And you can’t replace a transmission grid with artificial intelligence or a meme coin.
That’s the pitch. And to be fair — it’s very compelling.
Why HALO Stocks Have Been Winning
Heavy-asset businesses tend to have:

Vast barriers to entry.

Limited competition.

Predictable cash flows.

Long asset lifespans.

Pricing power during inflationary times.

Look at companies like Union Pacific Railroad or NextEra Energy. Railroads own thousands of miles of track. Utilities control regional power grids. Midstream energy firms operate pipelines that took decades and billions of dollars to build.
And because these assets are so difficult to replace, and so critical to economic activity and economic well-being, they tend to generate durable earnings.
In a world obsessed with disruption — especially the disruptive power of Artificial Intelligence — HALO companies represent something increasingly valuable:
Durability, scarcity, and staying power.
So what’s the problem?
The Problem: Now Everyone Loves HALO
When an investment strategy becomes obvious and “consensus,” it gets expensive.
Infrastructure, utilities, and asset-heavy industrial firms have attracted enormous capital recently — especially as investors seek safety from tech volatility.
The result is that valuations have crept higher. Let me show you a few examples:
1. Union Pacific Railroad (UNP)
Union Pacific owns one of the largest rail networks in North America and embodies the HALO idea: massive tangible infrastructure that’s expensive and time-consuming to replace.
Rail networks have traditionally been bedrock holdings in defensive portfolios. But multiple valuation models suggest UNP is trading well above its intrinsic value. For example, based on its P/E, P/S, and EV/EBITDA adjusted for growth, it’s already 30%+ overvalued.
Railroads once traded at modest multiples reflecting stable cash flows and limited growth. But today’s elevated multiples mean much of that future stability is already priced in — leaving less room for future returns.
2. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM)
Integrated oil &amp; gas majors like Exxon have vast physical assets including refineries, pipelines, and platforms. Those assets are literally impossible to replicate overnight. That fits the HALO criteria of heavy, long-lived infrastructure.
But based on fundamentals like cash flow and earnings expectations, Exxon Mobil is trading at levels that are more than 50% higher than its intrinsic value. 
This suggests too much optimism is being baked into its price relative to its long-term prospects.
3. Utility and Infrastructure Stocks 
Many major utility and infrastructure stocks are earning valuation premiums well above historical levels, even where the fundamentals don’t justify them. In fact, they’re trading at levels that used to be reserved for growth companies.
Historically, regulated utilities traded around a 16x to 18x P/E. Today, many trade in the 20s. That means they’re pricing in growth and stability that’s far from guaranteed in a rising-rate environment.
When investors pile into heavy-asset names for perceived stability, they bid up prices — and compress future returns. Sure, you might still earn a small gain. But not the kind of big, explosive returns that tend to come earlier in a company’s lifecycle.
Which raises an intriguing idea…
What If You Could Invest in HALO Companies — Before They Go Public?
Instead of buying established HALO stocks, what if you bought HALO startups?
Think about it:

Before a pipeline giant controlled thousands of miles of energy infrastructure, it was seeking financing for its first project.

Before a transmission operator became a multi-billion-dollar utility, it was a regional grid builder.

Before a rail consolidator dominated freight corridors, it was acquiring overlooked lines at bargain prices.

Heavy asset, low obsolescence businesses don’t start out as huge, cash-flowing enterprise. They start small. And since they need capital to get started, investors can get in at ground-floor prices.
That’s why, at Crowdability, we’re starting to do research on private companies building:

Next-generation power infrastructure.

Data-center real estate for AI.

Water treatment and waste management systems.

Energy storage networks.

Industrial logistics hubs.

These aren’t software or AI companies. They’re physical, asset-backed businesses. And unlike publicly traded HALO stocks, they’re often valued based on early-stage metrics, not mature earnings multiples.
Of course, asset-heavy startups aren’t risk-free. For example, there’s financing risk and construction risk, and execution is critical.
But the combination of tangible assets and low technological obsolescence can create a powerful risk-reward profile — especially when valuations are still reasonable.
The Smart Rotation May Be Private
The HALO thesis makes sense. But when an investment thesis becomes consensus, future returns often shrink.
This is why the next great rotation might not be into HALO stocks, but HALO startups.
And that’s why, this year, we plan to bring you several HALO startups to review.
So stay tuned. Because if HALO stocks represent durability, HALO startups could represent durability — plus big upside.
Happy Investing,
]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA[Tooth Fairy Is Offering Returns of 17%]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/tooth-fairy-is-offering-returns-of-17</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/tooth-fairy-is-offering-returns-of-17#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/tooth-fairy-is-offering-returns-of-17</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:21:00 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Billionaires Have a New Favorite Town The world&#8217;s uber-wealthy are all flocking to the same U.S. city. Think it&#8217;s New York, L.A., or Silicon Valley? Guess again! &#187; Young People Want Off the Grid &#8212; That&#8217;s Good for Business Members of the Gen-Z generation are going &#8220;low-tech.&#8221; And as it turns out, their old-school lifestyle [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Billionaires Have a New Favorite Town
The world’s uber-wealthy are all flocking to the same U.S. city. Think it’s New York, L.A., or Silicon Valley? Guess again! »
Young People Want Off the Grid — That’s Good for Business
Members of the Gen-Z generation are going “low-tech.” And as it turns out, their old-school lifestyle is great for business and the economy. Check it out »
One Man Accidentally Summoned a Robot Army
When Sammy Azdoufal activated his new robot vacuum, he had no idea he’d just taken control of a robotic surveillance network. Story here »
Why Do Basketball Shoes Squeak?
Ever wonder why shoes squeak on a basketball court? Earthquakes, “Star Wars,” and Leonardo da Vinci all play a role in the answer. Get the scoop »
Tooth Fairy Is Offering Returns of 17%
Where can you find an investment opportunity offering returns as high as 17%? Look under your pillow »
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            <title><![CDATA[The Surprising $100 Billion Market You Need Exposure to Now]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/the-surprising-100-billion-market-you-need-exposure-to-now</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/the-surprising-100-billion-market-you-need-exposure-to-now#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/the-surprising-100-billion-market-you-need-exposure-to-now</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:00:50 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A decade ago, if you wanted to invest in world-changing private companies, you had one option: Wait. Specifically, you had to wait for a private company to go public in an IPO. And by the time you could finally buy shares in the stock market, the biggest gains were already gone. But meanwhile, slowly but [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[A decade ago, if you wanted to invest in world-changing private companies, you had one option:
Wait. Specifically, you had to wait for a private company to go public in an IPO. And by the time you could finally buy shares in the stock market, the biggest gains were already gone.
But meanwhile, slowly but surely, a new market was emerging where you could buy private shares. A decade ago, this market was worth close to zero. But now, according to industry research released last week, it’s worth $100 billion.
$100 billion is a surprising number. It’s huge. It’s the same size as the market for IPOs.
If you’re looking to build wealth, you need to know about this. Now is the time.
The Big Shift
As long-time Crowdability readers know, today’s highest-potential companies aren’t public. Instead, they’re fast-growing private startups focused on emerging sectors including space, AI, and autonomous weapons.
The private market is where the growth is, and where nearly all the profits are being earned.
Historically, access to the private markets was limited to venture capitalists or wealthy angel investors. Ordinary investors had no way to get exposure.
But now, according to a Special Report from Pitchbook, a research company owned by Morningstar, the world has changed…
Introducing “Venture Secondaries”
The reason for this change is simple: venture secondaries.
Venture secondaries are private startup shares you buy from someone who already owns them. The seller might be an early employee of the startup who received shares as part of her compensation package, an early angel investor in the startup, or a venture capital fund.
For the seller, this is a chance to take some money off the table. For you, it’s a chance to buy into proven, world-changing companies that are poised to go public or get acquired — companies like SpaceX, OpenAI, Anduril, Revolut, Kalshi, and hundreds of others.
As mentioned earlier, this market barely existed a decade ago.
But recently, it’s exploded…
As Big as IPOs
To those of us in the industry, one of the charts in the Pitchbook report was mind-blowing.
The chart compares the size of three markets: venture secondaries, IPOs, and M&amp;A. These markets are the three main ways that startup investors make their profits.
Here’s the chart:

As you can see, the Secondary market — a market that was effectively worth zero a decade ago — has grown to be about the same size as the market for IPOs.
In other words, the market for buying and selling shares of private startups has become as important as the IPO or M&amp;A markets.
This isn’t a fad or incremental growth. This is a structural shift that’s here to stay.
Three Reasons This Market Is Exploding
There are three main reasons this market has become so important and entrenched:
1. Companies Are Staying Private Longer
The average time to IPO has increased dramatically over the past few decades, from four or five years, to twelve to sixteen years. That means more of a company’s value is being created while it’s still private — and more of its profits are being earned by private investors.
2. Early Investors Want Liquidity
Employees and early backers don’t always want to wait for the payout from an IPO or acquisition. Secondary markets provide a release valve so they can turn their shares into cash.
3. Institutional Capital Is Flooding In
Private equity firms, hedge funds, family offices — they’ve all recognized that venture secondaries offer access to the most exciting companies, and the biggest potential returns.
When institutional capital pours in, markets scale. And that’s exactly what’s happened.
Why This Matters for Ordinary Investors
If you’re only investing in the stock market, you’re missing the bigger picture.
The most explosive companies — SpaceX, Anduril, and hundreds of others — are being built privately.
Historically, Main Street investors never had a chance to invest in companies like these. But now there are several ways to get exposure, including secondary purchases, pooled funds that contain one particular startup’s shares, and publicly traded funds that invest in private startups.
The menu of options is expanding. But so too is the complexity...
The Catch
This isn’t the type of market where you click a “Buy” button and you’re all set.
Secondary pricing can vary widely. Access can be tricky. And information isn’t transparent.
A layer of quality control is critical. You need to know what you’re doing.
That’s why simply knowing the market exists isn’t enough.
At least at first, you’ll need guidance.
We Can Help
The secondary market has become a core pillar of venture capital — and a rich source of market-beating returns.
And for the first time, individual investors like you have real pathways into this world.
The question isn’t whether the secondary market will matter. It already does. The question is whether you’ll participate intelligently.
To learn more about how we can help, check out Private Market Profits. Or give our Customer Care team a call at 1-844-311-3191.
Happy Investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[The CEO of Burger King Wants You to Call Him]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/the-ceo-of-burger-king-wants-you-to-call-him</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/the-ceo-of-burger-king-wants-you-to-call-him#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/the-ceo-of-burger-king-wants-you-to-call-him</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:06:58 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This Startup Turns Pigeons into Drones From the &#8220;What in the world?&#8221; files, this Russian startup is hacking the brains of pigeons. Wait &#8216;til you find out why &#187; &#8220;Dad Shoes&#8221; are Hot! Dads may not be hip to the latest fashion trends. But somehow, they&#8217;re wearing the hottest footwear on the market. Story here [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[This Startup Turns Pigeons into Drones
From the “What in the world?” files, this Russian startup is hacking the brains of pigeons. Wait ‘til you find out why »
“Dad Shoes” are Hot!
Dads may not be hip to the latest fashion trends. But somehow, they’re wearing the hottest footwear on the market. Story here »
Can We Interest You in a Bucket of Coffee?
Some mornings, a cup of coffee just isn’t enough. How about a bucket? Drink up »
Einstein Does Your Work While You Sleep
Thirty years ago, the tough kids would bully the school nerd into doing their homework. Now they can just ask Einstein »
The CEO of Burger King Wants You to Call Him
Have a suggestion for Burger King? Just give the CEO a call. Here's his direct line »
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            <title><![CDATA[4.5% Returns from the Stock Market? Time to Look Elsewhere]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/4-5-returns-from-the-stock-market-time-to-look-elsewhere</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/4-5-returns-from-the-stock-market-time-to-look-elsewhere#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/4-5-returns-from-the-stock-market-time-to-look-elsewhere</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:38:20 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Well folks, it&#8217;s a &#8220;good news, bad news&#8221; situation. The bad news? A new report from Vanguard says stocks will deliver annual returns of just 4.5% over the next decade. At that rate, it would take sixteen years to double your money. Yikes. But now the good news: If you&#8217;re looking to make returns that [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Eller]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Well folks, it’s a “good news, bad news” situation.
The bad news? A new report from Vanguard says stocks will deliver annual returns of just 4.5% over the next decade. At that rate, it would take sixteen years to double your money. Yikes.
But now the good news: If you’re looking to make returns that can crush the stock market — I’m talking 10x your money and then some — I’ve got you covered.
The Party’s Over
First, let’s dive into the “bad news.”
According to Vanguard’s 2026 Outlook, and as shown in the red box below, U.S. stocks are projected to return just four to five percent per year over the next ten years.

At first blush, that might seem unthinkable. After all, for the past ten years (2016-2025), the S&amp;P 500 delivered average annual returns of more than 16%, including four years when returns were north of 20%.
But now we can only expect to earn 4% or 5%? Once you factor in inflation, that means real returns will be close to zero.
What’s going on here?
Why the Market’s in Trouble
For starters, there’s a growing consensus that U.S. tech stocks — the ones that have been leading the charge in recent years — may be headed for a slowdown.
Furthermore, there’s troubling signs from the “Buffett Indicator,” which tracks the ratio of the stock market’s value to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Essentially, investing legend Warren Buffett believed that, when the stock market is valued significantly higher than the country’s GDP, it indicates the market is overvalued.
Any ratio above 200% is considered “playing with fire.” Right now, the Buffett Indicator sits at about 224%, meaning the market could be due for a major correction.
So if stocks aren’t poised to deliver the types of returns we’re after, where can we turn?
Traditionally, when investors are worried about stocks, they shift to bonds. But ever since 2022, driven by high inflation and rising interest rates, stocks and bonds have shown a strong positive correlation. That means they move in tandem rather than providing diversification.
Where can you turn if you’re looking to diversify — and you’re looking to earn market-crushing returns?
Here’s Where to Turn
If you’re a regular reader of Crowdability, you know that, historically, startup investing has crushed the stock market.
According to Cambridge Associates, a financial advisor whose clients include the Rockefeller Family and the Bill Gates Foundation, over the last twenty-five years, early-stage startups have produced average annual returns of 58% — including the winners and the losers.
That’s not a typo. 58%. That’s nearly 13x more than the projected 4.5% returns from the stock market. And at 58%, instead of doubling your money every sixteen years, you’d double it about every fourteen months.
Of course, not every deal is winner. But on average, startup investing has trounced the public markets. And the winners can deliver mind-blowing returns.
Let me show you what I mean…
Enough to Turn $1,000 into $5 Million
You might have heard about the life-changing returns from early investments in Facebook, Uber, and Airbnb — deals that helped investors pocket 400x, 2,000x, even 5,000x their money. Keep in mind: a 5,000x gain is enough to turn $1,000 into $5 million.
But how about real-world results from real-world investors like you?
Here’s a tiny sample of the winners that Crowdability has introduced readers to:
Striking Gold at Crowdability

Beta Bionics (BBNX) is a med-tech company. It’s developed a “bionic pancreas” to treat diabetes. Crowdability readers have already made peak gains of 10x their money.
OurBond is a personal-security company. It just went public a few weeks ago (OBAI). In a little more than a year, our readers are already sitting on peak gains of 6.5x their money.
Cruise Automation, which builds software for self-driving cars, was acquired by GM for $1 billion. In about one year, any of our readers who invested landed a 10-bagger.

Our readers are also sitting on multi-baggers from Liquid Piston, 20/20 BioLabs, CNS Pharmaceuticals, InnaMed, Oracle Health, Atom Limbs, Smart Tire, Rentberry, Avadain, RAD AI, and many others.
To be clear — every one of these startups was featured in Crowdability. And that’s the key…
We’re Here to Help You Make Money
Our mission at Crowdability is to introduce you to winning startup opportunities like these.
Whether it’s through our free Deals service, which uses proprietary software to gather interesting deals for your review…
Or through our premium recommendation service Private Market Profits, where you’ll receive one hand-picked recommendation each month — a startup that has the potential to deliver at least 10x your money, and often far more.
As you learned today, the stock market may not be a good place to make money right now. Crowdability is here to point you in a better direction.
To start investing, click any of the links above, or give us a call at 844-311-3191.
Happy investing!
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            <title><![CDATA[Warning: Don’t Invest in Robinhood’s IPO Tomorrow]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/warning-dont-invest-in-robinhoods-ipo-tomorrow</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/warning-dont-invest-in-robinhoods-ipo-tomorrow#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/warning-dont-invest-in-robinhoods-ipo-tomorrow</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:00:02 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Tomorrow, something interesting (and potentially dangerous) is expected to hit the market: Robinhood&#8217;s new venture fund is slated to start trading. If history is any guide, the hype will be intense. Headlines will promise you access to some of the world&#8217;s most coveted private startups &#8212; names like Databricks, Ramp, and Oura. The pitch is [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Advice]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Tomorrow, something interesting (and potentially dangerous) is expected to hit the market:
Robinhood’s new venture fund is slated to start trading. If history is any guide, the hype will be intense. Headlines will promise you access to some of the world’s most coveted private startups — names like Databricks, Ramp, and Oura.
The pitch is seductive. “Finally, retail investors can own the next generation of tech unicorns.”
But before you click the “buy” button tomorrow, let me warn you:
Don’t invest in the IPO.
The Illusion of Access
On the surface, Robinhood’s venture-capital fund looks promising.
It’s called Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI). You don’t need to be a wealthy “accredited” investor to get access to it, and you don’t need to write a big check.
Just buy the ticker — it goes public at $25 per share — and you’re in.
But here’s the big catch with RVI:
You’re not investing in startups. You’re investing in a fund that owns startups.
In this case, the distinction is highly significant. Let me explain.
This Fund Won’t “Behave” Rationally
To make its offering available to all, Robinhood created an investment vehicle called a closed-end fund.
Here’s what’s important to know about closed-end funds. The share price often has little to do with the value — the “net asset value” or “NAV” ­— of the companies inside the fund.
Such funds frequently trade at big premiums or discounts, or swing violently between the two extremes. Furthermore, these movements can persist for years.
In other words, even if the startups inside the portfolio crush it, the fund’s share price might not follow. Instead, the price will likely be driven by sentiment. And that’s a recipe for distortion.
Bottom line: excitement might drive RVI’s share price far above its net asset value — only for gravity to eventually take over.
Morningstar Calls it “Reckless” and a “Disaster”
Criticism about the fund from financial professionals has been jarring.
For example, Morningstar analyst Bryan Armour described RVI as “reckless” for average investors and warned it could be a “disaster.”
That’s unusually strong language in a world where analysts typically hedge their commentary.
But the concern is understandable. Investors may believe they’re buying access to the rocketship-like growth of the private markets — when in reality they’re buying a sentiment-driven fund.
Two Smarter Paths 
So, if you’re seeking exposure to the private markets, what are your alternatives?
Here are two options — one for accredited investors, and one for non-accredited investors.
For Accredited InvestorsIf you’re an accredited investor (income of at least $200k, or net worth of at least $1 million), you can invest in private companies directly.
In other words, instead of buying a closed-end fund that holds Databricks or Oura, you can often access those shares through the “secondary platforms” — where early shareholders or investors sell some of their shares, and accredited investors buy them.
That removes the sentiment premium, and gives you clean exposure to these companies’ upside.
This is precisely what Crowdability helps our accredited readers do.
For Non-accredited InvestorsNon-accredited investors have options, too.
Every month, hundreds of startups raise capital from everyday investors. Very few of these deals deserve your capital. But the right deals can help transform your financial future.
At Crowdability, we have a recommendation service that introduces you to a single, hand-picked private startup each month.
The minimum investments for these deals are just a few hundred dollars — and each one can potentially deliver venture-scale returns of 10x your money or more. Our track record proves it.
The Bottom Line
Robinhood’s venture fund will likely attract enormous attention tomorrow. And for many investors, it will feel like progress — a symbolic step toward broader access.
But access alone doesn’t create returns. Structure matters. Pricing matters. Timing matters. And buying a closed-end fund during peak enthusiasm has historically been a dangerous bet.
If you’d prefer the real thing, we can help.
To learn more, check out Private Market Profits, our premium recommendation service. And if you’d rather talk to someone, give us a call at 844-311-3191.
Happy investing,
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            <title><![CDATA[The Surprising Way To Beat the S&P 500 by 3,000%]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/the-surprising-way-to-beat-the-sp-500-by-3000</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/the-surprising-way-to-beat-the-sp-500-by-3000#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/the-surprising-way-to-beat-the-sp-500-by-3000</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:57:19 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Your Chance to Become Immortal Want to live forever? This longevity guru will show you how to stop aging &#8212; but it&#8217;ll cost you &#187; The Star of the Olympics Isn&#8217;t Human The breakout star of the Winter Olympics isn&#8217;t a skier, a snowboarder, or a hockey player. It&#8217;s not even an athlete. It&#8217;s this [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Crowdability]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Friday Digest]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Your Chance to Become Immortal
Want to live forever? This longevity guru will show you how to stop aging — but it’ll cost you »
The Star of the Olympics Isn’t Human
The breakout star of the Winter Olympics isn’t a skier, a snowboarder, or a hockey player. It’s not even an athlete. It’s this »
Solo Cups Have Become High Fashion
They’ve been a staple of frat parties for years. Now they’re the basis for a line of high-end fashion. Get the scoop »
A Five-Figure Prize is Yours — If You Can Crack the Code
Inspired by Sir Isaac Newton, the Great British Treasure Hunt is underway. And to the winner will go a small fortune. Start the hunt here »
The Surprising Way To Beat the S&amp;P 500 by 3,000%
Over the past twenty years, an alternative investment has outperformed the S&amp;P 500 by 3,000%. It’s not wine, art, or sports memorabilia. Can you guess what it is? »
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            <title><![CDATA[Which Would You Rather Earn? 20% or 148%?]]></title>
            <link>https://crowdability.com/article/which-would-you-rather-earn-20-or-148</link>
            <comments><![CDATA[https://crowdability.com/article/which-would-you-rather-earn-20-or-148#disqus_thread#disqus_thread]]></comments>
            <guid>https://crowdability.com/article/which-would-you-rather-earn-20-or-148</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:38:01 EST</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Time for a pop quiz! Here we go: Here are the results of two investments. Which one would you rather invest in? A. 20% in a year. B. 148% in a year. Easy, right? With &#8220;B,&#8221; you&#8217;d make 148% &#8212; that&#8217;s 7x more than &#8220;A.&#8221; Today, I&#8217;ll show you the two investments that delivered these [...]]]></description>
            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matthew Milner]]></dc:creator>
            <category><![CDATA[Investing Ideas]]></category>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[Time for a pop quiz! Here we go:
Here are the results of two investments. Which one would you rather invest in?
A. 20% in a year.
B. 148% in a year.
Easy, right? With “B,” you’d make 148% — that’s 7x more than “A.”
Today, I’ll show you the two investments that delivered these returns…
Then I’ll explain how to invest in the winner.
QQQ for a 20% Return — Pretty Good
Investors looking to hit the “easy” button for growth often pile into QQQ.

Invesco QQQ Trust (ticker: QQQ) is one of the world's largest ETFs. Designed to track the performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index, it’s heavily weighted toward mega-cap tech and growth companies including Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet.
Such companies had a banner year in 2025. Alphabet was up 65%. Nvidia was up 39%. Microsoft was about 15%. That’s why, overall, QQQ was up about 20% for the year. 
Not bad, right? But compared to a different investment, QQQ was a dog…
Pre-IPO Companies for a 148% Return — Crazy Good
Caplight is a research and trading company that focuses on the private markets.
Its “Top 20 Index” tracks the performance of the largest pre-IPO companies.

The index is dominated by OpenAI, SpaceX, Anthropic, xAI, Databricks, and Stripe — six companies that account for 86% of the index by valuation.
And those who invested in these names, rather than public market darlings like NVIDIA, Google, and Amazon, crushed QQQ.
Let me show you:

As you can see, the Caplight Top 20 beat QQQ by 7x.
What’s going on here?
Blast Off! (Now It Happens in the Private Markets)
In the past, companies would IPO after four or five years.
But today, thanks to the nearly unlimited capital that’s available in the private market, companies are waiting to IPO for twelve to sixteen years.
Because of all those extra years, more of a company’s growth — its business growth, and also its growth in valuation — is taking place in the private market.
That’s why there are currently ~1,500 private companies valued at $1 billion or more, up from just 10 of them in 2000.
The extraordinary growth of these unicorns is leading private investors to earn returns that crush the returns of stock-market investors. Again, investors in the Caplight 20 made 7x more money last year than investors in the QQQ.
Bottom line: if you’re really looking to earn the biggest returns, you need exposure to the private markets.
Earn Stronger Returns
Historically, investors would allocate to the private markets as a way to diversify.
But increasingly, the private market is also being recognized for something else: it’s a way to earn market-beating returns.
At Crowdabililty, we educate you about the private markets, show you deals you can invest in — and for our premium readers, we recommend one new startup investment each month.
As private-equity giant Hamilton Lane recently reported, 97% of financial advisors who work with wealthy investors already allocate up to 20% of their clients’ assets to the private markets — and 86% of them are planning to increase their allocations in 2026.
How about you? Are you planning to increase your allocation to the private markets in 2026?
Let me know in the comments section below.
Happy Investing
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