What if there was a way for you to invest in private companies through the public market?

And no, not through some random secondary derivative seller that you found on the fifth page of Google search results…

But through the Robinhood app on your phone?

It may sound too good to be true, but that’s exactly what the Robinhood Ventures Fund I is. And it’s IPOing in a matter of weeks.

We cover what companies are in the fund (Databricks and Stripe, anyone?) and how to get exposure to it below.

In this issue:

Let’s begin. But first, an AI bubble update from Brownstone Research:

This is not financial advice. Always do your own research. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

In partnership with Brownstone Research

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US stocks edged higher Tuesday in choppy trading as Wall Street continued digesting the AI disruption fears that have hammered markets in recent weeks.

Robinhood is launching its first publicly available private equity fund. That means retail investors like you and us can access the upcoming IPO and get exposure to some top-tier private tech companies. We were hoping to see some of the big AI companies or SpaceX in the fund, but most of those companies plan to IPO this year anyway, so it makes sense that they aren’t here. See all 8 companies in our post. Do your own research, and this is not financial advice or an advertisement.

Apple jumped 3% after Bloomberg reported the company is ramping up development of three AI-powered wearables: smart glasses, a pendant, and camera-equipped AirPods. All three devices are being built around Siri. The glasses are targeting production by December with a 2027 release.

The possibility of war between Iran and the US is closer “than most Americans realize,” according to Axios. After Iran’s killing of protestors in January, Trump’s strategy has been to pursue nuclear talks with the country while also building up huge military force in case peace doesn’t work out. Note that Iran did just announce a "general agreement" with the US on a potential nuclear deal, lowering oil prices.

Warner Bros. Discovery reopened talks with Paramount, giving the studio one week to beat Netflix's $82.7 billion offer. Paramount's current bid of $30 per share values the whole company at $108.4 billion. Netflix called Paramount's maneuvering "antics."

The CFTC is throwing its weight behind prediction markets in its fight against state gambling regulators. Chairman Michael Selig filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Crypto.com in Nevada, arguing these platforms fall under federal jurisdiction, not state gambling laws. Utah's governor fired back: "These prediction markets are gambling, pure and simple."

Palo Alto Networks plunged nearly 7% after hours despite beating Q2 estimates, as it cut its full-year earnings outlook. EPS came in at $1.03 versus $0.94 expected, revenue rose 15% to $2.59 billion, but the lowered guidance spooked investors.

General Mills sank 7% after lowering its fiscal 2026 outlook, now projecting organic sales down 1.5% to 2% and adjusted EPS off as much as 20%, citing weak consumer sentiment and "significant consumer stress."

eToro soared 20% on a Q4 beat, with assets under administration climbing 11% year over year to $18.5 billion as retail trading activity picked up across asset classes.

ZIM shares surged 35% after Germany's Hapag-Lloyd agreed to buy the Israeli shipper in a $4.2 billion deal, consolidating two major global freight operators.

Private software companies are releasing earnings early to calm lender nerves over AI disruption. McAfee, Rocket Software, and Perforce all disclosed financials ahead of schedule as "SaaSpocalypse" fears continue hammering the sector's debt.

Palantir moved its headquarters to Miami from Denver, joining the growing "Wall Street South" exodus to Florida's lower taxes and lighter regulation.

Cathie Wood's ARKK hit a painful milestone: the fund is now down over 50% over the past five years, while the Nasdaq 100 gained 80%. Assets have cratered from $28 billion at peak Covid-era euphoria to roughly $6 billion today.

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Cheers,
Brandon & Blake of Invested Inc