Frequently Asked Questions

How can we help? Get the answers to the top questions customers ask us.

Investor

Shareholder

Issuers

How it Works

Investor

Getting Started

How do I invest on EquityZen?

Do I need to be an Accredited Investor to sign up on EquityZen?

Is this crowdfunding?

What's the minimum investment size?

Are there investment fees?

How are the investments structured?

Are investment fees negotiable?

I just joined and I don't see any companies to invest in. Why is this?

What am I purchasing when I invest?

Who are you buying these shares from?

Can I invest via EquityZen if I don't live in the United States?

Can I invest with a self-directed IRA or 401K?

Do I own the stock in these companies?

How do you price the shares?

Can you provide the company’s financials, exit strategy and prospectus?

Can non-accredited investors invest?

How do I verify my accreditation status?

Why should I submit interest in a company?

I submitted interest in a company and now it's missing from My Watchlist. Where did it go?

How do I close my EquityZen account?

How do I access, transfer, or update my personal data?

Investment Process

What does availability Live, Waitlist and Preview mean?

How are you different from other secondary marketplaces?

What kind of paperwork do I receive as an investor?

What are the commitments to investing in a deal? Is the Term Sheet binding?

How do I change my investment size?

When can I expect my investment to be completed?

When do I need to send funds for my investment?

What does it mean when an offering has a Waitlist?

What is a Benefit Plan Investor?

Investments Definition for purposes of section 2(a)(51) (definition of qualified purchaser)

Sending funds internationally with TransferWise

Accredited Investor

Why Do I Have to Confirm My Accredited Investor Status?

What Individuals are Accredited Investors?

What Entities are Accredited Investors?

What other kinds of entities qualify as Accredited Investors?

Do non-U.S investors have to qualify as accredited investors as well?

Can anyone other than a “spouse” be included in the calculation of net worth or income under the Accredited Investor definition?

What is an asset?

What is an investment?

What is the difference between an investment and an asset?

What is a family office?

Who is a family client?

Express Deals

What is an Express Deal?

Can I list my Express Deals sell order for more or less than the suggested price range?

What does Market Demand mean when I am creating a sell order for an Express Deal?

Why can I sell more of my shares in one particular company versus another?

What happens after I create my sell order?

Can I modify and/or cancel my sell order once it has been posted?

My sell order has been live on your platform for weeks. How come my sell order hasn’t been filled yet?

I tried to invest in an Express Deal but I was kicked out. What happened?

Is there a minimum amount of time I must hold my investment before I am able to sell through an Express Deal?

Why am I unable to adjust my investment size for an Express Deal?

I created a sell order through the Express Deals feature. Will I need to pay a placement fee even if my order is not filled?

I previously invested in Company X via an Express Deal. Am I able to sell my position? If so, how long must I hold my investment before I am able to do so?

When investing in an Express Deal, how long do I have to fund my investment?

Direct Share Acquisitions

What is a Direct Share Acquisition?

How are Direct Share Acquisitions structured?

How are Direct Share Acquisitions priced?

How do I know if a Direct Share Acquisition is right for me?

What are the risks or special considerations for a Direct Share Acquisition?

Terminology

What is the definition of a U.S. person (as defined by the IRS)?

What is a “U.S. person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S?

What is a Proof of Residence?

What does "Capital Ratio" on your term sheet mean?

What does “Aggregate Commitments” on your term sheet mean?

What is the Right of First Refusal clause?

What is a Qualified Purchaser under the Investment Company Act?

Investment Management

Will I receive any formal or legal documents stating my investment?

How can I find the documents from my investment?

How is my investment treated for tax purposes?

Will I be receiving any financial updates for my investment? How often?

How long can I hold this investment?

When can I expect the company I’m in investing in to go public or get acquired?

What happens if a company in which I invested goes public?

Can I sell before the company goes public? What are the methods if I want to exit or cash out my investment?

The company I invested in gets acquired - what happens next?

What happens to my potential ownership if there's a secondary offering?

Is there a share price on the day I decide to sell?

What if I want to transfer my investment?

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?

How do I enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for my account?

If I enable two-factor authentication (2FA), when will I be asked to use it?

Do I have to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for my account?

What authenticator app can I use for two-factor authentication (2FA)?

Can I use an authenticator app from a device other than my phone (like an iPad or computer?)

What happens if my time-based authentication code expires before I enter it?

What happens if I lose my device that has my authenticator app on it?

How do I disable two-factor authentication (2FA) from my account?

Does EquityZen provide two-factor authentication (2FA) backup codes?

Shareholder

Getting Started

How do I sell my shares on EquityZen?

How are your transactions structured?

What are the requirements for a private company to be included in EquityZen's offerings?

Can I sell my shares via EquityZen if I don't live in the United States?

What are sale minimums?

Can I sell shares of a company not based in the United States?

Can I sell unvested shares?

Can I sell my options?

How do you price the shares?

What are your fees?

Do I need board level approval to sell my shares on EquityZen?

Can I sell unvested RSUs?

How do I close my EquityZen account?

How do I access, transfer, or update my personal data?

Exploring a Sale

Why does EquityZen need my (business) address?

What's the difference between Individual and Entity?

What if I can’t find my company?

What if I own multiple classes of stock?

Why do I need my Grant Documents?

Transaction Process

Does the company need to waive its ROFR as part of the deal?

What does the process look like if the company has a ROFR?

What documents are needed to complete my sale?

Will my company know about my sale?

How is my sale treated for tax purposes?

How secure is my personal information and identity at EquityZen?

Why do I need to provide my SSN?

Can I choose what options/shares to sell?

What is allocation percentage?

Terminology

What is an 83(b) election?

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?

How do I enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for my account?

If I enable two-factor authentication (2FA), when will I be asked to use it?

Do I have to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for my account?

What authenticator app can I use for two-factor authentication (2FA)?

Can I use an authenticator app from a device other than my phone (like an iPad or computer?)

What happens if my time-based authentication code expires before I enter it?

What happens if I lose my device that has my authenticator app on it?

How do I disable two-factor authentication (2FA) from my account?

Does EquityZen provide two-factor authentication (2FA) backup codes?

Issuers

How it Works

Why should I offer my employees liquidity?

How does this affect our Cap Table?

What company information do investor(s) receive?

What voting or information rights are transferred to a new investor(s)?

Can I control who can sell?

Can I control how much they can sell?

Can I control when they can sell?

Who are the investors on your platform?

How are investments marketed?

Investment opportunities posted on this website are "private placements" of securities that are not publicly traded, are subject to holding period requirements, and are intended for investors who do not need a liquid investment. Investing in private companies may be considered highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of substantial loss of investment. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment. See our Risk Factors for a more detailed explanation of the risks involved by investing through EquityZen’s platform.

EquityZen Securities LLC (“EquityZen Securities”) is a subsidiary of EquityZen Inc. EquityZen Securities is a broker/dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is a FINRA/SIPC member firm.

Equity securities are offered through EquityZen Securities. Check the background of this firm on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

EquityZen Inc. was awarded a 2024 Fintech Breakthrough Award by Tech Breakthrough LLC on March 19, 2025, based on the prior year and covering calendar year 2024, and has compensated FinTech Breakthrough LLC for use of its name and logo in connection with the award. FinTech Breakthrough LLC is a third party and has no affiliation with EquityZen.

EquityZen created the ticker symbols referenced on this page for use solely on the EquityZen platform. They do not refer to any publicly traded stock. EquityZen does not have an affiliation with, formal relationship with, or endorsement from any of the companies featured and none of the statements on the site should be attributed to those companies.

“Market Activity” and other transactional data displayed on this website is compiled by EquityZen and is confidential and historical in nature. Unauthorized use, distribution or reproduction is prohibited. Transactional information does not guarantee future investment results. EquityZen cannot guarantee finding or approving a transaction at any displayed price.

EquityZen.com is a website operated by EquityZen Inc. ("EquityZen"). By accessing this site and any pages thereof, you agree to be bound by our Terms of Use.
EquityZen and logo are trademarks of EquityZen Inc. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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