Revolutionizing Private Market Investing
By Sterling Orr, Chief Investment Officer at The Kernel
I’m excited to announce that The Kernel is deepening its partnership with KingsCrowd to support their current fundraise and collaborate on reshaping private market investing through data and innovation.
The Shifting Investment Paradigm
The statistics tell a compelling story: the average time to IPO has nearly tripled from 4.5 to 12 years, while the number of public companies continues to shrink. This fundamental shift means that the most significant growth opportunities now often exist exclusively in private markets.
Simultaneously, we’re witnessing an unprecedented democratization of investing. Retail investor participation has surged through platforms like Robinhood and various fintech tools, bringing investment opportunities to previously excluded demographics. Regulatory improvements through the JOBS Act and Regulation Crowdfunding have further supported this evolution, creating access to a $13 trillion market of U.S. private assets that was once reserved for institutional players.
Where The Kernel and KingsCrowd Align
At The Kernel, we identify, validate, deploy, and invest in innovative emerging technologies. Our model bridges the gap between technology startups, global enterprises, and capital providers through a unique integrated approach. KingsCrowd complements this vision perfectly with their data-first strategy for making private markets more transparent and accessible.
The synergies between our organizations are multifaceted:
- Complementary Expertise: The Kernel brings deep experience in technical validation and enterprise implementation, while KingsCrowd provides unparalleled data analysis and market intelligence.
- Shared Market Focus: Both companies operate at the intersection of emerging technology, investment capital, and market access.
- Mutual Value Creation: Our partnership enhances deal quality for investors while providing founders with robust validation and growth pathways.
- Ecosystem Development: Together, we’re building infrastructure that supports all stakeholders in the private investment space.
KingsCrowd: Data-Driven Solutions for Private Markets
What makes KingsCrowd particularly compelling is their comprehensive approach to private market data. They’ve built the largest standardized financial database of private companies in the U.S., powering solutions for retail investors, institutions, and founders alike.
For retail investors, KingsCrowd simplifies the complex, fragmented private market landscape by aggregating investment opportunities and providing analytical tools for informed decision-making. Their platform offers standardized financial information, valuations, and market growth data that was previously unavailable to individual investors.
Institutions benefit from KingsCrowd’s market intelligence capabilities, which provide insights for portfolio construction and opportunity identification. Meanwhile, founders gain access to advisory services including deal structuring, capital raising strategies, and investor relations tools.
Recent strategic acquisitions, such as Lustro (an investor relations platform), demonstrate KingsCrowd’s commitment to building a comprehensive ecosystem that serves all market participants while continuously enhancing their data capabilities.
The Future of Private Market Investing
What distinguishes KingsCrowd from competitors is their focus on data and infrastructure rather than simply being another marketplace. This positions them more like financial data giants such as Bloomberg or S&P, with the potential for significantly higher long-term valuation and impact.
At The Kernel, we recognize this distinctive value proposition. Our partnership with KingsCrowd represents a shared vision for transforming private market investing through data-driven insights and innovative technology solutions.
By supporting KingsCrowd’s fundraise and deepening our collaborative efforts, we’re not just backing a company – we’re investing in infrastructure that will reshape how capital flows to innovative businesses.
A Partnership Built on Shared Values
What makes this partnership particularly powerful is our shared commitment to democratizing access to quality investment opportunities while maintaining high standards. The Kernel’s rigorous technical validation complements KingsCrowd’s data-driven evaluation methodology, creating a more transparent and efficient private capital marketplace.
For investors, this means access to thoroughly vetted opportunities backed by comprehensive data. For founders, it provides a clearer pathway to appropriate capital and strategic support. And for the broader ecosystem, it establishes standards that elevate the entire private investment landscape.
Looking Ahead
As we formalize our support for KingsCrowd’s fundraising efforts, we’re excited about the potential our combined strengths bring to the market. The convergence of The Kernel’s technology expertise and KingsCrowd’s data capabilities creates a powerful platform for innovation and investment in the private markets.
We invite our network to learn more about KingsCrowd and consider participating in their current fundraise. Together, we’re building the infrastructure for the next generation of private market investing – more accessible, data-driven, and aligned with the needs of all participants in the innovation economy.
Sterling Orr is the Chief Investment Officer at The Kernel, where he leads initiatives focused on identifying and implementing emerging technologies across the company’s portfolio and client base.
About The Kernel
Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, The Kernel is a unique advisory firm serving emerging technologies, global enterprises, and capital providers. Founded by a team of veteran technologists and investment management professionals, The Kernel is united by a mission to drive growth through innovation. With a proven model of identifying, validating, deploying, and investing in emerging technologies, The Kernel consistently delivers successful outcomes for its enterprise clients and capital partners. Learn more at https://thekernel.io.
