Morgan Stanley Buys EquityZen — and suddenly, the world of private investing just got a whole lot more interesting. It’s the kind of move that makes you stop scrolling and think: Wait, does this mean I can finally get a piece of the next SpaceX or Stripe before they go public?
This isn’t just another Wall Street power play. It’s the first major acquisition under new CEO Ted Pick, and it’s aimed straight at one of the hottest corners of finance right now — the booming world of private-company shares.
Morgan Stanley Buys EquityZen — and Shakes Up the Private Market Game
EquityZen isn’t exactly a household name — at least not yet. But if you’ve ever daydreamed about owning stock in a startup before it hits the market, this is the platform that’s been quietly making that happen.
Founded back in 2013, EquityZen connects early employees of private companies with investors hungry for a slice of pre-IPO magic. Think Uber in its early days.
With more than 800,000 registered users and 49,000 transactions across 450+ private companies, EquityZen has spent a decade building something rare: trust in a market that’s usually out of reach for regular investors.
Now, Morgan Stanley — the $2.5 trillion powerhouse — is stepping in to bring that world to its wealthy clients.
Ted Pick’s First Big Move as CEO
There’s a certain symbolism in this being Ted Pick’s first deal since taking over Morgan Stanley’s top spot in 2024.
Pick’s known for being a strategist — the kind of leader who reads where the game is going and moves early. And right now, the game is shifting away from traditional public markets toward private wealth access.
“Morgan Stanley is signaling that the future of wealth management is private,” one analyst told Bloomberg. “This deal isn’t just about EquityZen — it’s about the next generation of investors.”
The acquisition, which is expected to close in early 2026, comes as private companies are staying off Wall Street longer — and their valuations, even in the shadows, are skyrocketing.
Why This Deal Feels Personal — Not Just Corporate
For employees at startups sitting on paper wealth they can’t touch, this could be life-changing.
Until now, selling your private shares was often a maze of legal hurdles, NDAs, and uncertainty. But EquityZen has been the go-between, helping insiders trade equity safely while giving investors a shot at pre-IPO growth.
Now that Morgan Stanley is behind the wheel, it’s not just about access — it’s about legitimacy. This could make the private-share market mainstream.
It’s like opening a window into Silicon Valley’s inner circle — except this time, Wall Street’s handing you the binoculars.
Private Markets: The New Gold Rush
You can feel the shift. Everyone’s chasing the next big startup before it goes public. From venture capitalists to retail investors, the hunt is on for early access — and EquityZen’s marketplace sits right in the middle of that action.
By bringing the platform under its umbrella, Morgan Stanley is positioning itself as the go-to hub for high-net-worth clients wanting exposure to pre-IPO companies.
As The Financial Times put it, this isn’t about trading — it’s about transformation. The deal “extends Morgan Stanley’s reach into private groups,” connecting founders, employees, and investors under one umbrella of access and control.
For private companies, it means more say over how and when shares are traded. For Morgan Stanley’s clients, it means dipping their toes into a pool that was once reserved for insiders only.
And for the rest of us? It’s another sign that the wall between private and public investing is crumbling — fast.
A Glimpse Behind the Numbers
While the official purchase price hasn’t been revealed, insiders estimate that Morgan Stanley will invest around $100 million over the next two years to integrate the platform and scale its reach.
That’s a serious bet on the future of private finance.
It also fits perfectly with Morgan Stanley’s broader strategy: expanding its Wealth Management division, which has become its biggest growth engine.
The bank already partners with companies like Carta, offering equity management software for startups, and has launched programs to help advisors specialize in working with founders and tech executives.
In short? Morgan Stanley’s not just buying EquityZen — it’s buying into the future of how wealth gets built.
What Happens Next
The deal is expected to close in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. When it does, EquityZen will likely continue operating under its brand, but with Morgan Stanley’s resources supercharging its scale.
Analysts say this could spark a wave of copycat deals as other banks — Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, even fintech players like Robinhood — rush to build their own bridges into the private-market ecosystem.
Because here’s the truth: the next big financial revolution probably won’t happen on the stock exchange. It’ll happen quietly, on platforms like EquityZen — where the startups of tomorrow are already changing hands today.
It’s easy to see headlines like “Morgan Stanley Buys EquityZen” and think, big deal, another acquisition.
But this one’s different. It’s about access. It’s about leveling the playing field between Wall Street and Main Street — or at least closing the gap a little.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s a step toward a world where the next billion-dollar idea isn’t something you just read about — it’s something you can invest in.
Because behind every trade, there’s a dream: an employee cashing out stock options, an investor betting on the future, and a bank trying to stay ahead of the curve.
And this time, Morgan Stanley just made its move.
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Nishant Wagh is the founder of The Graval and a seasoned digital journalist with over 15 years of experience covering entertainment, media, and culture. He specializes in breaking news and trending stories told with accuracy, context, and depth.