The value of today’s top technology companies is skyrocketing. The valuation of OpenAI, for example, hit $80 billion in February 2024, marking a threefold increase over where its value stood in mid-2023.
That level of performance makes OpenAI and companies like it especially attractive to investors seeking to take advantage of the surge in tech growth. However, accessing investment avenues into those companies can be challenging.
“Large companies like OpenAI have access to capital privately, which means they are able to stay private for much longer than companies that don’t have that same level of access,” explains Robert Hodgins, Fund Manager at Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund. “This makes it extremely challenging for most investors to access opportunities with the large-name companies you hear about daily on the news.”
As Hodgins explains, this is a problem that has emerged over the last decade as tech investing in private equity has evolved. Through the Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund, he and his team fix the problem by connecting investors to cutting-edge technology companies through a private equity fund.
“With the Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund, we set out to bridge the gap that had appeared between accredited retail and private equity,” Hodgins says. “Our platform provides access to direct shares through our fund structure, opening the door for investors to benefit from the amazing growth that the largest private equity companies are experiencing. Investors who have been searching for a solution to the problems with private equity investing will find it at Sand Hill Road.”
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The strategy behind Sand Hill Road
Hodgins is a forward-thinking fund manager whose career has been marked by insightful investments and a keen eye for technological innovation. He brings to Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund strategic leadership and business acumen that has allowed him to foster a culture of innovation and excellence.
“My investment philosophy is rooted in a deep understanding of market dynamics coupled with a commitment to technological advancement,” Hodgins shares. “I’ve also made it my mission to identify and nurture high-growth potential within the tech sector. Through Sand Hill Road, I leverage those qualities to guide our private equity fund toward companies that are on the cusp of significant growth milestones.”
Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund collaborates with an exclusive network of private equity investors to channel investment into companies demonstrating strong performance and excellent market potential. Its private equity partners are primarily focused on the tech sector, pouring investments into companies like OpenAI, Neuralink, Stripe, DuckDuckGo, Instacart, and other significant private tech enterprises.
Additionally, unlike top private equity firms, Sandhill Road does not provide investors with financial advice. Its role is to provide a portal for accredited investors to have an ownership interest in the fund.
“We encourage investors to look at us as the Amazon of private equity,” Hodgins explains. “We’re not here to provide financial advice. In fact, we encourage all of our investors to have their financial advisor involved in their due diligence process every step of the way. Once you decide what you want to invest in, we provide access for you to have an ownership interest in the fund. And once a company goes public, we deliver the shares to the broker-dealer identified by our investors.”
The Sand Hill Road onboarding process
Sand Hill’s streamlined onboarding begins with an easy and transparent signup process that asks investors to provide verification of accreditation status. Investors are also asked to review necessary documents with the support of their financial advisor.
Once due diligence is complete, accredited investors can complete the necessary documents to fund their order with an ACH or wire transfer. Private shares secured by funding are transferred to the investor’s chosen broker-dealer. The entire process is AI-guided, ensuring investors receive guidance and confirmation at each step.
Sand Hill also empowers investors to use their IRA and 401K accounts to fund private equity investments through a trusted third-party partner.
“Consider us the technological conduit to private equity,” Hodgins says. “You choose what you like and get it delivered via DTC to your account.”
Today’s technology companies offer the potential for significant returns, provided investors can gain stakes in those companies before they go public. The Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund not only facilitates that access but also identifies for investors companies that are poised for global success.
“Today’s investors must navigate a financial landscape that is rapidly evolving and highly competitive,” says Hodgins. “Those who can identify and access high-potential investments before they become widely available will stand to benefit the most. Sand Hill Road empowers accredited investors to seize those types of opportunities.”
