Clear Street Opens Retail Access to Pre-IPO Databricks Shares

Fintech brokerage Clear Street announced a new platform that gives investors the ability to buy into private companies before they go public. The first offering will be shares of Databricks, an AI company valued at $188 billion and considered one of the most anticipated IPO candidates in years. Pre-IPO deals like this have traditionally been reserved for institutional investors and large funds, leaving retail investors largely shut out. The launch reflects a broader trend of companies staying private longer and delaying public listings, fueling demand for alternative ways to gain exposure to them. For retail investors, it's a chance to get in early on a promising tech company, though it comes with added liquidity risk.