Can the general public invest in venture capital?
By law, private equity investments are open mainly to accredited investors, which are basically institutional investors and experienced individuals with resources appropriate for the long-term, illiquid nature of private equity. Exceptions include small numbers of friends and family, who often participate in seed financing. However, as indicated above, it is ordinary citizens like pensioners who ultimately benefit from the returns generated by venture capital, and the general public benefits immensely from the economic impact of the investments made.
