Robinhood RVI Fund Bets on Fintech and AI With Stripe and Elevenlabs Deals

NYSE-Traded Robinhood Fund Invests in Stripe, Elevenlabs for Retail Access

Robinhood Ventures Fund I stated on March 17 that it deployed about $34.58 million across Stripe and Elevenlabs, expanding its portfolio of high-profile private firms typically reserved for institutional capital.

The closed-end fund, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under ticker RVI, is the first offering from Robinhood Ventures, a subsidiary of Robinhood Markets Inc. It launched earlier this month after raising roughly $658 million to $706 million in its initial public offering priced at $25 per share.

Unlike traditional venture funds, RVI is structured to allow retail investors to buy into a basket of private companies without accreditation requirements or minimum investment thresholds, a model that challenges long-standing barriers to private market access.

The fund’s latest moves include a $14.58 million purchase of Stripe Class B common stock through secondary transactions on March 9, following the payments company’s February tender offer that valued Stripe at $159 billion.

A few days later, on March 12, RVI invested nearly $20 million in Elevenlabs, acquiring Series D preferred stock in a primary transaction shortly after the AI audio firm raised $500 million at an $11 billion valuation.

Stripe, founded in 2010 and headquartered in South San Francisco and Dublin, provides programmable financial services spanning payments, revenue tools and money management for businesses of all sizes.

Elevenlabs, a London-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm founded in 2022, focuses on voice synthesis and audio generation, offering products that power AI-driven speech, multilingual content creation and conversational agents.

“We’re excited to add Stripe and Elevenlabs to Robinhood Ventures Fund I and are proud to offer retail investors access to these frontier companies,” said Sarah Pinto, president of the fund, in a statement.

The additions bring RVI’s disclosed portfolio to a growing list that includes Airwallex, Boom, Databricks, Mercor, Oura, Ramp, Revolut and Stripe, with more companies expected over time.

While the pitch centers on access, the fund is explicit about the trade-offs: private company exposure comes with illiquidity, valuation uncertainty and the possibility that shares trade at a discount or premium to net asset value.

RVI also departs from traditional venture economics by charging a management fee but no performance fees, and it publishes material updates through its website and Robinhood’s newsroom to comply with Regulation Fair Disclosure.

For investors, the structure offers a simplified way to gain exposure to late-stage private companies, though it still carries the same risks that typically keep those deals behind closed doors.

As Robinhood leans further into blending public markets with private opportunities, the question is less about access—and more about whether everyday investors are ready for what usually comes with it.

FAQ 🔎

• What is Robinhood Ventures Fund I?
  A NYSE-listed closed-end fund that gives retail investors exposure to private companies like Stripe and Elevenlabs.
• How much did the fund invest in Stripe and Elevenlabs?
  About $34.58 million combined, split between Stripe secondary shares and Elevenlabs primary shares.
• Can everyday investors buy into the fund?
  Yes, RVI trades publicly on the NYSE and does not require investor accreditation.
• What are the risks of investing in RVI?
  Investors face illiquidity, valuation uncertainty and potential discounts or premiums to net asset value.