Investing in Space Perspective | How to Buy Pre-IPO Shares

Have you ever wanted to travel to space? Space Perspective aims to bring your dreams to life. This revolutionary space tourism and commercial flight provider enables anyone to get a glimpse of Earth from high above the clouds. The company is a leader in the budding space tourism sector. Their unique approach has reimagined space flight and continues to inspire future space travelers. Here’s what you need to know.

Space Perspective’s unique offerings have helped drive demand for its shares. However, the company is privately owned. As such, the only way to gain access to these assets is by meeting particular guidelines. This is how to navigate the nuances of the secondary market to obtain access to Space Perspective shares.

What is Space Perspective?

Space Perspective entered the market in 2019 and is based out of Merritt Island. The company was founded by Jane Porter to democratize space travel. The company seeks to provide a reliable, safe, and low-stress alternative to competitors’ options like SpaceX and Virgin Mobile. To accomplish this task, the company has chosen an innovative approach.

Spaceship Neptune is the firm’s first craft. It differs from competitors in that it doesn’t rely on rockets to ascend into the heavens. Instead, the craft relies on a purpose-built space balloon to lift it into the atmosphere. This hydrogen-filled balloon can ascend at approximately 12 mph and has been used by NASA and other space agencies for decades without incident.

Space Capsule

The space capsule is another unique aspect of the project. This spherical capsule measures 16 feet around and provides a full panoramic view from space of Earth to travelers. Notably, Neptune has the largest windows of any spacecraft ever built, providing an unmatched view to riders.

The spacecraft doesn’t resemble the space shuttle or anything that has ever been sent into orbit before. It features a luxurious cabin with lots of amenities, including Wi-Fi. Passengers are privy to world-class meals and personalized services designed to make the trip as relaxing and luxurious as possible.

Source – Space Perspective

To prevent any issues, Spaceship Neptune was built with a reserve descent system. This system can automatically instantiate four parachutes situated between the capsule and the SpaceBalloon in the event of any unexpected balloon malfunctions. Additionally, the company developed an entirely new water landing shield to complement the parachute system in case of water landings.

Interestingly, Neptune launches from a floating marine platform, furthering its flexibility in terms of location. However, those seeking to book a flight may have to wait a little bit as the company sold out its first batch of 1,600 tickets at $125k a piece shortly after announcing their availability.

Historical Funding Rounds

Summary of Space Perspective Funding:

Total Funding: Space Perspective secured $48M across 3 funding rounds.

Largest Round: Space Perspective’s largest funding round secured $40M in October 2021.

Investors: A total of 15 institutional investors and 2 Angel investors back Space Perspective.

Latest Round: The latest funding round raised an undisclosed amount and was a Series A round held on February 2, 2024.

Funding Rounds Breakdown:

• 3 Early-Stage

Key Investors:

Space Perspective secured funding from SVB, IFG Asset Management, Trinity Capital, Prime Movers Lab, LightShed Ventures, Henry Kravis, Tony Robbins, and many more.

Why Invest in Space Perspective?

There are many reasons why investing in Space Perspective could be a smart move. For one, the company’s goal to Democratize space travel, making it accessible to the masses, differs greatly from competitors. This approach is likely to gain momentum and support from the emerging space tourism community, helping to drive the market forward.

Space Perspective has Years of Expertise.

Space Perspective features a team of experts who have worked on multiple NASA projects over the years. This experience has proven pivotal in helping to design Spaceship Neptune and its components. Additionally, the team has a strong network built over years of collaboration with the industry’s brightest minds.

Space Perspective Remains Competitive

Space Perspective ranks 2nd in the industry among 24 highly active competitors. Companies like SpaceX may have more promotions, but Space Perspective remains highly competitive in its offerings and technological advancements. These factors continue to position Space Perspective for future growth.

Space Perspective Provides Comfort

The ascent into space is far more comfortable in a luxurious cabin rising slowly via balloon versus rockets firing you into space. The elimination of high G forces opens the door for more people to experience these life-changing views. Everything about the project focuses on comfort, luxury, and safety. From the plush seating to the panoramic views, passengers will be extra comfortable.

More Affordable Tickets

It’s not cheap to bring anything into space. However, Space Perspective is by far the most affordable option in the space tourism industry. The elimination of rockets, their fuel requirements, and safety needs equals more affordable flight options for consumers.

Environmentally Friendly Space Travel

Few people discuss the environmental impact of sending massive rockets into space. These devices don’t have catalytic converters like your car. Consequently, all the fuel they burn becomes pollutants. Space perspective seeks to provide the first carbon-neutral human spaceflight experience, inspiring green space travel in the future.

Funding and Investor data sourced from Tracxn

1. Pre-IPO Secondary Marketplace

Secondary markets are purpose-built exchanges that connect pre-IPO shareholders with potential investors. These marketplaces can offer these assets because they work closely with employees, early-stage investors, and venture capitalists, who are crucial to the company’s pre-IPO growth.

Investing in pre-IPO shares of Space Perspective could offer strong returns if the company’s valuation increases following its IPO. It’s common for company valuations to increase following an IPO. As such, it makes sense to add pre-IPO shares to your portfolio before the firm announces plans to go public.

Secondary marketplaces have many requirements. Here are some concerns you should be made aware of:

Eligibility: This approach requires you to be an accredited investor, meaning you will have to show at least $1M in liquid assets to qualify for access.

2. Private Equity Firms

Private equity firms gain access to pre-IPO shares during investment rounds. They then offer these shares to high-net-worth accredited investors with a commission. Notably, private equity firms are known to have extra stipulations, including blocking the sale of shares for years in some cases.

3. Employee Equity Sales

Many consider employee equity sales as the best way to acquire pre-IPO shares in Space Perspective. This method of acquiring pre-IPO shares requires you to connect with former employees. It’s common for companies to issue shares as part of an incentive package. Notably, this profit-sharing method has become more popular, leading to more pre-IPO share opportunities for investors.

Private Transactions: There are a lot of hoops you will need to jump through to complete a private pre-IPO transaction, including creating specific legal agreements, conducting valuations, and setting in place any limitations on the transfer of the asset.

Brokerage: Brokers will take a lot of the confusion out of the pre-IPO process. These professionals can guide you through each step, ensuring full compliance and avoiding common errors untrained professionals make.

There are several risks that you should consider before jumping into the pre-IPO shares investment arena. Here are the top concerns:

Liquidity Risk

If you are looking for an asset that you can sell right away, pre-IPO shares are not the best option.

These investments can include sales and transfer clauses that prevent the transfer of the asset until certain criteria, such as the IPO’s completion, are met. It’s even common for pre-IPO shares to require you to wait years before gaining the ability to sell your assets.

Finding a Broker

If you meet the requirements and are comfortable with the risks, several platforms offer access to pre-IPO opportunities:

Forge Global: One of the largest private stock marketplaces, offering shares in late-stage startups like SpaceX, Stripe, and Databricks. Minimums typically start around $100,000.

EquityZen: A popular platform allowing accredited investors to buy into private companies with minimums as low as $5,000. Past offerings include companies like Discord and UiPath.

Rainmaker Securities: A full-service broker that helps source and negotiate private share sales, including opportunities in companies like OpenAI, Stripe, and Palantir.

Hiive: A newer platform with live bid/ask pricing for hundreds of private companies. Transparent and low-fee, with minimums starting around $25,000.

MicroVentures: Offers pooled access to late-stage companies through special purpose vehicles (SPVs), including past investments in SpaceX and Instacart.

EquityBee: Allows investors to fund employee stock option exercises at startups, often at discounted valuations, with minimums around $10,000.

Augment: A digital-first marketplace showing real-time pricing for pre-IPO shares, targeting tech-savvy investors and offering lower transaction fees.

StartEngine Private: Launched in late 2023, this platform offers accredited investors access to Regulation D offerings in later-stage, venture-backed companies. In its first nine months, it generated $16.5 million in revenue, with average investments around $32,000

Important: Always perform thorough due diligence and consult a financial advisor before investing in private company shares.

Valuation of Space Perspective and Future IPO

Space Perspective hasn’t received a valuation yet, but the company is well on its way to securing a significant boost in value as its products begin to launch and the space tourism industry takes flight. Space Perspective offers a combination of added safety, accessibility, environmental awareness, and luxury that sets it in a class of its own.

Those seeking exposure to the budding space tourism industry could find that Space Perspective offers a blend of cutting-edge technology and a unique business model focused on opening the market to the masses. These factors, combined with Spaceship Neptune’s proprietary characteristics, position Space Perspective for possible gains.

Space Perspective Conclusion

Space Perspective provides an interesting opportunity to investors who want in on the emerging space tourism market. The company combines strong institutional investor support with the desire of millions to see the world from 10,000 feet up.

It’s recommended that you conduct in-depth research before making any pre-IPO investments. These assets have special restrictions that could include delayed or no-sale clauses. For those who find the stock to fit within their risk appetite and can qualify for Space Perspective Pre-IPO shares, the upside potential could be huge.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Pre-IPO shares are typically available only to accredited investors and carry significant risk. Always perform thorough due diligence and consult a financial advisor or legal expert before making investment decisions.