Goldman Sachs Launches New Platform to Expand Direct Private Company Investments for Wealthy Clients

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 on June 8, 2026, in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Goldman Sachs has established a new platform designed to enhance its offerings for affluent clients and family offices, catering to a growing demand for direct stakes in high-growth private companies, according to information obtained by CNBC. This new initiative, named the alternative investments platform, consolidates Goldman’s existing alternative investments business with two newly formed teams. These dedicated teams will concentrate on direct investments in individual private companies, distinguishing themselves from investments in broader private equity funds, and will also facilitate the buying and selling of these private stakes for clients.

Kristin Olson, Goldman Sachs’ global head of alternatives for wealth, stated in an interview with CNBC, "There has been a lot of focus on the big growth tech names and getting clients access to those before they debut in the public markets." This strategic move by Goldman Sachs reflects two significant trends that are currently reshaping the financial industry. For years, the firm has been strategically expanding its wealth and asset management divisions, viewing them as a source of more stable revenue streams compared to the volatility of investment banking and trading. Concurrently, the landscape of successful startups has evolved, with companies now remaining private for considerably longer periods. This extended private phase allows early investors to capture a substantial portion of the growth and gains before the companies become accessible to public market investors.

Olson further elaborated on this shift, noting, "Companies are going public at a trillion dollars. If you haven’t participated along the way, you’re clearly missing a big part of the growth cycle."

The current surge in artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly amplified this demand. Goldman Sachs has been facilitating direct investments in later-stage private companies for its wealthy clientele for approximately two decades. Notable examples include investments in companies like Facebook prior to its 2012 initial public offering, and more recently, SpaceX, Stripe, and Canva. Olson indicated that the increasing volume of client interest in this asset class prompted executives to create a distinct business unit for these activities. The firm’s objective, as articulated by Olson, is to assist clients in identifying promising companies before they achieve widespread recognition.

Instead of focusing on early-stage startups, Goldman Sachs generally directs its attention towards later-stage companies. These companies typically possess established products, generate significant revenue, and have a clearer trajectory toward profitability. Olson described this approach as seeking a "sweet spot" that balances risk and potential return. The AI investment boom has been a key catalyst in intensifying this demand. Beyond investments in leading AI model developers, Goldman Sachs is increasingly guiding clients toward opportunities within the underlying infrastructure that supports AI development, such as data centers and related projects.

This announcement follows closely on the heels of Goldman Sachs reporting record quarterly revenue. Executives highlighted the impact of AI-driven activities across its investment banking, trading, and financing operations. These strong results have reinforced investor confidence in Goldman Sachs’ strategic positioning to benefit from multiple aspects of the AI investment cycle.

The establishment of this new platform also formalizes and expands Goldman Sachs’ growing capabilities in assisting clients with liquidity for their private investments. Through its newly established secondary advisory group, the firm plans to enhance a marketplace that enables clients to trade their private holdings. Additionally, this group will provide advisory services to clients looking to divest investments held outside of Goldman Sachs.

"We said, let’s break that out and let’s make it very clearly defined as something that we’re leaning into," Olson stated, underscoring the firm’s commitment to this evolving market. This strategic expansion into direct private company investments and secondary market advisory services signifies Goldman Sachs’ adaptation to changing investor preferences and the evolving dynamics of the private capital markets, particularly in the context of burgeoning technological advancements like AI.