ARK Invest’s (ARKK) European platform is moving deeper into private markets, taking early stakes in two of the world’s most valuable private technology companies, SpaceX and Databricks. The investments come through a new fund designed to give European investors exposure to high-growth firms before they eventually list on public exchanges.
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On March 10, ARK Invest, led by Cathie Wood, and IQ-EQ Fund Management Limited announced the first allocations to the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF. The ELTIF, ARK’s main vehicle for private market investments, was first launched in the U.S. through the ARK Venture Fund in September 2022 and is now open to investors across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.
The fund is designed to actively build and manage a diversified portfolio, with approximately 80% exposure to mid and late-stage private companies in artificial intelligence, robotics, energy storage, and multi-omics. The remaining 20% is invested in select public equities for diversification and exposure to firms nearing an initial public offering (IPO).
Structured as a semi-liquid “evergreen” vehicle, the ELTIF offers quarterly redemptions and full portfolio transparency. Instead of relying on costly special purpose vehicles (SPVs), ARK invests directly in company cap tables, reducing fees and improving potential returns.
According to Charles Roberts, Head of Privates and Chief Investment Strategist at ARK Invest, the goal is to give European investors early access to transformative companies like SpaceX and Databricks before they go public.
Ark Invest Targets Top Firms SpaceX and Databricks
Among the first companies added to the Ark Invest ETLIF portfolio are SpaceX and Databricks, both widely viewed as leaders in industries expected to drive the next wave of technological growth. Founded by Elon Musk, SpaceX has transformed the space industry with reusable rockets and satellite infrastructure projects such as Starlink.
The private company has become central to the expanding commercial space economy, which includes satellite communications, Earth observation, and future space logistics. Databricks, on the other hand, has become one of the most influential platforms in the artificial intelligence and data analytics sector.
Its technology helps companies manage large datasets and build machine-learning models, placing it at the core of enterprise AI development. ARK Europe maintains a robust pipeline of late-stage private companies expected to reach key growth inflection points in 2026, bridging the gap between private and public markets for retail investors.
Is ARK Invest Still a Good Investment?
According to TipRanks forecast data, ARK Invest, particularly the flagship ARK Innovation ETF, has experienced a significant resurgence, with some funds posting gains of over 30%. Still, analysts rate it a “Moderate Buy,” with a projected upside of 38.2%.
