# Retail investment funds claiming to have access to Stripe

Stripe is privately owned, and as such investment in Stripe stock is only available to a small number of investors, most of whom are well known to us.
We have become aware of certain investment funds that do not own any Stripe stock claiming to offer retail investors access to Stripe. The basic premise tends to be something like, “you can’t get direct access to Stripe, but invest in us and we will get it for you.” Generally, these firms do not actually have access to Stripe stock. If a fund claims to rely on “forward” contracts or other mechanisms that attempt to circumvent the rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions, and other terms and conditions applicable to Stripe stock, their investments may have no value at all, as explained in Stripe Forward Contracts, Tokens, and Other Unauthorized Liquidity Transactions.
We also do not permit special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that publicly market opportunities to invest in Stripe to acquire Stripe stock. Any transfer of shares to such an SPV are void and will not be processed. Offers to invest in Stripe’s past or future financing rounds or secondary sales through publicly marketed SPVs are prohibited.
If you have concerns about a fund or SPV that is claiming to have access to Stripe stock and marketing that access to retail investors, please contact us at [legal-corporate-confidential@stripe.com](mailto:legal-corporate-confidential@stripe.com).
If someone claims to sell you Stripe shares, rather than an investment in a fund that claims to own shares, see Stripe shares or stock scams.