Vincent: Alternative Investments Discovery Platform

With a growing number of alternative investment marketplaces emerging in areas such as art and collectibles, the founder of Indiegogo, Slava Rubin, is introducing a platform named Vincent. This platform functions similarly to Kayak, assisting potential investors in understanding the breadth of opportunities within this asset category.

Rubin, along with co-founders Evan Cohen, Eric Cantor, and Ross Cohen, has secured $2 million in funding for this venture. Investors contributing to this round include Uncommon Denominator, ERA Ventures, The Fund, and Rubin’s own company, Humbition. Vincent initially launched in beta in July and is now prepared for a full public release. Rubin states that the team has created the “most extensive database of alternative investments” currently available.

Rubin has consistently been a key figure in the development of alternative investments, dating back to his time at Indiegogo, and has played a role in shaping the legislation that has facilitated investment in these types of assets.

The increased interest in alternative investments observed in 2020 is partly due to updated guidance from regulatory agencies and also stems from the popularity of investment platforms that provide users with more accessible tools for engaging with financial institutions. While certain specialized marketplaces may aspire to cultivate a brand and following comparable to Robinhood within their specific area, Vincent intends to capitalize on the overall growth and the increasing desire for diversification among investors.

“Our partners are typically deeply involved in the selection and evaluation of specific deals, striving to become experts in their respective fields,” Rubin explained to TechCrunch. “However, we’ve discovered that investors are primarily focused on gaining exposure to alternative investments as a whole, and they desire access to the entire asset class, not just a single investment.”

The company currently collaborates with approximately 50 platforms, including WeFunder, SharesPost, Rally Rd., and Otis. These offerings, encompassing real estate, venture capital, collectibles, and art, provide Vincent users with access to $2 billion in investment opportunities, according to the company. Upon visiting Vincent, users are prompted to indicate their accreditation status, which determines the deals they are eligible to view.

Much like Kayak, Vincent serves as a tool for discovering potential investments. However, when a user identifies an asset of interest, they are directed to the partner platform’s website or app to complete the transaction. Vincent generates revenue through fees collected when users are referred to these partner platforms.

A primary challenge for Vincent lies in establishing a brand that appeals to users while not directly managing the investments themselves. As Rubin points out, many of these partner platforms specialize in curating and developing expertise within a specific niche, and it remains to be seen whether this approach will be effective on a larger scale.

“The fundamental purpose of an aggregator is to simplify a complex market that is highly fragmented,” Rubin states.

Vincent also aims to offer more than just aggregation, providing educational content through a blog and newsletter to establish itself as a comprehensive resource for investors seeking to learn about alternative assets. Rubin believes that the current surge in startups focused on alternative investment platforms creates an ideal opportunity for a company dedicated to streamlining the overall process.