Explore New Private Markets Access With Callan’s Support

(Private equity), private credit, and venture capital have long been staples in many institutional portfolios, but rarely available to individual investors. That’s starting to change, thanks in part to funds vetted through Callan coming to Crowd Street’s platform. 

Crowd Street members will soon gain access to a broader range of (private market funds), with many of these opportunities reviewed by Callan, one of the world’s leading institutional investment consultants. 

This expansion opens the door to a more complete private market experience for self-directed investors. It means more flexibility, deeper access, and the support of Callan’s 25+ alternatives specialists, who advise on more than $200 billion in (alternative assets). ^2^

In our last article, we looked at what this relationship means in principle: a new level of diligence supporting individual investing. Now, we're focusing on what it adds in practice — new fund structures, diligence support, educational tools, and more. 

A Full Suite of Private Market Offerings

Crowd Street has been a leader in (self-directed commercial real estate investing) for years, and that’s not changing. Its marketplace of direct CRE deals and real estate funds will remain central to the member experience. But now, with Callan providing fund evaluation services, the platform is becoming a gateway to the wider world of private markets.

This expansion starts with three categories: private equity, private credit, and venture capital. 

Callan’s Role Behind the Funds

Behind many of the new funds coming to the platform is Callan’s diligence framework. For decades, they’ve helped institutions evaluate investment opportunities — drawing on proprietary data, deep fund relationships, and one of the largest alternatives consulting teams in the industry.^1^

Callan’s process typically includes a comprehensive review of each fund manager’s strategy, organizational stability, operational infrastructure, and track record. They will also assess fund structure, fees, and terms to help Crowd Street evaluate whether offerings meet the standards required for offering the fund through its platform.

Crowd Street didn’t need to contract Callan — but chose to, to give investors an added layer of diligence and perspective. It’s an extra step aimed at helping members navigate new asset classes with more clarity and confidence.

“When I was a Managing Director at BlackRock, getting our funds in front of Callan was a key step in reaching institutional investors,” said Mary Collins White, Executive Managing Director at Crowd Street. “They’re trusted many by pension funds and endowments around the world to access, evaluate, and structure investment opportunities. It’s incredibly exciting to bring their services to Crowd Street.”

Getting to Know Our New Assets

In recent years, institutional investors have significantly increased their allocations to categories like private equity and credit.

Private equity assets under management have more than doubled since 2014, with projections pushing global AUM to $12 trillion by 2029.^3^ Private credit has grown nearly fourfold over the past decade, reaching roughly $1.6 trillion in 2023, with forecasts of $3 trillion by 2028.^4^

As institutions grow their exposure, accredited individuals can now similarly grow theirs through Crowd Street. Here’s a quick look at what each strategy involves.

• Private equity involves investing in established companies — often through buyouts or growth capital — to support expansion, operational improvements, or strategic transitions. These investments are typically made through professionally managed funds that target long-term value creation.^5^

• (Private credit) refers to lending to companies outside of the traditional banking system. It covers a range of strategies, from direct loans to structured credit, and has grown rapidly as many institutions seek potentially income-generating assets with more tailored underwriting.^6^

• (Venture capital) focuses on funding early-stage companies developing new products, technologies, or business models. These investments are typically made in startups with relatively high growth potential, often before they reach scale or profitability.^7^

Each of these strategies will be offered through professionally managed funds. These funds pool capital from multiple investors to pursue a defined investment strategy. Most hold a diversified set of assets — such as a portfolio of companies, loans, or startups — tied to a cohesive mandate. ^8^

For a full guide to these strategies, see Crowd Street’s introduction to private equity and private credit.

A Platform That Grows With Its Members

Callan’s involvement marks a big step forward for Crowd Street. It builds on the platform’s real estate foundation and introduces new ways for members to engage with private markets, through professionally managed funds, broader strategy coverage, and deeper diligence. 

As private assets continue to grow in institutional portfolios, self-directed investors can now also take part through Crowd Street’s platform. It’s a wider toolkit, designed to keep investors in control.

For more on the announcement, read Crowd Street’s press release.