Questrade to Give Accredited Investors Access to Pre-IPO Companies

Toronto-based online brokerage Questrade is preparing to launch a private markets platform this summer, opening the door for accredited Canadian investors to buy into companies before they go public. The platform will initially feature pre-IPO investment opportunities and institutional-grade private credit, according to a Bloomberg report confirmed by Questrade to Money.ca.

The product targets a long-standing complaint: pre-IPO returns have historically flowed to institutions and the ultra-wealthy. Hwan Kim, Questrade's chief product officer, said it has been "fundamentally unfair" that companies like Uber and Airbnb were effectively out of reach until most value creation had already occurred. Under Canadian rules, accredited investors must generally earn more than $200,000 annually in each of the past two years or hold at least $1 million in net financial assets. Even those who qualify, Kim said, have often had to work through private wealth managers or institutional channels.

Questrade says it is lowering the barriers within the accredited group. The firm plans to accept investors who qualify on income rather than wealth alone and will set minimum investment amounts well below the $25,000 typical for such products. Deal sourcing will rely on U.S.-based institutional broker-dealers active in the private secondary market. Opportunities will be curated rather than listed in high volume, and Questrade has already ruled out certain high-profile names such as SpaceX to avoid complications around lock-up periods.

The launch extends Questrade's existing IPO-day access, which it has offered since 2013. In May 2026, rival Wealthsimple introduced IPO Access, allowing clients to request shares in select Canadian and U.S. IPOs at the offering price in registered accounts, with U.S.-only deals requiring accredited status. Questrade's platform goes further by targeting companies while they are still entirely private.

The firm cautioned that private market investing carries real risks. Holdings are illiquid and can be locked up for years; private issuers face lighter disclosure requirements than public companies; and a business that never completes a public listing can result in a total loss of capital. Questrade said the platform is not yet live, and interested investors should confirm their accredited status and review product details before committing.