February 18, 2026 • 2 Min Read

What if “60/40” isn’t the whole story anymore?
StartEngine CEO Howard Marks sat down with former SEC Commissioner Dr. Michael Piwowar to talk about something we think every modern investor should understand:
Private markets are becoming essential to a smart, diversified portfolio strategy.
The conversation covered everything from diversification to IPO slowdowns to why more growth is happening before companies ever hit the public markets.¹
👉 Watch the full recording to hear the discussion firsthand. Watch Webinar »
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to invest in any securities. Private investments are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk, including the potential loss of your entire investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Webinar Highlights
As Howard put it simply: if you don’t have private companies in your portfolio, you may not be fully diversified.
And as Dr. Piwowar noted, the goal is bigger than just returns: it’s about democratizing access to opportunities that used to be reserved for insiders.
That’s exactly what we’re building at StartEngine.
👉 Explore open Private offerings and see what’s available. View Opportunities »
Investments are in Series offered on StartEngine Private, which may hold shares for the companies listed directly or through an SPV. You are not buying the companies’ stock. Revenue, funding, or valuation may not increase, and profitability is not assured. These securities are illiquid and may trade at lower prices. Valuations are based on private placements rather than public markets. See below for details.
Important Disclosures
This article may contain forward‑looking statements and projections. These are not guarantees; actual outcomes may differ materially.
Investing in private, pre‑IPO companies is highly speculative and illiquid. Such investments are intended only for accredited investors who can bear the risk of total loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a financial advisor before investing.
Securities offered through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This is a general investment recommendation for accredited investors under Regulation Best Interest; it is not personalized investment advice.
Review our Form CRS and Reg BI disclosure to understand our services and conflicts.
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*. The companies listed on StartEngine Private are not involved in or endorsing these investments, and have not approved StartEngine Private LLC or its affiliates.
Rather, when you invest through StartEngine Private, you are buying an interest in a separate Series of StartEngine Private LLC, not stock directly in the companies listed. The Series may hold shares directly or through a special-purpose vehicle (SPV). Your interests may differ from the companies’ stock in both rights and value, and there may not be a one-to-one economic parity between the value of Series interests and the underlying shares. The Series also bears its own costs (such as transaction and administrative expenses), which may reduce investor returns.
These offerings are made under Regulation D, Rule 506(c), through StartEngine Primary LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), and are available only to accredited investors. These investments are speculative, illiquid, and high risk, and you should be prepared to hold them indefinitely and to bear the risk of losing your entire investment.
StartEngine and its affiliates do not provide financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. This update may include information from third party or public sources that has not been independently verified and may be incomplete or inaccurate. Before investing, review the full offering documents on the offering pages and consult your advisors.
1. Dr. Michael S. Piwowar was paid by StartEngine to appear in this webinar. Dr. Piwowar is not endorsing StartEngine as an investment in this webinar; he is merely expressing his private opinion. His views are not investment advice and should be used purely for educational purposes.
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