NAO and ARK Invest open up access to fast-growing private companies

Strategic partnership makes the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF accessible to EU private investors via NAO.

Berlin/London, January 15, 2026 — Berlin-based WealthTech NAO and ARK Invest Europe have signed a strategic partnership. The focus is on the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF, a fund focused on disruptive innovation that is accessible via NAO from 1 euro — flexibly as a one-time investment or savings plan.

Thematic innovation strategy with direct investments

The ARK Private Innovation ELTIF pursues a thematic innovation strategy and aims to invest primarily in mid-to-late growth companies that have not yet been publicly listed on the stock exchange. The cooperation will systematically open up the previously institutional Private Growth & Late-Stage Tech segment to private investors. The investment strategy focuses on technologies in the areas of artificial intelligence, robotics, energy storage, multiomics and blockchain. In the USA, ARK has been managing a venture fund with a similar orientation since 2022, which includes investments in companies such as OpenAI, SpaceX, Revolut, xAI, Epic Games and Anthropic.

Robin Binder, founder and CEO of NAO: “Access to fast-growing private companies was closed to private investors for a long time — high minimum amounts and regulatory hurdles made it almost impossible. Together with ARK Invest, we are fundamentally changing this: NAO users get access to professionally managed private innovation starting at 1 euro. That is exactly what NAO is committed to — institutional quality for all. ”

Cathie Wood, Founder, CEO and CIO of ARK Invest: “In the past decade, a growing share of innovation-driven value creation has shifted to private markets long before companies go public. This product launch brings ARK's global research expertise and long-term investment approach to European investors and provides regulated access to the companies that we believe will shape the next era of disruptive innovation. ”

The fund, structured as an Irish ELTIF 2.0, primarily invests directly in companies and thus avoids additional fee levels due to intermediary third-party structures. The investment strategy is aimed at allocating around 80 percent to private companies and 20 percent to listed stocks. As a semi-liquid “evergreen” structure, the fund offers return options of up to 5 percent of the net asset value on a quarterly basis.

Stuart Forbes, Head of ARK Invest Europe and Global Head of Distribution at ARK Invest: “With this product launch, we are opening up this part of the market in a regulated format to a significantly wider investor base in Europe. The cooperation with NAO goes one step further: It also gives private investors over 1 euro access to companies that were previously closed to them. ”

The partnership adds another element to NAO's curated range of private and alternative investments. For ARK Invest Europe, it means access to a digitally savvy European investor base. Both partners see the potential to permanently anchor private innovation strategies in diversified portfolios in the combination of ARK's innovation expertise and NAO's platform technology.

About ARK Invest

ARK is a global investment manager focused exclusively on investments in disruptive innovation focused, which is changing the way the world works. Majority Owner Catherine D. Wood founded ARK in 2014 with the conviction that innovation is the key to growth. Building on over 40 years of experience, ARK identifies scalable investment opportunities in public and private markets through technological innovations in the areas Artificial intelligence, robotics, energy storage, genomics, and blockchain technology arise. ARK invests in Leaders, Enablers, and Profiteers of these developments.

ARK manages and advises long-only strategies in global equity and digital asset portfolios across various vehicles, including a suite of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a venture fund, mutual funds, and individually managed mandates. The investments are based on an open research ecosystem that is intended to identify innovations with long-term growth potential. ARK manages assets of more than 35 billion US dollars.

Disclaimer

This press release is issued by NAO Co-Investment GmbH. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, recommendation or offer to buy or sell financial instruments. Any investment decision should be made on the basis of official sales documents (in particular prospectus, key investor information and, where applicable, annual and half-year reports) and after individual advice from a qualified specialist. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The value of investments may rise or fall, and investors could lose all or part of the initial amount invested. The ARK Private Innovation ELTIF is only approved for distribution in those jurisdictions where the necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained.