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ERShares

ERSHARES VC LENS MODEL FOR PUBLIC MARKETS

A venture-capital style analytical framework applied to publicly traded equities, developed by ERShares founder Dr. Joel Shulman through decades of academic and industry research at Babson College and Harvard University.

LeadershipInnovationMarket structureCapital disciplineScalingGovernanceVC LENSPUBLIC EQUITIES

The approach

A VC Lens Applied to Public Markets

ERShares applies a VC lens model to public markets: an analytical framework developed over more than 20 years by ERShares founder Dr. Joel Shulman, informed by his academic work at Babson College and Harvard University. The objective is to translate venture-style judgment into a repeatable, auditable research process suitable for publicly traded equities. There is no guarantee that the application of this framework will result in successful investment outcomes.

This framework is implemented through ERShares’ proprietary Entrepreneur Factor® (registered trademark), which supports how we evaluate companies and inform portfolio construction across ERShares investment strategies.

20+ Years
Academic and industry research
Babson & Harvard
Academic foundation
Entrepreneur Factor
Proprietary framework
Portfolio Construction
Actionable insights

One framework

One Framework Across Public and Private Markets

ERShares’ VC lens model was originally developed in the private-market context, where venture capital investors evaluate leadership quality, innovation execution, market structure, and scaling dynamics. Extending that same framework into the public universe is the core idea behind our approach: applying a consistent methodology across both public and private companies.

In that sense, incorporating a private sleeve within a public-market vehicle is one application of the model, using the same analytical lens regardless of whether a company is listed or privately held. Public and private investments involve different risks, liquidity considerations, valuation methodologies, and regulatory requirements.

Private markets

Where the model was originally developed.

Public markets

Where ERShares applies the same framework today.

The lens

What a VC Lens Model Means in Public Markets

A VC lens model focuses on how durable value is created over long horizons, often emphasizing:

Leadership and incentive alignment

Innovation capacity and execution quality

Competitive positioning and market structure

Scaling dynamics and capital allocation discipline

ERShares adapts this perspective to public equities using a structured framework designed to be consistent across sectors, geographies, and market cycles.

quoteWe believe some important companies are not always fully captured by conventional frameworks, particularly when they are building strategic advantages that may not align with traditional market classifications. A VC Lens is designed to assess business quality and long-term growth potential using a structured and repeatable research process.quote

– Eva Ados, ERShares Chief Investment Strategist

In practice

How ERShares Applies the VC Lens Model

The model is intentionally multi-dimensional. Rather than relying on a single metric or style box, it synthesizes multiple inputs intended to capture signals of business quality and trajectory. The process is designed to be repeatable, with defined rules, documentation, and cross-checks against common return drivers (e.g., sector, size, geography, and market-regime effects).

Holdings, weights, and conclusions can change over time.

Structure first

Why Investors Consider XOVR - VC Lens to XOVR Bridge

The VC Lens provides the framework for evaluating companies through a venture-capital perspective. XOVR is the Fund that applies this framework in a publicly traded ETF structure. With that distinction in mind, the discussion now shifts from how the VC Lens evaluates investment opportunities to how XOVR is designed to provide investors with access to those opportunities.

Many investors compare vehicles for private-company exposure based on structure: liquidity, transparency, and operational mechanics, not just headline holdings. XOVR is built as an ETF wrapper intended to provide:

What that looks like
  • Daily ETF MechanicsDaily market pricing and standard ETF trading mechanics.
  • Single-Vehicle ApproachCombining public equities with a private sleeve in one ETF structure.
  • Ongoing DisclosuresFund documentation investors can review for current positioning.

The evidence

How The Entrepreneur Factor® Works

The Entrepreneur Factor is a proprietary investment framework designed to evaluate public companies through a venture-capital-style lens, emphasizing characteristics such as entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, growth potential, competitive advantages, scalability, and capital efficiency.

The Entrepreneur Factor is the foundation of the VC Lens, providing a framework for identifying and evaluating companies through a venture-capital perspective. The VC Lens applies these principles to investment opportunities, considering both quantitative and qualitative characteristics associated with entrepreneurial success and long-term value creation.

XOVR applies this VC Lens as part of its investment process, bringing the approach to investors through a publicly traded ETF structure. The Entrepreneur Factor and VC Lens describe the methodology; XOVR is the Fund through which that methodology is applied.

How to access

How to Access the ERShares VC Lens Model: XOVR ETF

Investors looking for a way to access ERShares’ VC lens model in a listed product often start with the ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF (XOVR). XOVR is designed to provide exposure to private companies alongside publicly traded equities within a single ETF structure. Portfolio exposure may include private company exposure (such as Kalshi), among other holdings, and holdings are subject to change.

To evaluate current exposures, investors should review fund holdings and disclosures.

Common questions

XOVR ETF FAQ

In most cases, you can’t buy Kalshi stock directly through a brokerage account because Kalshi is a private company and does not trade on a public exchange. Investors searching “buy Kalshi stock” typically look for indirect exposure through private-market vehicles or funds that may hold private-company interests. One listed product investors often research is the ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF (XOVR), which is designed to provide exposure to private companies alongside publicly traded equities within a single ETF structure. XOVR’s portfolio exposure may include Kalshi at certain times, and holdings are subject to change, so investors should confirm current holdings and disclosures.

Since Kalshi is private, pre-IPO access, if available, is generally via indirect structures (for example, funds or vehicles that hold private-company exposure) rather than direct share purchases for most investors. Investors commonly compare options based on structure (liquidity, transparency, and how exposure is obtained). A public-market option some investors review is XOVR, an ETF designed for public-plus-private exposure in one vehicle. Because exposures can change, the most reliable step is to review the latest XOVR holdings and fund disclosures for current information.

Some ETFs may have private-company exposure that can include Kalshi at certain times. As of July 13, 2026, XOVR includes Kalshi in its private-company sleeve. Holdings and weights are subject to change; investors should review the fund’s latest holdings and disclosures.

XOVR is an ETF and can typically be purchased through a brokerage account, subject to your broker’s availability and policies. Search for “XOVR” on your brokerage platform and place a trade during market hours (many investors use limit orders). Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

Take the next step

Explore ERShares

Disclosures

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. XOVR is non-diversified and may be more volatile than diversified funds. Private-company exposure involves additional risks, including valuation uncertainty, limited liquidity, lack of publicly available information, and the possibility that private-company valuations may differ materially from future market prices. XOVR does not directly hold publicly traded SpaceX shares, as SpaceX is not publicly traded. Exposure is obtained indirectly through private-market structures, including SPVs. Holdings are subject to change. ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. This material is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

The fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by calling +1 (617) 279 0045 or by visiting our website www.ershares.com. Read it carefully before investing.

Distributed by Foreside Financial Services, LLC.

Fund Risks can include and are not limited to: Absence of Prior Active Market Risk, Management Risk, New ETF Provider, Common Stock Risk, Market Risk, Concentration Risk, American Depositary Receipts, Early Closing Risk, Exchange Trade Fund Risk, Private Equity Investment Risk, Illiquidity Risk, Valuation Risk, Exit Strategy Risk.

Private equity refers to investments in privately held companies or public companies taken private, typically through pooled funds managed by private equity firms. These firms raise capital from institutional and accredited investors to identify, acquire, and actively manage portfolio companies, aiming to enhance their value over time. After strategic improvements, the fund seeks to exit these investments through sales, mergers, or public offerings. The goal is to generate high returns for investors, albeit with associated risks such as illiquidity and valuation challenges.

The fund does not directly hold shares of SpaceX. Exposure to SpaceX is sought indirectly through investment in SPV Exposure to SpaceX LLC or other special purpose vehicles (“SPVs”) the objective(s) of which is to seek such exposure through investment in privately-offered securities including other private funds (“private securities”) that have exposure to direct interests in SpaceX. The fund may not be able to influence the SPV’s management, and the SPV may hold material amounts of cash while seeking investments. There cannot be any guarantee the SPV will be successful. Private securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and SPVs are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and therefore the fund does not benefit from the regulatory protections of those acts when participating in such investments. The SPV and private securities generally may be difficult to value and to sell because of regulatory restrictions on resale. SPVs and private securities may carry additional costs such as transaction fees, operating expenses, management and/or performance fees, capital gains taxes, and brokerage charges. These costs can materially impact both the price paid for the investment and the net returns, if any, generated.

As of February, 9, 2026, the Fund completed a one-time net asset value (“NAV”) adjustment in connection with the conversion of certain legacy private-asset arrangements into a simplified structure aligned on an effective “0/0” economic basis. The adjustment reflects accounting treatment related to prior structuring considerations and does not represent a change in the operating performance or fundamentals of the underlying portfolio companies, nor should it be interpreted as an indication of future portfolio performance.

Please see the following link for top ten holdings and weights in XOVR.

This structural conversion reflects the Adviser’s ongoing evaluation of portfolio construction, vehicle design, and valuation processes, with the objective of promoting transparency, operational clarity, and consistency in financial reporting. The updated structure is intended to support a valuation framework that permits the Fund to incorporate observable market reference points in an operationally efficient manner when such data becomes available.

Investors should not interpret this enhancement as a guarantee of valuation precision, immediacy, or reduced volatility. The valuation of private investments involves significant judgment and is subject to uncertainty. Reported values may differ materially from the prices that could be obtained in an actual transaction, and such differences may be adverse.

All private investments are valued pursuant to the Fund’s established valuation policies and procedures, including oversight through the Adviser’s valuation governance framework and in accordance with applicable accounting standards. The Fund and its service providers apply methodologies believed to be reasonable under the circumstances; however, there can be no assurance that the values assigned will reflect realizable outcomes.

For purposes of this disclosure, “0/0” refers to the removal of legacy private-asset management fee and performance carry economics at the vehicle level. Investors should not interpret this structure to mean that the Fund’s private investments are free of expenses. The Fund will continue to bear its ordinary operating expenses and other costs.

In addition to ordinary operating expenses, the Fund may bear direct and indirect costs associated with private investments, whether incurred at the Fund level, SPV level, underlying fund level, transaction level, or through other investment-related structures, regardless of whether such costs are known at the time of investment.

While the Fund may incur some or all of the expenses described above, such costs may be de minimis relative to the overall size of the Fund’s portfolio at a given time and are generally associated with customary and non-discretionary activities necessary to support private investments, including but not limited to mandatory audits, financial statement preparation, account maintenance, investor reporting, tax documentation, regulatory compliance, and similar administrative functions. Expense levels may vary over time and could increase depending on transaction activity, regulatory developments, structural changes, or other investment-related factors. No assurance can be given regarding the magnitude or duration of such expenses. The Adviser seeks to structure private investments in a cost-efficient manner when practicable; however, there can be no guarantee that such efforts will be successful in all cases.

Private holdings are valued in accordance with ASC 820, and are typically based on valuations reported by funds and the most recent available observable inputs. This methodology is intended to promote financial-reporting consistency and may differ from prices observed in private secondary-market transactions, which may occur at higher or lower valuations. Such differences could be material. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s valuation methodology will reflect the price at which the Fund could exit a position in a current transaction.

Because a meaningful portion of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in private securities valued using methodologies that incorporate significant judgment, changes in reference prices, valuation inputs, or market conditions could result in material adjustments to the Fund’s NAV, including on a short-term basis. Such adjustments may be positive or negative and may occur without corresponding movements in public markets.

The Fund expects to maintain additional net assets in cash or cash equivalents in the SpaceX SPV to support portfolio liquidity, facilitate opportunistic investments, satisfy redemption activity, fund potential capital calls, and meet operating expenses and other obligations. There is no assurance that such capital will be deployed or that any investments will achieve their intended objectives. Maintaining cash positions may, at times, create a temporary performance drag during periods when such assets are not invested; however, the Adviser believes such flexibility supports prudent portfolio management. The Fund’s cash allocation is established within the Adviser’s liquidity risk management framework and is designed to preserve operational flexibility while supporting compliance with applicable regulatory expectations and maintaining prudent portfolio construction. The Fund’s cash allocation may vary from these levels based on market conditions, transaction timing, and portfolio management considerations.

The Fund manages liquidity as part of a comprehensive risk management framework designed to support its ability to meet shareholder redemptions and other obligations under a range of market conditions, including periods of market stress. The Adviser evaluates liquidity across the portfolio on an ongoing basis using multiple factors that may include market depth, anticipated transaction timelines, structural characteristics of private investments, and potential capital needs.

The Fund seeks to maintain sufficient flexibility through portfolio construction, cash management, and access to liquidity sources; however, there can be no assurance that these efforts will be successful in all market environments. Private investments are generally less liquid than publicly traded securities and may require extended time frames to exit or monetize. In certain circumstances, the Fund may need to adjust portfolio exposures, delay investment activity, or take other actions it considers appropriate in order to manage liquidity.

As a result of the size of this position relative to the Fund’s portfolio, changes in the assigned valuation of this investment could have a proportionally greater impact on the Fund’s NAV than the valuation changes of smaller positions.

For more information related to the risks of the fund, please refer to the prospectus. The prospectus can be obtained by calling 617 279-0045 and be viewed at https://entrepreneurshares.com/.

ERShares is distributed by Foreside Financial Services, LLC. There is no affiliation between ERShares and Foreside Financial Services distributors.

Fund applies methodologies believed to be reasonable to determine the valuation of privately offered securities such as exposure to the SpaceX SPV. However, there can be no assurance that the values assigned will reflect realizable outcomes.

Management Risk: The Adviser’s reliance on its strategy and its judgments about the value and potential appreciation of securities in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect, including the Adviser’s tactical allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among its investments. The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the Adviser’s proprietary investment process.

Privately-Offered Securities Risk: Privately-offered securities include those which are issued without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation S under the 1933 Act, or Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act. Privately-offered securities are not exchange-traded and are subject to liquidity risk, may be difficult to value, may be difficult to sell because of regulatory restrictions on resale, provide fewer financial disclosures than publicly-offered or exchange-traded securities, and may be subject to significant brokerage commissions. Limitations on resale may prevent the Fund from disposing of these securities at prices that reflect fair value. To the extent the Fund acquires privately-offered securities through a privately-offered special purpose vehicle (“SPV”), the Fund may also be subject to management and performance fees of the SPV. SPVs are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and therefore, an investor, such as the Fund does not benefit from the regulatory protections of the 1940 Act.

*Basis of “first” claim: ERShares review of U.S.-listed open‑end 1940 Act ETFs and public filings as of Aug 29, 2024; requires daily creations/redemptions and a single ETF portfolio with private‑company exposure reflected in daily NAV alongside public equities. Excludes interval funds, closed‑end funds, BDC/PE‑manager ETFs, SPACs, and products without private‑company exposure in NAV

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