Called Capital Connect, the platform will connect entrepreneurs with venture investors.

JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) is launching Capital Connect, a venture capital platform to simplify the funding process for startups and expand its penetration of the private market. Banks have sought to present a friendlier funding face to founders given the rapid increase in recent years in the number and size of unlisted and private ventures. (Reuters)

JPMorgan: Capital Connect

The platform is to be led by Michael Elanjian, head of Digital Investment Banking and Digital Private Markets at the banking giant.

Startups, even early-stage Series A firms, would be able to access Capital Connect to raise money by meeting prospective investors, set up virtual data rooms, and trade shares of their company on a secondary market, Reuters said.

According to the web page of the platform, founders may also access exclusive benchmarking data to gain insights into market trends, terms, and sector dynamics. An integrated AI algorithm would help founders manage and customize their investor targeting and outreach.

Founders may also combine Capital Connect with the Global Shares’ cap table solution to manage their equity, grant options and awards to employees, and manage their cap table in one place.

“We’ve seen a secular trend over the last decade is in the growth in private capital, and the private market is here to stay,” said Elanjian in an interview. “We want to be the one-stop shop for all things private for servicing companies and investors of all sizes.”

On-platform startups would also be able to access JPMorgan’s banking capabilities.

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