Ways to sell pre-IPO shares

There's no one-click button for selling private shares — but there are a few real routes, each with different access, pricing and approvals. Here they are, compared by an independent source that isn't one of them.

The routes, in rough order of ease

Route	How it works	Best when
Company tender offer	The company organises a buyback/structured sale	Usually the cleanest, best-priced window — take it seriously first
Secondary marketplace	A platform matches buyers & sellers (Forge, EquityZen, Hiive, NPM)	Recognised names; minimums and fees apply
Approved private sale	A direct sale to a specific buyer, with company approval	Small stakes with no platform coverage
Incoming-round investor	Sell into a funding round as secondary	A round is imminent

Every route still needs your company's ROFR and approval. PrivateTechShares is independent and does not arrange, broker or facilitate any sale.

Compare the platforms

Forge vs EquityZen vs Hiive vs Nasdaq Private Market — the big marketplaces compared on fees, minimums and who can use each.
Forge Global alternatives · EquityZen alternatives — other routes if those don't fit.
How to find a buyer & can I sell before an exit? — the eligibility and mechanics.

Can't sell yet? Fund the exercise instead

If the block is cash to exercise rather than a buyer, financing is a different lane: Secfi alternatives and EquityBee alternatives cover option-exercise financing — and the trade-offs vs selling a slice to self-fund.

Frequently asked questions

What's the easiest way to sell pre-IPO shares?

If your company runs a tender offer, that's usually the easiest and best-priced route — it's organised, approved and structured for you. Outside a tender, a secondary marketplace (for covered companies) or an approved private sale are the main options, but all require your company's approval and satisfying any right of first refusal.

Does PrivateTechShares sell shares or find buyers for you?

No. We're an independent education and tools service — not a broker, marketplace or intermediary. We help you understand the routes, gauge a fair price and prepare; we don't arrange, broker or facilitate any transaction, and we take no fee from any sale.

Get the numbers before you decide

Free, no sign-up: estimate what your stake is worth, the cost to exercise, and whether you can sell.

Value my equity (free) → · All free tools → · Glossary →

When you're ready to go deeper, there's an optional Equity Toolkit and Report.