On the Ground Insights

A hub for deep dives, expert commentary, and open insights into investing and startup ecosystems—tailored for investors shaping the future.

10 min read

Leo Marcos

May 14, 2025

Market Research

Market Research

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Gain a deeper understanding of private markets through thoughtful analysis and transparent discussions that reveal what truly drives growth. We bring context to startup trends, secondary market developments, and strategic investment insights for investors and operators alike.

The secondary market has transformed—from a niche for late-stage investors into a frontier for identifying tomorrow’s unicorns. Winning here means having clarity, the right expertise, and perfect timing.

Secondary Liquidity

Founders no longer have to wait for an IPO to realize value. Secondary liquidity gives them breathing room—and sometimes, a second wind.

  • Playbooks now include growth loops, burn modeling, and real-time dashboards.

  • Founders prefer investor-operators who can provide more than capital.

Transparent Infrastructure Is a Competitive Advantage

Data isn’t optional anymore. Teams that track KPIs in real time outperform their peers in decision speed and fundraising clarity.

  • Dashboards like Elephant’s unified command center bring clarity to every stakeholder.

  • Transparency builds trust, especially during due diligence.

Insight-Driven Execution Beats Intuition

Gone are the days of gut-feel go-to-markets. The best startup operators are layering market trends with internal benchmarks to iterate smarter.

  • Combine metrics from CRM, product, and creator tools.

  • Enable smart alerts for churn, usage drops, and engagement spikes.

The future of startup growth is intelligent, fast, and data-literate. Whether you're raising a round, planning a creator campaign, or seeking an exit in the secondary market—winning will depend on your ability to see clearly and act confidently.

In this article

Secondary Markets Are No Longer Niche

The Rise of Operator-Investors

Transparent Infrastructure Is a Competitive Advantage

On the Ground Insights

Author

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Julian Vega

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