Crowd Street Expands Beyond CRE, Taps Nuveen and StepStone

A Platform Evolution

Crowd Street, long known for its curated marketplace of commercial real estate investments, is entering new territory. The company announced distribution agreements with two major global asset managers—Nuveen and StepStone—to bring a new slate of private market funds to its investor base.

This marks the first time Crowd Street will offer private market investment opportunities outside of real estate, and it signals a broader ambition: to become a hub for self-directed investors looking to diversify across alternative assets.

What’s Coming

The initial offerings will include six funds spanning private credit, private equity, venture capital, and real assets:

• Nuveen, which manages over $1.3 trillion in assets, will launch two funds on the platform, starting with a $2B perpetual-life private credit fund focused on U.S. middle market companies.
• StepStone, responsible for $709B in total capital, will offer a private equity fund and a venture capital fund this fall, aimed at long-term growth and diversification.

These funds will feature lower minimums, streamlined reporting, and quarterly liquidity, designed to make institutional-grade strategies more accessible to accredited investors.

Strategic Shift

Crowd Street’s move follows a recent collaboration with institutional consultant Callan, reflecting a continued push to broaden the platform’s fund lineup. The new partnerships are expected to provide self-directed access to strategies once reserved for institutional investors or those working with wealth advisors.

Industry leaders see this as a pivotal moment.

“We’re proud to be one of their first partners to offer fund opportunities across a new asset class, and we’re excited to help Crowd Street members find new financial opportunities that previously weren’t readily available to them without the use of a financial advisor,” said Jeff Carlin, Head of Global Wealth at Nuveen.

“Crowd Street is an ideal distribution channel for us, and our collaboration represents a major step toward our shared vision of opening up access to the private markets to a broader set of accredited investors,” added Bob Long, CEO of StepStone Private Wealth.

Why It Matters

Crowd Street’s shift reflects a larger trend of democratizing private markets, where platforms are increasingly looking to break down barriers to entry. With these new fund offerings, investors can build diversified portfolios across multiple private market sectors, potentially enhancing long-term growth and resilience.

The strategy also responds to growing investor demand for alternative assets amid uncertain public markets and rising interest in income-generating and growth-oriented vehicles.

What’s Next

The initial funds from Nuveen and StepStone are expected to launch this fall, with more anticipated by year’s end. Investors interested in learning more can visit crowdstreet.com.

As private markets continue to open up, Crowd Street’s evolution signals that the next frontier for alternative investing is already here—and it’s no longer just about real estate.