SoFi Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) saw its stock surge 5.04% in Tuesday's pre-market trading session following the announcement of expanded access to private market funds for its members. The financial technology company is breaking new ground by offering retail investors opportunities previously reserved for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and large institutions.

Through its partnership with Templum, SoFi is now providing members access to a new class of the Cosmos Fund with sole exposure to Anthropic, a leading artificial intelligence company. Additionally, SoFi is offering access to private equity funds such as the Pomona Investment Fund and the StepStone Private Markets Fund. This move aligns with SoFi's strategy to diversify its offerings and tap into the growing demand for alternative investments among retail investors.

Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi, emphasized the company's commitment to democratizing access to high-value investment opportunities, stating, "SoFi's expansion into alternative investments, like private market funds, has broken down barriers for retail investors to access potentially high value opportunities." The company's recent survey revealed that over 87% of investors expressed interest in investing in privately held companies, with technology, AI, and healthcare being the most sought-after sectors. This expansion of SoFi's alternative investment offerings could potentially attract more users to its platform and drive further growth in its user base and revenue streams.