Pluto launches AI lending platform to unlock liquidity in private markets
The start-up says its technology allows investors to borrow against private assets without forced sales, as demand grows for flexible credit in an increasingly illiquid corner of finance.
Pluto Financial Technologies has launched an artificial intelligence-powered lending platform designed specifically for private markets, backed by a group of institutional investors and strategic partners including Motive Ventures, Portage, Apollo Global Management, Hamilton Lane, Tectonic Ventures and Broadhaven Ventures.
The company said it has raised $8.6 million in equity funding and secured hundreds of millions of dollars in lending capacity to support the platform’s initial rollout. Pluto is targeting a long-standing pain point in private markets, where investors often face limited liquidity options and are forced to sell stakes at steep discounts to meet capital needs.
Private markets are projected to grow by around 1.5x over the next five years, according to the company, but remain structurally illiquid. Capital calls can be unpredictable, secondary markets are limited, and selling positions early can come at a significant cost. Pluto argues these constraints have deterred both individual investors and wealth advisers, despite strong demand for alternative assets.
Pluto’s platform connects directly to investor portfolios to provide credit on demand without requiring asset sales. Its flagship product, the Wealth Equity Line of Credit, or WELOC, allows investors to borrow against private market holdings, with repayment structured around future fund distributions rather than monthly interest payments. The company said this approach is designed to align borrowing with the cash flow profile of private investments.
Through distribution partners such as Allocate, Pluto said it can reach thousands of investors managing more than $6 billion in alternative assets. Neel Ganu, CFA, chief executive and co-founder of Pluto, described the platform as a way to close the gap between long-term private investments and short-term financial needs. “Pluto is the bridge between alternative asset ownership and everyday financial freedom,” he said.
Samir Kaji, chief executive of Allocate, said liquidity constraints have limited adviser participation in private markets. “Our partnership with Pluto allows us to offer flexible liquidity solutions in real time through our platform, removing a critical barrier for advisers and their clients,” he said.
Hamilton Lane, one of Pluto’s backers, framed the launch as part of a broader effort to modernise access to private markets. Griff Norville, head of technology solutions at the firm, said technology-enabled platforms could help unlock liquidity that has traditionally been out of reach, while giving investors greater speed, security and control.
Pluto said it plans to expand its lending capabilities as private markets continue to grow, positioning its platform as infrastructure for a segment of finance that has historically lagged public markets in flexibility and access.
The Recap
- Pluto launched an AI lending platform for private market assets.
- Raised $8.6 million in equity and secured lending capacity.
- WELOC lets investors borrow against private market assets.
