Private vs Public Valuation Multiples: What Changed Heading Into 2026

CHART OF THE WEEK

Private markets are still pricing in the future—public markets are pricing in cash flow. This week’s Chart of the Week breaks down the widening “valuation gap” by sector, with Green Energy still leading at eye-popping multiples and Education emerging as the year’s biggest surprise. See where the innovation premium is expanding, where it’s compressing, and what that means for how you underwrite risk in 2026.

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EVENTS

Invest in private markets with your IRA. StartEngine (with $2.1B invested) and Equity Trust ($75B in assets under custody & administration) have teamed up to help investors explore private-market opportunities using tax-advantaged retirement dollars. Join StartEngine Chief Revenue Officer Josh Amster and Equity Trust’s John Bowens for a step-by-step walkthrough of self-directed IRA setup, transfer/rollover basics, the 50/30/20 allocation framework, and what it means to invest pre-IPO with an IRA.

🗓️ Wednesday, January 28th, 1pm ET → Register now 👇

DealFlow Discovery Conference Adds New Reg A Fundraising Workshop

 The DealFlow Discovery Conference, returning January 28-29, 2026 at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ, continues to expand its focus on emerging capital-raising strategies for growth-stage companies.

Now in its third year, the Discovery Conference has become one of the largest gatherings in the microcap and alternative investing ecosystem, bringing together public and private companies, investors, analysts, and advisors for two days of presentations, one-on-one meetings, and market-focused discussions. Attendance is expected to exceed 1,000 participants, with more than 100 companies already confirmed to present.

New for 2026, the conference will introduce a dedicated Regulation A Fundraising Track, anchored by a hands-on Reg A workshop hosted by DealMaker. The workshop will be followed by live presentations from companies currently raising capital under Regulation A, giving attendees a practical look at how issuers are structuring offerings and engaging investors in today’s market.

The Reg A track is designed to serve both issuers exploring alternative fundraising strategies and investors seeking opportunities outside traditional IPO and venture channels. Participation in the Reg A presentations is limited to Regulation A issuers, with space available on a first-come basis.

PITCH REVIEW 💸

By Teddy Lyons \ Deal Report

Brief: Dopple is a family-focused platform that evolved from a kids’ clothing subscription service into a needs-first gift registry and funding solution for parents. Its redesigned platform lets families create comprehensive wishlists and receive cash contributions for everything from baby gear to essential services, blending e-commerce with fintech to modernize the traditional baby registry. Dopple is raising capital on Wefunder at a roughly $9.3 million valuation, with proceeds aimed at product development and growth as it scales this new family funding model.

Teddy’s Quick Take: 
Dopple caught my eye when I judged the SuperCrowd Live Pitch Event in Q3 2025. Founder Lisa Marino delivered a standout pitch, sharing her story as a single mom on welfare and food stamps after losing healthcare before her daughter's birth. She highlighted billions in untapped aid going unused due to complexity, and her vision for Dopple as the "map" to access it impressed the panel.

Dopple is a fintech platform simplifying funding for families at every stage. They aggregate government programs, philanthropic grants, donor-advised funds, and friends/family gifts, then match users and streamline applications. Unlike traditional registries focused on one-time events like births, it's a lifelong registry for ongoing expenses, allowing families to list needs and get continuous support. Their system ensures 90% of dollars go directly to families, minimizing overhead (unlike nonprofits, where 25-50 percent stays internal) by routing funds straight to actual needs via tech efficiency and small fees. Plus, it provides transparency for donors with detailed tracking and receipts – like proving a donation for diapers in New Jersey went exactly there.

What I love about Dopple is Lisa's track record. A three-time entrepreneur and Wharton/Stanford alum, her team scaled RockYou from $15 million to $150 million in revenue profitably before selling it in four years (she has also invested $1.25 million into Dopple herself). The round also draws notable investors like Jeremy Liew (Snapchat's first investor), Neal Dempsey (Bay Partners veteran with exits like Dropbox and Beyond Meat), McClatchy Media (billion-dollar media giant co-leading after their angel investment), and NJEDA (committing $1 million total from the State of New Jersey to back impact-focused tech).

STAFF PICKS 🌶️

One Stop Halal

By Teddy Lyons

One Stop Halal is a full-stack halal meat and grocery brand shipping hand-cut Zabiha Halal nationwide. It has served 35,000+ customers, earned 3,400+ five-star reviews, and shipped 1.27 million pounds of meat.

Native Connections

By Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau

Native Connections brings internet connectivity to underserved Native American communities. The social impact is quite obvious. From an economic perspective, could that be an opportunity to build some sort of local monopoly?

Vatom

By Teddy Lyons

Vatom helps brands build interactive digital experiences using AI, rewards, and immersive engagement tools. The platform has reached over 10 million users globally and counts major clients like PepsiCo, Google, and Procter and Gamble.

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