PrivatePulse·Companies·Fanatics vs CoreWeave

Fanatics vs CoreWeave: employee equity compared

Secondary market prices, valuation trajectory, equity structure, and liquidity outlook for employees choosing between Fanatics and CoreWeave.

Secondary market data updated monthly · Sources: Hiive, Forge

Fanatics

Consumer · United States · Founded 1995

Vertically integrated sports platform encompassing licensed merchandise, trading cards (Topps acquisition), and sports betting (Fanatics Sportsbook).

Last primary round$31B · Series I (2022-12)
Secondary market$31.9B (+3% vs primary)
Annual revenue$7.3B ARR · +15% YoY
Headcount~10,000
Equity typeRSU
Illiquidity discount~22%
Last round leadSoftbank / BlackRock
Liquidity outlook

IPO possible 2026–2028 as scale builds. No confirmed timeline; tender offers may provide interim liquidity.

Key equity angle

Consumer brand with network effects; RSU (no exercise cost); IPO when unit economics proven

↑ Higher secondary premium

CoreWeave

Data/Cloud · Roseland, NJ · Founded 2017

Specialised GPU cloud provider purpose-built for AI/ML training and inference — 45,000+ NVIDIA H100s available on-demand.

Last primary round$19B · Series C (2024-05)
Secondary market$19.6B (+3% vs primary)
Annual revenue$2B ARR · +150% YoY (very fast)
Headcount~1,200
Equity typeRSU
Illiquidity discount~15%
Last round leadCoatue Management
Liquidity outlook

IPO plausible 2027–2029 if growth trajectory holds. Liquidity may come via tender offer or strategic acquisition before listing.

Key equity angle

Sticky enterprise ARR; RSU (no exercise cost); IPO imminent when ARR > $1B

Key differences for employees

Equity structure

Fanatics grants RSU — no exercise cost. Your equity vests and converts to cash or shares automatically at a liquidity event. CoreWeave grants RSU — no exercise cost.

Secondary market premium

The secondary market is pricing Fanatics at a +3% premium over its last primary round ($31B$31.9B). CoreWeave trades at +3% over its last round ($19B$19.6B). A higher secondary premium signals stronger investor demand and potentially better near-term liquidity for employees looking to sell.

Revenue and growth

Fanatics runs at $7.3B ARR, growing +15% YoY. CoreWeave runs at $2B ARR, growing +150% YoY (very fast). Revenue growth rate matters for equity because it drives the peer-multiple valuation — the method most correlated with exit multiples.

Liquidity timeline

Fanatics: IPO possible 2026–2028 as scale builds. No confirmed timeline; tender offers may provide interim liquidity.

CoreWeave: IPO plausible 2027–2029 if growth trajectory holds. Liquidity may come via tender offer or strategic acquisition before listing.

Calculate your specific grant

Enter your actual shares, equity type, and strike price. PrivatePulse calculates your personal equity value at both companies using 4 independent methods.

Frequently asked questions

Is Fanatics or CoreWeave a better company to work at for equity?
There's no universal answer — it depends on your risk profile, time horizon, and specific grant terms. Fanatics at $31B and CoreWeave at $19B offer very different risk/reward profiles. Use the calculator above to model your exact grant at each company.
How do I know if my Fanatics or CoreWeave equity is fairly priced?
Compare your grant's implied per-share value against the secondary market price. If investors are paying a premium on Hiive or Forge over the last primary round, that's a signal of strong demand. PrivatePulse shows you the gap between your 409A and what the secondary market says.
Can I sell my Fanatics or CoreWeave shares on the secondary market?
Secondary market transactions (Hiive, Forge, Caplight) require accredited investor status and your company's consent — most private companies have right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) provisions. Tender offers, when available, are typically the most accessible path to partial liquidity for employees.

More equity comparisons