Cathie Wood’s Ark Venture Fund enables retail investors to access high-growth startups, with net assets reaching $69 million, tripling year over year. However, it has underperformed compared to the S&P 500, raising concerns about its returns. The fund allows investments starting at $500, providing liquidity much like stocks. Ark has invested in notable companies like SpaceX, OpenAI, and xAI, but still trails behind major venture capital firms. Despite a 36% increase since inception, it faces challenges attracting more investors, particularly due to its high fee structure and the need for larger investments to compete effectively.