Accredited investor
Also called: accredited investor status
ELI5
An investor legally eligible for some private offerings.
Used in conversation
“Accredited-investor rules are jurisdiction-specific and should be checked with counsel.”
Definition
A person or entity meeting jurisdiction-specific criteria that allow participation in certain exempt securities offerings.
Here “Accredited investor” means: A person or entity meeting jurisdiction-specific criteria that allow participation in certain exempt securities offerings.
Pitch context
You will see “Accredited investor” in fundraising decks, data rooms, term sheets and investor conversations when the discussion reaches investor & fund types.
Why it matters: In investor & fund types, a loose definition can change rights, obligations, approval, disclosure or enforceability.
Caution
Meaning, enforceability and required process vary by jurisdiction and agreement; this definition is not legal advice.
Sources & evidence · 6
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Accredited InvestorsDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Small Business Capital Formation GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Exempt OfferingsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- National Venture Capital Association — Model Legal DocumentsSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Safe financing documentsSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Series A Term Sheet TemplateSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16