How to Invest in Stargate

What Stargate is and how to buy it

Stargate is not a publicly traded company or a registered investment fund. It is a joint venture announced in 2024 between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to build artificial intelligence infrastructure in the United States. Because Stargate itself is not open to individual investors, you cannot buy shares or stake money directly in the project.

If you want exposure to Stargate's success, your options are to invest in one of the three companies behind it — OpenAI (which remains private), SoftBank Group Corp. (ticker: SFTBY on US exchanges), or Oracle Corporation (ticker: ORCL). Each company has different ownership structures, financial profiles, and reasons for involvement in Stargate.

The venture is expected to cost over $500 billion over the next several years, with funding coming from the three partners and potentially other sources. No timeline has been set for when or whether Stargate will become a separate investment vehicle that individuals can buy into directly.

Key Takeaways

• Stargate is a private infrastructure project, not a company you can invest in directly through a brokerage account.
• You can gain indirect exposure by buying shares of SoftBank Group Corp. (SFTBY) or Oracle Corporation (ORCL), both of which are backing the venture.
• OpenAI, the third partner, remains a private company with no public stock offering or announced timeline for one.
• Stargate's funding structure and timeline remain subject to change, and no may provide exists that the project will proceed as announced.

Investing in SoftBank Group Corp. (SFTBY)

SoftBank Group Corp. is a Japanese holding company that invests in technology, telecommunications, and other sectors worldwide. You can buy SoftBank shares on US exchanges under the ticker SFTBY (American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs). SoftBank has committed to funding Stargate alongside OpenAI and Oracle, though the exact amount and timeline of its contributions have not been fully disclosed.

SoftBank's involvement in Stargate is one part of a much larger portfolio. The company owns stakes in hundreds of companies through its Vision Fund and other investment vehicles. If you buy SoftBank stock, you are investing in the entire company and its many holdings, not Stargate alone. SoftBank's stock price moves based on the performance of all its investments, market conditions, and currency fluctuations (since it trades in yen).

Before buying SoftBank shares, research the company's financial statements, which are filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You can find these on the SEC's EDGAR database or on SoftBank's investor relations website. Look at the company's debt levels, cash flow, and how it discloses its Stargate involvement in earnings reports and shareholder letters.

Investing in Oracle Corporation (ORCL)

Oracle Corporation is a US-based software and cloud computing company. You can buy Oracle shares on the Nasdaq under the ticker ORCL. Oracle has committed infrastructure and funding to Stargate, particularly around data center capacity and cloud services that the AI project will need.

Oracle's core business is database software, enterprise applications, and cloud infrastructure. Stargate is a growth opportunity for Oracle's cloud division, but it is not Oracle's only business. When you buy Oracle stock, you own a piece of a large, established company with revenue from many sources. Oracle's stock price reflects the company's overall performance, not just Stargate's progress.

Oracle files quarterly and annual reports with the SEC. Review these documents to understand how much of Oracle's revenue and investment is directed toward Stargate, how the company is funding its commitment, and what risks the company discloses about the venture. Oracle's investor relations website also publishes earnings call transcripts where executives discuss major projects.

Why OpenAI is not available to individual investors

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT and the lead partner in Stargate, remains a private company. It does not have publicly traded stock, and there is no announced timeline for an initial public offering (IPO). OpenAI has raised funding from venture capital firms, sovereign wealth funds, and other institutional investors, but these shares are not available on public stock exchanges.

Some private companies allow employees and early investors to sell shares on secondary markets — platforms where private stock trades between accredited investors. These markets are not regulated the same way public exchanges are, and they carry higher risk. If you are an accredited investor and want to explore secondary market options, you would need to use platforms like Forge, EquityZen, or similar services, but availability and pricing vary.

If OpenAI does eventually go public, that announcement would be major news and would be reported widely. Until then, the only way to invest in OpenAI's success is indirectly through SoftBank or Oracle.

Understanding indirect investment risk

When you invest in SoftBank or Oracle to gain Stargate exposure, you are taking on several layers of risk. First, you are betting that Stargate will succeed and generate returns for its investors. Second, you are betting that SoftBank or Oracle will benefit financially from Stargate's success. Third, you are exposed to all the other risks that affect SoftBank or Oracle as companies — competition, regulation, market downturns, management changes, and more.

Stargate is a long-term infrastructure project with no may provide timeline for profitability or return. The project could face delays, cost overruns, regulatory challenges, or shifts in technology that make parts of it obsolete. If Stargate underperforms, SoftBank and Oracle may write down their investments, which could hurt their stock prices.

Additionally, neither SoftBank nor Oracle has disclosed exactly how much of their capital is committed to Stargate or how they will account for it in their financial statements. This lack of transparency makes it harder to assess how much of these companies' value is tied to the project's success.

How to research before investing

Start by reading the companies' official announcements about Stargate. OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle have all published statements about the venture. These statements explain the project's goals, funding structure, and timeline as the companies understand it at that moment. Keep in mind that announcements can change.

Next, review the SEC filings for SoftBank and Oracle. Look for mentions of Stargate in the "Risk Factors" section, which companies use to disclose material risks to investors. Search for "Stargate" in quarterly 10-Q filings and annual 10-K filings. If the companies have not mentioned Stargate in their SEC filings, that suggests they do not view it as material enough to disclose to shareholders — which is itself useful information.

Read financial news coverage from outlets that cover technology and investing. Reputable sources like Reuters, Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, and CNBC have reported on Stargate's announcement and the companies' involvement. These articles often include analysis of what the project means for each company's business and stock.

Finally, consider speaking with a financial advisor who can help you think through whether indirect exposure to Stargate fits your overall investment strategy and risk tolerance. An advisor can also help you understand how much of your portfolio should be in any single company or sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy Stargate stock directly?

No. Stargate is not a publicly traded company or fund. It is a private infrastructure project owned by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. You cannot buy shares in Stargate itself through a brokerage account or stock exchange.

What if Stargate becomes a separate company later?

If the three partners decide to spin off Stargate as a separate company and take it public, that would be announced well in advance. At that point, you would be able to buy Stargate shares directly. Until then, indirect investment through SoftBank or Oracle is the only public market option.

Is investing in SoftBank or Oracle the same as investing in Stargate?

No. SoftBank and Oracle are large companies with many business lines. Stargate is one project among many investments and operations. Buying their stock gives you exposure to the entire company, not just Stargate. If Stargate succeeds but Oracle's core business struggles, Oracle's stock could still fall.

How much of SoftBank and Oracle's value comes from Stargate?

The companies have not disclosed a specific breakdown. Stargate is a significant long-term commitment, but both companies have substantial existing revenue and profits from other sources. Without detailed disclosure, it is difficult to calculate exactly how much of their stock price reflects Stargate expectations.

What happens if Stargate is delayed or scaled back?

If the project faces delays or funding changes, SoftBank and Oracle may need to adjust their financial guidance or write down their investments. This could affect their stock prices. The companies would disclose material changes to Stargate in their SEC filings and earnings calls.