Accredited investor
A legal status (in the US: income or net-worth thresholds) required to invest in most private equity rounds and venture funds.
In the US, an accredited investor generally must have earned $200,000+ individually (or $300,000+ with a spouse) in each of the prior two years with an expectation of the same going forward, or have a net worth over $1 million excluding a primary residence. The rule exists because private securities — unlike public stocks — carry fewer mandated disclosures, and regulators use the income/net-worth threshold as a proxy for an investor's ability to bear the risk.
Some larger funds require the higher bar of "qualified purchaser" status (generally $5 million+ in investments), which is a separate, stricter threshold than accredited investor status. Requirements vary by country — always check your local equivalent rather than assuming the US definition applies.
Why it matters
This is the first gate for most of the paths on this site — angel investing, syndicates, and most LP commitments. Confirm your status (and your country's specific rule) before assuming a deal or fund is open to you.