They spent weeks arguing over what the company was worth. Maya saw the future—millions of units sold. Elias saw the present—a prototype and zero revenue. They settled on a "pre-money valuation" of $2 million. Elias decided to invest $200,000.

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If you’re looking to follow in Elias’s footsteps, here is how the process actually works:

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Sites like Wefunder or Republic allow regular investors to buy small stakes in private startups for as little as $100.

Elias leaned in. He wasn't a bank; he was an angel investor—a scout looking for the next big thing before the rest of the world even knew it existed. Buying a stake in Maya’s private company, HydraLink , wasn't as simple as clicking 'buy' on a stock app. It was a calculated dance.

By putting in $200,000 on a $2 million valuation, the "post-money" value became $2.2 million. Elias didn't just give her cash; he bought 9% of the company. Maya’s 100% ownership shrunk to 91%, but her 91% of a funded company was suddenly worth much more than 100% of a broke one.