Can I Invest in Just 5 Startups and Hope for Life-Changing Growth? (A Real Talk Breakdown)

Let’s say you’ve got that itch the one where you see a few explosive startups making headlines and you think, “What if I just bet on those five and let it ride?” Maybe you’re picturing yourself sipping espresso in Portugal while your portfolio goes nuclear.

But can you really invest in just five startups and hope for existential, life-changing returns? Short answer: yes, but with some big caveats. And if you’re working with a modest monthly budget, the strategy has to be extra smart.

Let’s walk through the full picture, like two friends trading dreams over cold brew and a spreadsheet.

First: What Does Existential Growth Even Mean?

We're not talking "make a few bucks" growth. We're talking 10x, 100x, or even 1000x. These are investments that, if you hit it right, could change your zip code, your career, your entire lifestyle.

Think of early investors in Uber, Airbnb, or even Nvidia. They didn’t just win they exploded.

So naturally, the idea of finding the next Thinking Machines Lab or Perplexity AI sounds mighty appealing. But here’s where it gets real.

Meet the 5 Startups Everyone’s Buzzing About

These five startups are among the most hyped and high-potential as of 2025:

1. Thinking Machines Lab

• Founded by: Mira Murati (ex-OpenAI)

• Funding: $2 billion seed (!!)

• Focus: Public-benefit AI

This one's getting OpenAI 2.0 comparisons. Their goal? Build an AI that benefits everyone, not just shareholders. With early OpenAI folks like John Schulman on board, this is one to watch.

2. Oxmiq Labs

Founded by: Raja Koduri (former Intel/AMD exec)

Focus: RISC-V AI hardware

They’re developing chips that run CUDA-Python code on non-Nvidia GPUs. If that sounds geeky, it is, but it also means a revolution in AI processing.

3. Applied Intuition

• Sector: Autonomous vehicle testing

• Valuation: $15 billion

They create simulation tools for AVs, and have already secured massive contracts. Possibly heading toward IPO.

4. Rillet

• Sector: Fintech/accounting automation

• Funding: $70 million Series B

AI for accounting might sound boring, but it’s huge. Mid-sized businesses are racing to automate ledgers, and Rillet is quietly owning the space.

5. Perplexity AI

• Focus: Generative AI search

• Funding: ~$915 million

• Why it matters: Traffic's exploding. They’re shaping up to be the anti-Google.

The Dream: Bet on These Five, Ride Into the Sunset

It sounds thrilling, right? Buy early, watch one or two blow up, and turn your small stake into generational wealth.

That’s the startup investor dream. But here’s the sobering truth: most people can’t invest in these right now.

So Wait... Can You Even Buy These?

Here’s the unfortunate twist:

Startup Publicly Invest-able? Notes

Thinking Machines ❌ Nope Private seed round only

Oxmiq Labs ❌ Nope Invite-only seed round

Applied Intuition ❌ Not yet Might IPO within 12–24 months

Rillet ❌ Not yet Still in Series B round

Perplexity AI ❌ Not yet Could go public, but not available now

Most of these companies are still privately held. You need to be an accredited investor (a net worth of $1M or $200K annual income) to get in via venture capital or seed rounds.

So What Can You Do With $50 a Month?

Here’s where it gets fun. You can build a strategy that acts like a startup portfolio with a much lower barrier to entry.

Step 1: Use Public Proxies

These are publicly traded companies or ETFs that benefit when the startups win.

Example Proxies:

• AI & Compute: Nvidia ($NVDA), AMD ($AMD), Microsoft ($MSFT)

• Search & AI Tools: Alphabet ($GOOGL), Meta ($META), Palantir ($PLTR)

• Fintech: Intuit ($INTU), Square ($SQ), PayPal ($PYPL)

• Innovation ETFs: ARK Innovation ETF ($ARKK), QQQJ (Next Gen Nasdaq)

Step 2: Build a "Moonshot Slice"

Create a small part of your portfolio just for riskier, high-upside bets. Even $10/month into 1 or 2 emerging tech stocks adds flavor without wrecking your core plan.

Step 3: Automate It

Most platforms like Fidelity, Robinhood, SoFi, or Schwab let you auto-invest $50/month into fractional shares. Set it, forget it, grow it.

Sample $50/month "Startup Proxy" Portfolio

Ticker Amount Why

$VTI (Total Market ETF) $20 Core diversification

$NVDA (Nvidia) $10 AI hardware leader

$GOOGL (Google) $10 AI + search exposure,

$INTU (Intuit) $5 Accounting/Fintech,

$ARKK (Innovation ETF) $5 Basket of next-gen disruptors

Total: $50/month

Over 6 months? You’ll have $300+ in high-growth positions with diversified exposure to what startups are doing.

Can You Still Win Big Without Access to Private Startups?

Absolutely.

Startups are exciting, but so is buying Amazon in 2010. Or Nvidia in 2016. Or Tesla in 2013. All of those were public stocks with massive upside.

If you focus on:

Innovation sectors

Long-term compounding

Staying consistent (even with small amounts)

You can still achieve life-changing results over time.

The Long Game: What Happens If You Stay In?

Time

$50/mo w/ 8% Return

1 year $630

5 years $3,700

10 years $7,300+

20 years $18,500+

Now imagine scaling to $100/month. Or catching one Nvidia-like stock early. Your ceiling rises fast.

TL;DR: What You Need to Know

You can’t invest directly in most top 2025 startups unless you're a VC or accredited investor.

• But you can build a proxy portfolio of public stocks that ride the same innovation waves.

• Start with $50/month using platforms like Fidelity, Robinhood, Schwab, or SoFi.

• Focus on AI, fintech, hardware, and innovation ETFs.

• Stay consistent and play the long game existential growth is still possible.

Dream Big, Start Smart

Want to chase moonshots? Great. Just build your launchpad first.

That $50/month isn’t small. It’s powerful. Over time, with smart choices and discipline, it can get you in the room when the next wave of Thinking Machines goes public. And who knows? When Perplexity AI IPOs, maybe you’ll already be holding the public proxies that soared right alongside it.

Your move, investor. 🚀

🚀 Top Brokers Where You Can Open an Account with $50 (or Less)

1. Fidelity Investments

• Zero account minimum

• Zero commissions on U.S. stocks and ETFs

• Offers fractional shares starting from just $1

• Trusted, beginner-friendly, and loaded with research tools New York Post+13Fidelity+13NerdWallet+13NerdWallet+1

2. Charles Schwab (Stock Slices)

• No minimum deposit to open

• Buy fractional shares of any S&P 500 stock with as little as $5 per slice

• Commission-free trading and intuitive tools Fidelity+6Schwab Brokerage+6Bankrate+6Wikipedia+5Bankrate+5NerdWallet+5

3. Robinhood

• $0 minimum to open an account

• Commission-free trading

• Fractional shares allowed down to tiny fractions of a whole share

• Very simple mobile-friendly interface Investopedia+13Bankrate+13Schwab Brokerage+13NerdWallet+4Bankrate+4Schwab Brokerage+4

4. M1 Finance

• No minimum to open

• Built for micro-investing with automated, custom allocations into fractional shares

• Great if you want automated portfolio structure Investopedia+12Wikipedia+12Firstrade+12

5. Webull

• No account minimums or commissions

• Fractional shares available on U.S. stocks and ETFs

• Useful platform if you want a bit more advanced features Wikipedia+15Webull+15Fidelity+15sfchronicle.com+5NerdWallet+5MoneyWeek+5Investopedia

6. SoFi Invest

• Zero minimum to open basic self-directed brokerage accounts

• Commission-free trades and fractional shares support

• User-friendly and offers optional auto-invest plan Wikipedia+2Bankrate+2Wikipedia+7Investopedia+7Wikipedia+7

🎯 Quick Breakdown: What Makes These Platforms Great with $50

• $0 account minimums mean you can sign up and deposit your $50 immediately.

• You can buy fractional shares so you can put money into high-priced stocks or ETFs even with your small budget.

• No commissions or trading fees, so all your $50 goes into the investment itself.

🧾 Example: What You Can Do Right Now with $50

Let’s say you join Fidelity or Schwab today. You could:

• Buy a slice of Apple (AAPL) with $10

• Invest $20 into broad-market ETF VTI

• Add $10 into a company like Nvidia (NVDA)

• Keep $10 in cash or future trades

All of that is possible because fractional share investing platforms allow you to buy exactly what you can afford in dollar amounts and you can do it today after funding.

✅ How to Get Started (In 3 Steps)

1. Pick a platform like Fidelity, Schwab, Robinhood, or SoFi.

2. Sign up and verify your account (takes ~~10–15 minutes).

3. Deposit your $50 (via bank transfer), then start buying fractional shares of ETFs or companies right away.

🧠 Why These Options Are Ideal For You

• Fidelity and Schwab are top-ranked by NerdWallet and Bankrate for beginner investors and fractional share support RedditNerdWallet+1Bankrate.

• Robinhood is praised for its ease of access and zero minimum barrier Bankrate+1Wikipedia.

• M1 Finance and SoFi are fine picks if you want automation or robo-style investing with very low entry points NerdWallet+5Wikipedia+5NerdWallet+5.

💡 Bonus Tip: Some Platforms Even Offer Promotions

• For example, Schwab Starter Kit gives you $50 in Stock Slices when you open and fund an account, split across top S&P 500 stocks effectively doubling your starting capital! Schwab Brokerage+1

• Yes, you can open an account today with just $50.

• Platforms like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Robinhood, M1 Finance, Webull, or SoFi all let you buy fractional shares with no minimums or commissions.

• You can start investing immediately in ETFs or stocks, and automation makes it easy to grow that $50 over time.