I still maintain that $HMNY (the parent company) stock was an interesting and unique case where the average person could buy shares in, essentially, an early stage startup that had tremendous consumer interest and growth.

Most of the time you see tech startups they are either in the seed/VC stage (you can't invest unless you are accredited and have connections) or the IPO stage (mega-companies that everyone has heard of).

Did it turn out poorly? Yes (Share price went from $35 to $1 for a while and then down to basically zero). But was it a good process? I think so!