Been doing some digging into what could have been real 10x opportunities and honestly, the flying car, quantum computing, and EV charging space had some interesting plays back when people were hunting for stocks that will 10x.

Archer Aviation caught my attention because electric vertical takeoff vehicles seemed like the kind of moonshot that could actually move the needle. They were planning FAA certification and service launch in 2025, which would've been huge if it panned out. The math was wild too - if ACHR hit $50 from around $5, that's your 10x right there. The whole idea of turning a one-hour commute into 10 minutes by air? That's the kind of disruption that moves markets.

Then there was Quantum Computing at like 80 cents a share. Those are the kinds of stocks that will 10x that make people nervous but also keep them up at night. They had revenues doubling, working with NASA, and analysts were throwing out $9 price targets. Yeah, the stock had tanked 50% before that, but for someone willing to take the heat, the upside case was there. Revenue growth of 111% in that period wasn't nothing.

EVgo probably made the most fundamental sense though. They're building the charging infrastructure that EVs actually need to scale, and their numbers were legitimately improving. Q3 2023 showed 234% revenue growth, losses were shrinking, and they were adding accounts like crazy. Even if the 10x didn't happen, the business was clearly moving in the right direction while competitors were struggling.

Looking back, these stocks that will 10x plays required real conviction and stomach for volatility. The sectors were solid, but execution is everything. Whether these actually delivered or got crushed, they represented the kind of bets people were making when hunting for real returns in emerging industries.