Investing your money in businesses that are either new to the market or emerging can make you seriously rich.
Of course, it is easier said than done.
This is why it pays off to research a company's products/services, financial statements, projections, competitive moat and market trends before investing.
Nonetheless, we take a look at three companies that would have made you a millionaire if you'd invested $10,000 a decade ago.
Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)
Despite sinking almost 17% in the past month, the former market darling's shares have returned unbelievable gains across the decade.
If you'd invested $10,000 into Altium shares this time 10 years ago, you would have picked them up for approximately 36 cents apiece. This equates to an astonishing 27,777 shares without topping up along the way.
Fast-forward to today and the electronic design software company's shares are exchanging hands at $27.57.
This means that those 27,777 shares would be now worth a staggering $765,811.89. While it falls short of the $1 million, bear in mind that Altium shares have tumbled lately. If the price returns to pre-2022 levels such as when it hit $45.30 in December, you'd be sitting on $1.25 million.
Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)
Another stellar performer on the ASX has been Pilbara Minerals.
This Australian lithium-tantalum producer has seen its shares accelerate over the decade thanks to the growing global lithium industry.
And while the Pilbara Minerals share price has also tumbled by 7% in a month, investors wouldn't be fretting.
Over the last 12 months, its shares have risen more than 150% alone.
When taking a glance at this time in 2012, Pilbara shares were trading at 2 cents apiece.
Currently, those shares can now be bought for $2.73 at yesterday's market close.
That means that a $10,000 investment would have reaped $1.36 million.
Not a bad reward for patient long-term shareholders.
Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)
Last but not least, the Vulcan Energy shares haven't been around for the decade but nonetheless, have powered ahead.
Listed on the ASX in 2018, the clean lithium developer floated at a price of 20 cents per share.
At the last traded price on Tuesday, Vulcan Energy shares closed at $7.32.
This means your $10,000 buy in would be valued at an incredible $3.66 million.
It is worth noting that the Vulcan Energy share price is more than 50% off its all-time high of $16.65 reached last September.
One can only imagine how much you'd have if its shares regain composure.
Spoiler alert: It would have been over $8.32 million at the peak! A comfortable nest egg for your retirement one could say.
