top of page
Writer's pictureRobert Eckelman

Largest US companies started small, by only a few people, with a vision for greatness, less than 46




It is hard to believe, and very cool, that most of the largest companies in the world and all of the largest companies in the US happened during my lifetime. Most of these companies are relatively new. They were started by friends & roommates in Garages, homes & dorm rooms.


Apple-

Started in 1976 by college dropouts in home garage.1997 Apple was on the verge of going bankrupt. last minute 150 Million Investment from Microsoft saved the company.


Microsoft-

Started 1975 by Childhood friends Bill Gates (college dropout) and Paul Allen. Microsoft license its MS-DOS operating system to IBM for its first personal computer, which debuted in 1981. Notice IBM started in 1911 is not on the list


Amazon-

Started 1994 as an online bookstore. Amazon was operated out of the garage of Bezos's house


Google - Alphabet -

Started 1998 as a Stanford dorm room project


Facebook-

2004 founded by Mark Zuckerberg (college dropout) , along with Harvard roommates & 4 other Harvard students


Berkshire Hathaway-( the old one of the group)

Started 1965 by Warren Buffett. The holding company made billions by buying troubled businesses & turning them around. Ex GEICO, Duracell, & Fruit of the Loom.


Tesla- Not Started by Elon Musk

Started 2003 by Martin Eberhard & Marc Tarpenning, not Elon Musk who joined in 2004. Eberhard and Tarpenning, no longer with Tesla, met Musk at a Mars Society conference


Who knows possibly the next great company is being formed by high schoolers, in dorm rooms, or by 2021 college graduates, Go get ‘em. SISU

Comments


bottom of page