Microsoft is born - Stories (2024)

FAQs

What is the backstory of Microsoft? ›

U.S. Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975, to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by Windows.

In 1975 Bill Gates and Paul G. Allen, two boyhood friends from Seattle, converted BASIC, a popular mainframe computer programming language, for use on an early personal computer (PC), the Altair. Shortly afterward, Gates and Allen founded Microsoft, deriving the name from the words microcomputer and software.

Inspired by the January cover of Popular Electronics magazine, friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen started Microsoft – sometimes Micro-Soft, for microprocessors and software – to develop software for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer.

On April 3, 2000, Jackson issued his conclusions of law, holding that Microsoft had engaged in monopolization, attempted monopolization, and tying in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. On June 7, 2000, the District Court ordered a breakup of Microsoft as its remedy.

Paul Allen was an American investor and philanthropist. He is best known as the co-founder, with Bill Gates, of Microsoft Corporation, a developer of personal-computer software systems and applications.

Allen came up with the original name of Micro-Soft, a portmanteau of microcomputer and software. Hyphenated in its early incarnations, on November 26, 1976, the company was registered under that name with the Secretary of State of New Mexico.

Microsoft released its first product which is called the Altair BASIC. The company's first international office was founded on November 1, 1978, in Japan, entitled "ASCII Microsoft" (now called "Microsoft Japan").

In fact, confidence was key in transforming Gates from a 20-year-old college kid with an interest in computers to co-founder of a company that is now one of the world's largest.

Key Takeaways. Institutional investors are the majority owners of Microsoft, accounting for almost 70% of outstanding shares. Former CEO Steve Ballmer owns a 4% stake in Microsoft, more than its founder Bill Gates, who holds a 1.3% stake.

What made Microsoft so successful? ›

Much of Microsoft's success can be attributed to its ability to adapt to the changing landscape. In the early days, Microsoft focused on software development and grew into a major player in this space.

Obsessively dedicated to computing and software since his student days, Bill Gates became galvanized by the advent of an early personal computer, the Altair, which appeared in 1975.

The story starts with a very humble beginning with couple of teenagers in high school, named: Kent Owens, Bill Gates, Ric Weiland and Paul Allen. These teenagers had drawn interest towards the new computer at the school. Problem was that, they were to rent the usage time for the computer which was $40 an hour.

Companies are not invented, they are founded. Bill Gates and Paul Allen were the two co-founders of Microsoft, in 1975. Microsoft's first product was a BASIC programming language interpreter for the MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer, developed by Gates and Allen. Neither Gates nor Allen invented the BASIC language.

Microsoft realized that it needed to reinvent itself to stay relevant and competitive in the changing landscape of technology. It decided to embrace AI as a strategic priority and invest heavily in research and development, talent acquisition, partnerships and acquisitions.

Gates did not start Microsoft with a loan from his parents, it was entirely bootstrapped financially. Paul Allen and Gates had saved up a small amount of money from contract work. Together they provided all of Microsoft's seed capital.