From Apple to Google, companies that have been on the Fortune 500 list today did not start in luxury high-rise offices. Before they were called tech giants, they were simply ambitious startups operating out of garages and basements first. Ultimately—it's the determination and innovation that propelled them upwards.
1. Apple
The Apple that we know today now has several branches globally you can buy from. But it wasn't always the case when it was first founded by Steve Jobs in 1976, alongside other co-founders.
According to Hackernoon, Apple's inaugural office is situated in the garage of Jobs' parents (in Cupertino, California). Thus, the reason why the place now hosts the world's first trillion-dollar company.
2. Amazon
Like its founder, Jeff Bezos, Amazon started humbly in 1994 from his garage in Bellevue, Washington. Hackernoon also noted that it was initially an online bookstore. Over time, Bezos realized the potential of the Internet for retail and created a marketplace that allowed customers to easily shop for books from home.
From his garage, Amazon has now diversified its offerings by including almost everything you could shop online.
3. Google
Anything you look up online can be instantly given to you by Google, but offices were not provided to the now-tech giant at the time yet. Yahoo Finance reported that two Ph.D. students from Stanford University developed the search engine in a garage owned by a friend.
Besides being the go-to search engine, Google has also expanded into different industries and can already assist both personal, professional, and business needs.
4. Microsoft
Before Apple was born, Microsoft was already in view. Only, however, they were still in a small garage in Albuquerque, New Mexico, per Hackernoon. Established in 1975, now-billionaire Bill Gates released their BASIC programming language product for the Altair 8800. This set the stage for the future success of the company.
Later on, Microsoft moved to Redmond, Washington, and has ever since led software development.
Read More: Google Signs Historic Agreement to Power AI Data Centers With Small Nuclear Reactors by 2030
5. HP
There's a reason why Hewlett-Packard (HP) is now called the way it is with founders, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard's determination while starting off in a small garage in Palo Alto, California in 1939.
American Express shared that their first product, an audio oscillator, became so popular among engineers that they were able to secure a contract with Walt Disney for the movie Fantasia. From there, HP's growth became unstoppable with its current standing as a leading technology solutions provider.
6. Reddit
Subreddits work by letting you feel connected or related to a group of people with shared needs and interests, like how Alexis Ohanian and Steve Huffman founded Reddit in a small apartment in Medford.
VCPost learned that the two founders thought about creating a platform that will allow users to discuss, and share links, images, videos, and such, to make a community for everyone with unique needs. Recently, the platform went public and became one of the most visited websites globally with a billion-dollar valuation.
7. Mattel
Your favorite Barbie dolls came into existence right after Mattel was built as a picture frame-making company in a Southern California garage in 1945. American Express stated that they transitioned into toys in 1959, which set new standards for the toymaking industry. In the modern era, besides Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' movie, you may also know Mattel through Fisher-Price and Hot Wheels.
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