The 25 Biggest Brands That Started Out With NOTHING.

Many of today’s most successful companies began with minimal resources, relying on the determination and ingenuity of their founders. Here are 25 notable examples:

1. Amazon: Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994, starting the company in a rented garage in Bellevue, Washington. Initially an online bookstore, Amazon has since evolved into a global e-commerce and technology giant. en.wikipedia.org
2. Apple: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started Apple in 1976 from Jobs’ garage, building the first Apple computers by hand. Today, Apple is one of the world’s most valuable companies, known for its innovative technology products.
3. Google: Larry Page and Sergey Brin launched Google in 1998 from a friend’s garage in Menlo Park, California. What began as a search engine has expanded into a multinational conglomerate specializing in internet-related services and products.
4. Microsoft: In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in a small garage, aiming to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. The company has grown into a leading technology corporation.
5. Disney: Walt and Roy Disney started the Disney Brothers Studio in their uncle’s garage in 1923. From these humble beginnings, Disney has become a global entertainment conglomerate.
6. Hewlett-Packard (HP): Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard founded HP in a garage in Palo Alto, California, in 1939, with an initial investment of $538. The company has since become a multinational information technology corporation.
7. Mattel: Founded in 1945 by Harold “Matt” Matson and Elliot Handler, Mattel started as a picture frame company operating out of a garage. It later shifted to producing toys and is now one of the largest toy manufacturers globally. americanexpress.com
8. Dell: Michael Dell started PC’s Limited (later Dell) in his dorm room in 1984, selling customized computers directly to consumers. Dell has grown into a multinational computer technology company.
9. Nike: Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman founded Blue Ribbon Sports (later Nike) in 1964 with a $500 investment, selling shoes from the trunk of a car. Nike is now a leading global sportswear brand.
10. Harley-Davidson: In 1903, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson built their first motorcycle in a small wooden shed. Today, Harley-Davidson is a renowned motorcycle manufacturer.
11. Yankee Candle Company: Michael Kittredge started making candles in his parents’ garage in 1969. The company grew into a leading candle manufacturer before being sold in 1998.
12. Lotus Cars: Colin Chapman built the first Lotus car in a garage in 1948. Lotus has since become known for its high-performance sports cars.
13. Maglite: Anthony Maglica started Mag Instrument in his garage in 1955, producing precision parts. The company is now famous for its Maglite flashlights.
14. Patagonia: Yvon Chouinard began making climbing gear in his parents’ backyard in 1957. Patagonia has grown into a major outdoor clothing and gear company.
15. Under Armour: Kevin Plank started Under Armour in his grandmother’s basement in 1996, creating moisture-wicking athletic shirts. The company is now a prominent sportswear brand.
16. Shutterstock: Jon Oringer founded Shutterstock in 2003 with 30,000 of his own photographs, operating from his apartment. It has become a leading global provider of stock photography.
17. Craigslist: Craig Newmark started Craigslist as an email list in 1995, sharing local events with friends. It evolved into a widely used online classifieds platform.
18. Plenty of Fish: Markus Frind created the dating website Plenty of Fish in 2003 as a side project, operating it from his apartment. It grew into one of the largest free online dating platforms before being acquired in 2015.
19. Indeed: Paul Forster and Rony Kahan founded Indeed in 2004, initially bootstrapping the job search engine before accepting external funding. It has become one of the most popular job search websites globally.
20. Shopify: Tobias Lütke and Scott Lake started Shopify in 2006 to sell snowboarding equipment online. Dissatisfied with existing e-commerce solutions, they built their own platform, which has grown into a leading e-commerce company.
21. GoFundMe: Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester launched GoFundMe in 2010, initially bootstrapping the crowdfunding platform. It has become a widely used site for personal fundraising.
22. Skyscanner: Gareth Williams founded Skyscanner in 2001 as a spreadsheet to compare flight prices. It evolved into a leading global travel search engine.
23. GitHub: Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and PJ Hyett started GitHub in 2008 as a side project to host and review code. It has become a crucial platform for developers worldwide.
24. Spanx: Sara Blakely founded Spanx in 2000 with $5,000 in savings, developing footless pantyhose. The company has grown into a leading women’s apparel brand.
25. Whole Foods Market: John Mackey and Renee Lawson borrowed $45,000 to open a small natural foods store in 1978. It expanded into Whole Foods Market, a major supermarket chain specializing in organic products.

These companies exemplify how innovation, perseverance, and resourcefulness can transform modest beginnings into remarkable success stories.

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