What company did Bill Gates co-found with Paul Allen in 1975?

Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975.

The partnership began after Gates and Allen read about the Altair 8800, an early microcomputer developed by MITS. They contacted the company and demonstrated a version of the BASIC programming language adapted for the Altair. The success of that demonstration encouraged them to establish a software company.

Microsoft was originally formed under the name Micro-Soft, combining the words “microcomputer” and “software.” The company first focused on programming languages before becoming best known for operating systems and productivity software.

Microsoft later supplied MS-DOS for IBM-compatible personal computers and developed Windows, which became the world’s dominant desktop operating-system family for many years. Gates served as the company’s chief executive for much of its early growth.