Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple in California in 1976.
The founders formed the company to sell the Apple I, a personal computer designed and largely built by Wozniak. Jobs focused on presenting and selling the machine, while Wayne briefly contributed documentation and administrative expertise. Wayne left the venture after only 12 days and later sold his partnership share.
Apple was originally known as Apple Computer Company. Its early products helped move computing from hobbyist electronics clubs into homes and schools. The Apple II, introduced in 1977, became one of the first commercially successful mass-produced personal computers.
A common mix-up is naming only Jobs and Wozniak. Wayne was also a co-founder, although his involvement was much shorter than theirs. Apple changed its corporate name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple Inc. in 2007, reflecting its expansion beyond personal computers.