Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and later became a leading trillion-dollar corporation.
The two founders established Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after developing a version of the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800 personal computer. The company’s early software work helped make personal computing more accessible and commercially viable.
Microsoft’s market value grew dramatically through products including MS-DOS, Windows, Office, and later Azure cloud services. Its business expanded from desktop software into enterprise computing, cloud infrastructure, gaming, search, and professional networking.
Microsoft is often mixed up with Apple because both became among the most valuable public companies in the world. Microsoft’s original name was written as “Micro-Soft,” and the company was incorporated in Washington state in 1981, several years after its founding.